3D Printing Info

Filament comparison

ASA Aero vs PLA Silk

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

Foaming ASA (ASA Aero) guideSilk PLA guide

2 selected · all documented properties

Open these two in the interactive comparisonMore ASA Aero comparisonsMore PLA Silk comparisons
ASA Aero vs PLA Silk — documented properties and sources
PropertyFoaming ASA (ASA Aero)ASASilk PLAPLA
Market snapshot
Listing priceUSD/kg; dated snapshots$49.99/kg median; $49.99–$49.99/kg across 1 dated product listings$19.49/kg median; $9.75–$24.99/kg across 15 dated product listings
Identity & Market
Base polymer / chemistryASA with a heat-activated blowing agent that expands at the nozzle[1][2]PLA with a gloss-forming additive package; suppliers publish the composition as polylactic acid only[3]
Densityg/cm³0.99 filament (Bambu Lab, ISO 1183); Formfutura's grade reaches 0.33 g/cm³ fully expanded[1][2]1.27 (ISO 1183)[3]
Typical priceUSD/kg1 kg spools cluster near 50[4]Mainstream 1 kg spools cluster near 20[5][6][7]
Price range across brandsUSD/kg50 at Bambu Lab's 1 kg listing[4]10–25 across brands; CHCKX 10 in a 16-roll bundle, SUNLU 13, LANDU 18, YXPOLYER 20, Polymaker 22, Devil Design 25[8][9][10][11][12]
Market availability1–5Niche, a handful of specialist brands[4][2]Stocked by most mainstream brands[5][8][13]
Spool sizes & diameters1.75 mm; 1 kg spools[4]1.75 mm; 1 and 1.1 kg spools; dual- and tri-colour coextruded variants[14][15]
Typical applicationsDrone airframes, RC parts and floating or outdoor applications where mass matters and UV exposure rules out LW-PLA[2]Decorative prints where surface gloss matters more than strength[3]
Diameter tolerance± mmNot documented±0.03 (Bambu Lab)[16]
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]210–240 — 20 °C above the plain PLA window[3]
Bed temperature°C80–90 (Bambu Lab); 50–90 (Formfutura)[1][2]35–45[3]
Enclosure / chamber requirement1–5Enclosure recommended — Bambu Lab specifies a 45–60 °C chamber[1][17]Open frame is fine[3][18]
Recommended chamber temperature°C45–60 (Bambu Lab)[1]Not documented
Part cooling fan0–80 % (Bambu Lab); 0–50 % (Formfutura)[1][2]Fan on[3]
Bed surface & adhesion aidPEI sheet, BuildTak or an adhesion aid such as Magigoo (Polymaker); Simplify3D also lists Kapton tape and ASA slurry[19][20]Cool Plate SuperTack, smooth PEI or textured PEI[3]
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][21]Not documented
Warping tendency1–5Not documentedNone[3]
Bed-adhesion difficulty1–5Needs a specific surface plus adhesive[19]Sticks to anything[22]
Stringing / oozing tendency1–5Slight — Polymaker advises 1–2 mm retraction at 20–30 mm/s[19]Not documented
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]Easy — minor profile tuning; hotter nozzle and slower cap of 250 mm/s[3]
Hardware Wear & Reliability
Nozzle hardness required1–4Brass fine indefinitely[17]Brass fine indefinitely[18]
Abrasiveness1–5Non-abrasive[17]Non-abrasive[23][18]
Nozzle clog risk1–5Not documentedVery low[18]
Heat-creep / jam sensitivity1–5Slightly sensitive[20]Moderate — good heatbreak cooling needed; PLA softens below 60 °C[24]
Hotend requirementNo special hotend required[20]No special hot-end required[22]
Moisture Behaviour
Moisture absorption (hygroscopicity)1–5High — 0.80 % saturated at 25 °C / 55 % RH, nearly double unfilled Bambu Lab ASA[1][25]Moderate — 0.40 % saturated at 25 °C / 55 % RH[3]
Equilibrium moisture content at ~50 % RH%0.80 saturated at 25 °C / 55 % RH (Bambu Lab)[1]0.40 saturated at 25 °C / 55 % RH (Bambu Lab)[3]
Drying temperature & time80 °C for 8 h (Bambu Lab)[1]55 °C for 8 h in a forced-air dryer, or 65–75 °C for 12 h on an X1 heatbed[3][26]
Symptoms when wetBubbling and popping at the nozzle, stringing and a rough surface[27]Bubbling and popping at the nozzle, stringing, rough surface and weak layers[27]
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[27]Polymaker rates PLA low-sensitivity — the loss shows as poor layer adhesion and brittle layers rather than a published strength figure[27]
Storage requirementSealed with desiccant; Polymaker rates the styrenics moderate-sensitivity[27]Sealed with desiccant below 20 % RH; shelf life at ambient is long[28][22]
Mechanical Properties
Tensile strength (XY)MPa32 ± 4 printed XY, ISO 527 (Bambu Lab)[1]33 (printed XY, ISO 527); eSun Silk broke 22 % below the 16-brand PLA mean on identical 4×4 mm bars[3][29]
Young's modulusMPa2010 ± 260 printed XY, ISO 527 (Bambu Lab)[1]2130 (printed XY, ISO 527)[3]
Elongation at break%5.1 ± 1.6 printed XY, ISO 527 (Bambu Lab)[1]2.8 (printed XY, ISO 527) — a quarter of PLA Basic at 12.2[3][28]
Flexural strengthMPa58 ± 6 printed XY, ISO 178 (Bambu Lab)[1]75 (printed XY, ISO 178)[3]
Flexural modulusMPa1510 ± 120 printed XY, ISO 178 (Bambu Lab)[1]2460 (printed XY, ISO 178)[3]
Charpy impact, notchedkJ/m²8.2 ± 1.6 printed XY, ISO 179, notched (Bambu Lab)[1]10.3 (printed XY, ISO 179, notched); unnotched 18.5[3]
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]25 (printed Z, ISO 527), and flexural Z collapses to 30 against 75 in XY; eSun Silk broke at 12.3 kg where twelve of the 16 plain PLAs managed 44.6–61.5 kg[3][29][30]
Brittleness1–5Moderate[1]Brittle — snaps with little warning[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][25]Poor — no silk-specific creep data published; plain PLA sagged from 12 to 18.7–20.3 mm over 5 days at 1.25 kg[31][32]
Fatigue / repeated-flex resistance1–5Moderate — no foamed-grade S-N curve; unfilled printed ASA holds a fatigue limit at 25 % of tensile strength[1][33]Poor — no grade-specific S-N curve; plain printed PLA ran 38 000–49 000 cycles at 30 % of tensile strength (R = 0.2)[34][24]
Elasticity / flexibility1–5Rigid[1]Rigid[3]
Z strength as % of XY%66 by tensile, 41 by flexural (printed, Bambu Lab)[1]76 by tensile, 40 by flexural (printed, Bambu Lab)[3]
Thermal Properties
HDT at 0.45 MPa°C85 (ISO 75, 0.45 MPa, Bambu Lab) against 100 for unfilled Bambu Lab ASA[1][25]60 (ISO 75, 0.45 MPa)[3]
HDT at 1.8 MPa°C78 (ISO 75, 1.8 MPa, Bambu Lab) against 92 for unfilled Bambu Lab ASA[1][25]56 (ISO 75, 1.8 MPa)[3]
Glass transition (Tg)°CNot documented57 (DSC)[3]
Melting point / Vicat°CNot documented158 peak melt (DSC); Vicat 66 °C[3]
Continuous service temperature°C93 — Prusa publishes this as the temperature resistance of Prusament ASA[35]50 — a loaded bar begins to move at this temperature (My Tech Fun, eSun eSilk PLA)[30]
Annealing responseNot documented50–55 °C for 6–12 h[3]
Flammability / UL 94Flammable; no UL 94 rating published[25]Flammable; no UL 94 rating published by the major brands[28][36]
Environment & Chemical
UV resistance1–5Excellent — designed for permanent outdoor use; Formfutura states the foaming grade retains ApolloX's UV resistance[2][37]Degrades within weeks outdoors[24][38]
Chemical resistanceGood against weak acids, weak alkalis, oils and grease; dissolved by acetone[39]Good against weak acids, oils and grease; poor against strong acids and alkalis; dissolved by chloroform, THF and hot benzene[36][24]
Water / humidity resistance in service1–5Not documentedGood — insoluble in water[28]
Food contactNot food safe[19]Base resin is food-contact grade, but printed layer grooves harbour bacteria; Prusa advises against food use[24]
Biodegradability / compostabilityNot biodegradable[19]Industrially compostable only — needs sustained 55 °C; not home compostable[40][24]
RecyclabilityNot accepted in household plastic collection[19]Mechanically recyclable; not accepted in household plastic collection[40]
Health & Safety
Fume toxicity1–5High — hazardous VOC such as styrene; enclosure and filtration needed[41][17]Low hazard — minimal VOC and particle emission[41]
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[17][41]Not documented
Ventilation / filtration requirement1–5Enclosure with carbon and HEPA filtration[41][17]None needed in a normal room[41]
Post-Processing
Sanding & machiningSands well and takes filler before painting[19]Wet sanding — dry sanding heats the surface by friction and smears it[38][24]
Painting & finishingPaints readily; ASA holds colour outdoors so many parts are left unpainted[19]Not documented
Gluing & solvent weldingSolvent-welds with acetone[39]Cyanoacrylate for most joints; some grades partially dissolve and bond with acetone[24][42]
Vapour / chemical smoothingAcetone vapour smoothing works[39]No practical vapour smoothing — only chloroform, hot benzene or THF, which are laboratory-only[24]
Support material pairingHIPS breaks away or dissolves in d-limonene; Bambu Lab sells a Support for ABS that also serves ASA[17]Support for PLA (Bambu Lab)[3]
Dimensional accuracy & detailMatte, textured surface that hides layer lines; colour lightens as the foaming degree rises, which doubles as a visual density cue[2]55° overhangs and 30 mm bridges; gloss hides fine detail and is destroyed by sanding[3]
Solvents & Solubility
Soluble inAcetone dissolves it (Polymaker); MEK, THF, ethyl acetate and the chlorinated solvents dissolve the styrenic backbone.[43][39]Chloroform: 10 % w/v in 2–4 h at 23 °C, every grade and morphology; THF and DMF only at 65 °C. Laboratory reagents.[44]
Softened or crazed byLimonene attacks some grades — Prusa reports Prusament ASA Orange flaking apart as layer adhesion fails.[45]Acetone, ethyl acetate and toluene plasticise it but dissolve <1 % even at 65 °C; submersion in acetone crazes and destroys parts.[44][46]
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.[46]Chloroform vapour smooths and welds PLA at the cost of tensile strength; acetone does not smooth it at all.[47][46]

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. Bambu Filament Technical Data Sheet V1.0 — PLA Silk+ Bambu Lab · 2026-08 · tds
  4. ASA Aero — product page Bambu Lab US Store · 2026-08 · vendor
  5. Panchroma Silk PLA collection Polymaker Shop · 2026-08 · vendor
  6. Spectrum PLA Silk — product listing 3DJake International · 2026-08 · vendor
  7. 3DJake ecoPLA Silk Black 1.75mm 1000g 3DJake International · 2026-08 · vendor
  8. Sunlu Silk PLA+ 1.75mm 1kg Sunlu Official Store · 2026-08 · vendor
  9. Bambu Lab PLA Silk 1.75mm 1kg 3D Universe · 2026-08 · vendor
  10. CHCKX 16 Pack Silk Dual Color PLA Filament Bundle CHCKX (Amazon US) · 2026-08 · vendor
  11. YXPOLYER Silk PLA Black&Gold product page YXPOLYER · 2026-08 · vendor
  12. LANDU Silk Tri-Color PLA Filament 1.75 mm 1 kg LANDU (Amazon US) · 2026-08 · vendor
  13. Overture Silk PLA 1.75mm Overture3D · 2026-08 · vendor
  14. eSUN PLA-Silk Magic 1.75mm eSUN Official Store · 2026-08 · vendor
  15. JAYO Silk PLA+ 1.75mm 1.1kg JAYO Official Store · 2026-08 · vendor
  16. PLA Basic — product page Bambu Lab US Store · 2026-08 · vendor
  17. ABS / ASA / PC Usage Guide Bambu Lab Wiki · 2026-08 · doc
  18. Filament Material Guide Prusa Knowledge Base · 2026-08 · doc
  19. ASA — material basics Polymaker Wiki · 2026-08 · doc
  20. ASA — Ultimate 3D Printing Materials Guide Simplify3D · 2026-08 · doc
  21. Max volumetric speed Prusa Knowledge Base · 2026-08 · doc
  22. PLA — Ultimate 3D Printing Materials Guide Simplify3D · 2026-08 · doc
  23. Prusament PLA — material page Prusa Polymers · 2026-08 · doc
  24. PLA — material guide Prusa Knowledge Base · 2026-08 · doc
  25. Bambu Filament Technical Data Sheet V3.0 — ASA Bambu Lab · 2026-08 · tds
  26. Filament Drying Recommendations Bambu Lab Wiki · 2026-08 · doc
  27. Wet Filament — signs, causes and drying Polymaker Wiki · 2026-08 · doc
  28. Bambu Filament Technical Data Sheet V3.0 — PLA Basic Bambu Lab · 2026-08 · tds
  29. 16 PLA brand comparison test — results spreadsheet My Tech Fun (Igor Gaspar) · 2022-10 · test
  30. Testing eSun PLA filaments: PLA-ST vs PLA+ vs Silk PLA My Tech Fun (Igor Gaspar) · 2026-08 · test
  31. BambuLab PLA Basic vs PLA Tough vs PLA-CF — results spreadsheet My Tech Fun (Igor Gaspar) · 2026-08 · test
  32. PolyTerra PLA vs PLA+ — results spreadsheet My Tech Fun (Igor Gaspar) · 2026-08 · test
  33. 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
  34. Mechanical Properties of Additively Manufactured Polymeric Materials — PLA and PETG — For Biomechanical Applications Polymers 16(13):1868 · 2024-06 · paper
  35. Prusament ASA — material page Prusa Polymers · 2026-08 · doc
  36. PolyLite PLA Technical Data Sheet V5.4 Polymaker · 2024-11 · tds
  37. ASA — FDM Material Data Sheet (includes 1000 h QUV exposure results) Stratasys · 2026-08 · tds
  38. Prusament PLA Technical Data Sheet v1.0 Prusa Polymers · 2018-09 · tds
  39. PolyLite ASA Technical Data Sheet Polymaker · 2024-11 · tds
  40. Filamentive PLA (recycled) — product page Filamentive · 2026-08 · vendor
  41. 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
  42. Prusament rPLA Corn Pigment 1kg — product page Prusa Research · 2026-08 · vendor
  43. Chemical resistance — resistance of Ensinger plastics to chemicals (DIN 50 014, 23/50) Ensinger · 2026-08 · tds
  44. Solubility Study of Ingeo Biopolymer Grades in Common Organic Solvents (NWPD003) NatureWorks · 2019-10 · tds
  45. HIPS — Knowledge Base Prusa Research · 2026-08 · doc
  46. Improve your 3D prints with chemical smoothing Prusa Research · 2026-08 · doc
  47. Effect of vapour smoothing in trichloromethane on 3D printed PLA — surface, mechanical and chemical structure Pitale, Keche & Chopra, Engineering Research Express 6(4) 045579 · 2024-12 · paper