3D Printing Info

Filament comparison

ASA Aero vs HIPS

Compare printing settings, strength, heat resistance, dated prices and sources.

Foaming ASA (ASA Aero) guideHIPS guide

2 selected · all documented properties

Open these two in the interactive comparisonMore ASA Aero comparisonsMore HIPS comparisons
ASA Aero vs HIPS — documented properties and sources
PropertyFoaming ASA (ASA Aero)ASAHIPSABS
Market snapshot
Listing priceUSD/kg; dated snapshots$49.99/kg median; $49.99–$49.99/kg across 1 dated product listings$29.99/kg median; $27.99–$32.00/kg across 3 dated product listings
Identity & Market
Base polymer / chemistryASA with a heat-activated blowing agent that expands at the nozzle[1][2]High-impact polystyrene — polystyrene toughened with a butadiene rubber phase[3][4]
Densityg/cm³0.99 filament (Bambu Lab, ISO 1183); Formfutura's grade reaches 0.33 g/cm³ fully expanded[1][2]1.04 (ISO 1183)[3]
Typical priceUSD/kg1 kg spools cluster near 50[5]1 kg spools cluster near 31[6][7]
Price range across brandsUSD/kg50 at Bambu Lab's 1 kg listing[5]28–32 across brands; YXPOLYER 28, Push Plastic 30, 3DXTech 32[7][6][8]
Market availability1–5Niche, a handful of specialist brands[5][2]Available from several mainstream brands[6][7]
Spool sizes & diameters1.75 mm; 1 kg spools[5]1.75 and 2.85 mm; 1 and 3 kg spools[7][6]
Typical applicationsDrone airframes, RC parts and floating or outdoor applications where mass matters and UV exposure rules out LW-PLA[2]Break-away and d-limonene-soluble support for ABS and ASA, and a light model material in its own right[4]
Printing Parameters
Nozzle temperature°C240–280 (Bambu Lab); 220–285 (Formfutura), with foaming activating near 230 °C and peaking between 270 and 285 °C[1][2]230–245 (Simplify3D)[9]
Bed temperature°C80–90 (Bambu Lab); 50–90 (Formfutura)[1][2]100–115 (Simplify3D)[9]
Enclosure / chamber requirement1–5Enclosure recommended — Bambu Lab specifies a 45–60 °C chamber[1][10]Enclosure recommended[10]
Recommended chamber temperature°C45–60 (Bambu Lab)[1]Not documented
Part cooling fan0–80 % (Bambu Lab); 0–50 % (Formfutura)[1][2]Part cooling fan not required[9]
Bed surface & adhesion aidPEI sheet, BuildTak or an adhesion aid such as Magigoo (Polymaker); Simplify3D also lists Kapton tape and ASA slurry[11][12]Glue stick, glass plate, Kapton tape or PET sheets[9]
Maximum volumetric flow (mm³/s; see test conditions)mm³/s12 at Bambu Lab's 150 mm/s cap on a 0.4 mm nozzle at 0.2 mm layer[1][13]Not documented
Warping tendency1–5Not documentedModerate — needs adhesion aid or draught shield[10]
Bed-adhesion difficulty1–5Needs a specific surface plus adhesive[11]Needs a specific surface plus adhesive[9]
Stringing / oozing tendency1–5Slight — Polymaker advises 1–2 mm retraction at 20–30 mm/s[11]Slight — HIPS oozes less than ABS[9][14]
Overall printing difficulty1–5Advanced — enclosure, hardware upgrades, tuning; flow has to be cut to match the expansion and the density follows nozzle temperature[2][1]Intermediate — dry filament and a tuned profile[10]
Hardware Wear & Reliability
Nozzle hardness required1–4Brass fine indefinitely[10]Brass fine indefinitely[10]
Abrasiveness1–5Non-abrasive[10]Non-abrasive[10]
Nozzle clog risk1–5Not documentedLow — no special hot-end required, no drybox and no hardened nozzle, and 3DXTech states drying is not needed[9][15][4]
Heat-creep / jam sensitivity1–5Slightly sensitive[12]Slightly sensitive[9]
Hotend requirementNo special hotend required[12]No special hot-end required[9]
Moisture Behaviour
Moisture absorption (hygroscopicity)1–5High — 0.80 % saturated at 25 °C / 55 % RH, nearly double unfilled Bambu Lab ASA[1][16]Low (0.1–0.3 %) — Simplify3D lists water resistance as a headline property[9]
Equilibrium moisture content at ~50 % RH%0.80 saturated at 25 °C / 55 % RH (Bambu Lab)[1]Not documented
Drying temperature & time80 °C for 8 h (Bambu Lab)[1]Not documented
Symptoms when wetBubbling and popping at the nozzle, stringing and a rough surface[17]Bubbling and popping at the nozzle, stringing and a rough surface[17]
Effect of moisture on strengthNo dry-versus-conditioned figures are published; Polymaker groups the styrenics as moderate-sensitivity and absorbed water shows as bubbling and poor layer adhesion[17]Polymaker rates ABS moderate-sensitivity and publishes no dry-versus-conditioned figures; absorbed water flashes to steam in the hotend and shows as bubbling and poor layer adhesion[17]
Storage requirementSealed with desiccant; Polymaker rates the styrenics moderate-sensitivity[17]Sealed with desiccant; less critical than for the polyamides[17]
Mechanical Properties
Tensile strength (XY)MPa32 ± 4 printed XY, ISO 527 (Bambu Lab)[1]40 at break (printed XY, ISO 527)[3]
Young's modulusMPa2010 ± 260 printed XY, ISO 527 (Bambu Lab)[1]1350 (printed XY, ISO 527) — the lowest modulus of the styrenics here[3]
Elongation at break%5.1 ± 1.6 printed XY, ISO 527 (Bambu Lab)[1]18 at break (printed XY, ISO 527)[3]
Flexural strengthMPa58 ± 6 printed XY, ISO 178 (Bambu Lab)[1]70 (printed XY, ISO 178)[3]
Flexural modulusMPa1510 ± 120 printed XY, ISO 178 (Bambu Lab)[1]1600 (printed XY, ISO 178)[3]
Charpy impact, notchedkJ/m²8.2 ± 1.6 printed XY, ISO 179, notched (Bambu Lab)[1]Not documented
Other impact dataCharpy unnotched 32.0 ± 2.5 printed XY (Bambu Lab, ISO 179)[1]Not documented
Layer adhesion / Z tensileMPa21 ± 4 printed Z, ISO 527 (Bambu Lab); flexural Z falls to 24 against 58 in XY[1]Not documented
Brittleness1–5Moderate[1]Tough — absorbs impact, yields before breaking[3]
Creep resistance / sustained load1–5Below average — no creep test found; the foamed structure drops modulus to 2010 MPa and load is carried by a lower solid fraction[1][16]Moderate — no printed-HIPS creep test found; Tg of 100 °C keeps room-temperature service far below softening[3][9]
Fatigue / repeated-flex resistance1–5Moderate — no foamed-grade S-N curve; unfilled printed ASA holds a fatigue limit at 25 % of tensile strength[1][18]Moderate[3]
Elasticity / flexibility1–5Rigid[1]Rigid[3]
Z strength as % of XY%66 by tensile, 41 by flexural (printed, Bambu Lab)[1]Not documented
Thermal Properties
HDT at 0.45 MPa°C85 (ISO 75, 0.45 MPa, Bambu Lab) against 100 for unfilled Bambu Lab ASA[1][16]Not documented
HDT at 1.8 MPa°C78 (ISO 75, 1.8 MPa, Bambu Lab) against 92 for unfilled Bambu Lab ASA[1][16]Not documented
Glass transition (Tg)°CNot documented100 (DSC)[3]
Melting point / Vicat°CNot documentedAmorphous — no melting point[3]
Continuous service temperature°C93 — Prusa publishes this as the temperature resistance of Prusament ASA[19]Bounded by a glass transition of 100 °C; no loaded-bar service figure is published for HIPS[3]
Flammability / UL 94Flammable; no UL 94 rating published[16]Flammable; no UL 94 rating published[3]
Environment & Chemical
UV resistance1–5Excellent — designed for permanent outdoor use; Formfutura states the foaming grade retains ApolloX's UV resistance[2][20]Months outdoors before embrittlement — polystyrene yellows and chalks under UV[21]
Chemical resistanceGood against weak acids, weak alkalis, oils and grease; dissolved by acetone[22]Dissolves completely in d-limonene — the basis of its use as a soluble support[4]
Food contactNot food safe[11]Not food safe[21]
Biodegradability / compostabilityNot biodegradable[11]Not biodegradable[21]
RecyclabilityNot accepted in household plastic collection[11]Not accepted in household plastic collection[21]
Electrical & ESD propertiesNot documentedSurface resistance above 10¹³ ohm/sq — insulating (ASTM D257)[3]
Health & Safety
Fume toxicity1–5High — hazardous VOC such as styrene; enclosure and filtration needed[23][10]High — hazardous VOC such as styrene; enclosure and filtration needed[23]
VOC emission rateµg/minNot documented12–113 styrene, the range measured across ABS and the one HIPS filament tested[23]
Ultrafine-particle emission rateparticles/minNot documented≈4 × 10⁹ median for the HIPS filament tested, an order of magnitude below ABS but forty times PLA[23]
Hazardous species emittedStyrene. Bambu Lab states ABS and ASA release harmful gases such as styrene at printing temperature, which can be toxic and cause dizziness or nausea. Azimi et al. measured styrene from every styrenic filament tested but did not test ASA itself[10][23]Styrene was the only dominant VOC identified for the HIPS filament tested[23]
Ventilation / filtration requirement1–5Enclosure with carbon and HEPA filtration[23][10]Enclosure with carbon and HEPA filtration[23]
Post-Processing
Sanding & machiningSands well and takes filler before painting[11]Sands and paints readily, like ABS[21]
Painting & finishingPaints readily; ASA holds colour outdoors so many parts are left unpainted[11]Not documented
Gluing & solvent weldingSolvent-welds with acetone[22]Solvent-welds with d-limonene, and with acetone via its polystyrene backbone[9][4]
Vapour / chemical smoothingAcetone vapour smoothing works[22]d-limonene attacks the surface; acetone smoothing is far less effective than on ABS[4][9]
Support material pairingHIPS breaks away or dissolves in d-limonene; Bambu Lab sells a Support for ABS that also serves ASA[10]Used as the support material itself — dissolves in d-limonene, or breaks away from ABS and ASA[4]
Dimensional accuracy & detailMatte, textured surface that hides layer lines; colour lightens as the foaming degree rises, which doubles as a visual density cue[2]Not documented
Solvents & Solubility
Soluble inAcetone dissolves it (Polymaker); MEK, THF, ethyl acetate and the chlorinated solvents dissolve the styrenic backbone.[24][22]d-limonene, 12–24 h submerged with occasional agitation; acetone also dissolves it, and xylene does so at 23 °C.[25][24][26]
Softened or crazed byLimonene attacks some grades — Prusa reports Prusament ASA Orange flaking apart as layer adhesion fails.[27]Limonene also disrupts layer adhesion in some ABS and ASA grades, so an ABS model can flake apart in the same bath.[27]
Solvent welding & smoothing agentAcetone vapour, ~20 min at 80 °C over 5 mm of liquid; the foamed wall absorbs solvent, so cut the exposure well short.[28]Limonene welds and lightly etches it; acetone welds through the polystyrene backbone but smooths less well than ABS.[25][27]

Material entries describe families or representative grades, not an interchangeable specification for every spool. Test methods, orientations and conditions may differ. Unknown values are marked “Not documented”. Prices and source dates remain historical snapshots; check the linked guide for product details. Differences highlight text, not a universal winner.

Sources for this comparison

  1. Bambu Filament Technical Data Sheet V1.0 — ASA Aero Bambu Lab · 2026-08 · tds
  2. ApolloX Foaming Technical Data Sheet Formfutura · 2025-07 · tds
  3. 3DXMAX HIPS Technical Data Sheet 3DXTech · 2026-08 · tds
  4. 3DXMAX HIPS — product page 3DXTech · 2026-08 · vendor
  5. ASA Aero — product page Bambu Lab US Store · 2026-08 · vendor
  6. 3DXTech product catalogue 3DXTech · 2026-08 · vendor
  7. Push Plastic product catalogue Push Plastic · 2026-08 · vendor
  8. YXPOLYER HIPS product page YXPOLYER · 2026-08 · vendor
  9. HIPS — Ultimate 3D Printing Materials Guide Simplify3D · 2026-08 · doc
  10. ABS / ASA / PC Usage Guide Bambu Lab Wiki · 2026-08 · doc
  11. ASA — material basics Polymaker Wiki · 2026-08 · doc
  12. ASA — Ultimate 3D Printing Materials Guide Simplify3D · 2026-08 · doc
  13. Max volumetric speed Prusa Knowledge Base · 2026-08 · doc
  14. ABS — Ultimate 3D Printing Materials Guide Simplify3D · 2026-08 · doc
  15. Filament Material Guide Prusa Knowledge Base · 2026-08 · doc
  16. Bambu Filament Technical Data Sheet V3.0 — ASA Bambu Lab · 2026-08 · tds
  17. Wet Filament — signs, causes and drying Polymaker Wiki · 2026-08 · doc
  18. Mechanical, Fatigue, and Thermal Characterization of ASA, Nylon 12, PC and PC-ABS Manufactured by Fused Filament Fabrication (FFF) Polymers 18(2):302 · 2026-01 · paper
  19. Prusament ASA — material page Prusa Polymers · 2026-08 · doc
  20. ASA — FDM Material Data Sheet (includes 1000 h QUV exposure results) Stratasys · 2026-08 · tds
  21. ABS — material basics Polymaker Wiki · 2026-08 · doc
  22. PolyLite ASA Technical Data Sheet Polymaker · 2024-11 · tds
  23. Emissions of Ultrafine Particles and Volatile Organic Compounds from Commercially Available Desktop Three-Dimensional Printers with Multiple Filaments (Azimi et al.) Environmental Science & Technology 50(3) 1260-1268 · 2016-01 · paper
  24. Chemical resistance — resistance of Ensinger plastics to chemicals (DIN 50 014, 23/50) Ensinger · 2026-08 · tds
  25. D-Limonene — FDM post-processing guide Filament2Print · 2026-08 · review
  26. US 5,278,282 Polymer recycling by selective dissolution — xylene dissolution temperatures Nauman & Lynch, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute · 1994-01 · paper
  27. HIPS — Knowledge Base Prusa Research · 2026-08 · doc
  28. Improve your 3D prints with chemical smoothing Prusa Research · 2026-08 · doc