3D Printing Info

Filament comparison

ASA Aero vs PLA

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

Foaming ASA (ASA Aero) guidePLA (standard) guide

2 selected · all documented properties

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ASA Aero vs PLA — documented properties and sources
PropertyFoaming ASA (ASA Aero)ASAPLA (standard)PLA
Market snapshot
Listing priceUSD/kg; dated snapshots$49.99/kg median; $49.99–$49.99/kg across 1 dated product listings$19.74/kg median; $9.99–$32.99/kg across 24 dated product listings
Identity & Market
Base polymer / chemistryASA with a heat-activated blowing agent that expands at the nozzle[1][2]Poly(lactic acid), a thermoplastic aliphatic polyester from fermented plant starch[3][4]
Densityg/cm³0.99 filament (Bambu Lab, ISO 1183); Formfutura's grade reaches 0.33 g/cm³ fully expanded[1][2]1.17–1.24 (ISO 1183)[3][5][4]
Typical priceUSD/kg1 kg spools cluster near 50[6]Mainstream 1 kg spools cluster near 20[7][8][9]
Price range across brandsUSD/kg50 at Bambu Lab's 1 kg listing[6]10–33 across brands; budget house brands 10–14, premium European 26–33[10][11][12][13]
Market availability1–5Niche, a handful of specialist brands[6][2]Ubiquitous, every brand and retailer[14][15]
Spool sizes & diameters1.75 mm; 1 kg spools[6]1.75 and 2.85 mm; 0.75, 0.85, 1 and 1.1 kg spools plus spool-less refills[7][16][17][12][18]
Typical applicationsDrone airframes, RC parts and floating or outdoor applications where mass matters and UV exposure rules out LW-PLA[2]Concept models, functional prototypes, low-wear toys, jigs used at room temperature[19]
Diameter tolerance± mmNot documented±0.02 (Prusament) to ±0.03 (Bambu Lab, Prusa Research standard)[3][7][20]
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]190–230; Prusament specifies 210 ± 10[3][5][4]
Bed temperature°C80–90 (Bambu Lab); 50–90 (Formfutura)[1][2]25–60; Prusament 40–60, Bambu Lab 35–45[3][5][4]
Enclosure / chamber requirement1–5Enclosure recommended — Bambu Lab specifies a 45–60 °C chamber[1][21]Open frame is fine[5][14]
Recommended chamber temperature°C45–60 (Bambu Lab)[1]Not documented
Part cooling fan0–80 % (Bambu Lab); 0–50 % (Formfutura)[1][2]100 % from the second layer; reduce on the first one or two layers for bed adhesion[3][15]
Bed surface & adhesion aidPEI sheet, BuildTak or an adhesion aid such as Magigoo (Polymaker); Simplify3D also lists Kapton tape and ASA slurry[22][23]Smooth or textured PEI, glass or painter's tape; glue stick only where release is a problem[5][24][15]
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][25]12–20 (PrusaSlicer max volumetric speed guidance for PLA)[25]
Warping tendency1–5Not documentedNone[26][14]
Bed-adhesion difficulty1–5Needs a specific surface plus adhesive[22]Sticks to anything — glue only needed on smooth PEI[5][4][15]
Stringing / oozing tendency1–5Slight — Polymaker advises 1–2 mm retraction at 20–30 mm/s[22]Slight — 1–3 mm retraction handles it; oozing rises with nozzle temperature[5][15][27]
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]Beginner — prints on any machine out of the box[14][15]
Extruder requirementNot documentedAny extruder; Bowden and direct drive both fine, no hardware upgrades[14]
Hardware Wear & Reliability
Nozzle hardness required1–4Brass fine indefinitely[21]Brass fine indefinitely[14]
Abrasiveness1–5Non-abrasive[21]Non-abrasive[26][14]
Nozzle clog risk1–5Not documentedVery low[14][15]
Heat-creep / jam sensitivity1–5Slightly sensitive[23]Moderate — good heatbreak cooling needed; softens below 60 °C so it deforms in a warm cold zone[24][28]
Hotend requirementNo special hotend required[23]Any standard hotend; PTFE-lined is fine at PLA temperatures[14]
Other hardware wearNot documentedNone — brass nozzles and standard drive gears are unaffected[26][14]
Moisture Behaviour
Moisture absorption (hygroscopicity)1–5High — 0.80 % saturated at 25 °C / 55 % RH, nearly double unfilled Bambu Lab ASA[1][29]Moderate — 0.40–0.51 % saturated at 23–25 °C and 55–70 % RH[4][5][30]
Equilibrium moisture content at ~50 % RH%0.80 saturated at 25 °C / 55 % RH (Bambu Lab)[1]0.43 saturated at 25 °C / 55 % RH (Bambu Lab); 0.51 equilibrium (Polymaker)[4][5]
Drying temperature & time80 °C for 8 h (Bambu Lab)[1]50–55 °C for 6–8 h in a forced-air dryer; 45 °C for 12 h in the Bambu Lab AMS HT[5][4][28]
Symptoms when wetBubbling and popping at the nozzle, stringing and a rough surface[31]Bubbling and popping at the nozzle, stringing, rough surface and weak layers[31]
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[31]Polymaker rates PLA low-sensitivity — it absorbs moisture slowly and the loss shows as poor layer adhesion and brittle layers rather than a published strength figure[31]
Storage requirementSealed with desiccant; Polymaker rates the styrenics moderate-sensitivity[31]Sealed with desiccant below 20 % RH; shelf life at ambient is long[4][15]
Mechanical Properties
Tensile strength (XY)MPa32 ± 4 printed XY, ISO 527 (Bambu Lab)[1]35–52 (printed XY, ISO 527); 55 mean across 16 brands and 53 for the reference PLA in a later run, both on 4×4 mm printed bars[3][5][4][32][33]
Young's modulusMPa2010 ± 260 printed XY, ISO 527 (Bambu Lab)[1]2300–3427 (printed XY, ISO 527)[3][5][4]
Elongation at break%5.1 ± 1.6 printed XY, ISO 527 (Bambu Lab)[1]6.3–12.2 (printed XY, ISO 527); Prusament quotes 2.9 at yield[5][4][3]
Flexural strengthMPa58 ± 6 printed XY, ISO 178 (Bambu Lab)[1]76–87 (printed XY, ISO 178); Fiberlogy quotes 81 by ASTM D790[3][5][4][34]
Flexural modulusMPa1510 ± 120 printed XY, ISO 178 (Bambu Lab)[1]2750–3230 (printed XY, ISO 178); Fiberlogy quotes 3800 by ASTM D790[3][5][4][34]
Charpy impact, notchedkJ/m²8.2 ± 1.6 printed XY, ISO 179, notched (Bambu Lab)[1]3.3–7.9 (printed XY, ISO 179, notched)[5][4]
Other impact dataCharpy unnotched 32.0 ± 2.5 printed XY (Bambu Lab, ISO 179)[1]Charpy unnotched, printed: 13–14 (Prusament, ISO 179-1), 26.6 (Bambu Lab PLA Basic)[3][4]
Layer adhesion / Z tensileMPa21 ± 4 printed Z, ISO 527 (Bambu Lab); flexural Z falls to 24 against 58 in XY[1]17–31 (Prusa interlayer test and printed Z tensile); 23 mean on My Tech Fun 4×4 mm bars[3][4][33]
Brittleness1–5Moderate[1]Brittle — snaps with little warning[24][26]
Hardness (scale-specific)Shore A / Shore D / RockwellNot documented81 Shore D (Prusa Polymers in-house method); 75.3 Shore D measured on printed bars (My Tech Fun, Sunlu PLA)[3][35]
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][29]Poor — deforms under load at room temperature; 12 mm bar sagged to 20.3 mm over 5 days at 1.25 kg[36][37]
Fatigue / repeated-flex resistance1–5Moderate — no foamed-grade S-N curve; unfilled printed ASA holds a fatigue limit at 25 % of tensile strength[1][38]Poor — 38 000–49 000 cycles at 30 % of tensile strength, against 79 000–193 000 for PETG (printed, R = 0.2, 7 Hz)[39][24]
Elasticity / flexibility1–5Rigid[1]Rigid[26]
Z strength as % of XY%66 by tensile, 41 by flexural (printed, Bambu Lab)[1]77–89 on TDS specimens; ≈44 on My Tech Fun 4×4 mm bars[5][4][33]
Thermal Properties
HDT at 0.45 MPa°C85 (ISO 75, 0.45 MPa, Bambu Lab) against 100 for unfilled Bambu Lab ASA[1][29]55–60 (ISO 75, 0.45 MPa)[3][5][4]
HDT at 1.8 MPa°C78 (ISO 75, 1.8 MPa, Bambu Lab) against 92 for unfilled Bambu Lab ASA[1][29]54–58 (ISO 75, 1.8 MPa)[3][5][4]
Glass transition (Tg)°CNot documented55–61 (DSC)[3][5][4]
Melting point / Vicat°CNot documented145–160 peak melt (Prusament, ISO 11357); 150 and 160 by DSC (PolyLite, Bambu Lab); Vicat 57–63 (ISO 306)[19][5][4]
Continuous service temperature°C93 — Prusa publishes this as the temperature resistance of Prusament ASA[40]50–55 — loaded bars begin to move at this temperature[26][33]
Annealing responseNot documentedBambu Lab conditions specimens at 55 °C for 8 h; annealing at 50–60 °C for 6–12 h raises crystallinity but can warp parts[4][41]
Thermal expansion (CTE)µm/m·KNot documented96 ± 5 at 0° and 99 ± 5 at 90° raster (printed PLA, fibre Bragg grating, 25–50 °C)[42]
Flammability / UL 94Flammable; no UL 94 rating published[29]Flammable; no UL 94 rating published by the major brands[4][5]
Environment & Chemical
UV resistance1–5Excellent — designed for permanent outdoor use; Formfutura states the foaming grade retains ApolloX's UV resistance[2][43]Degrades within weeks outdoors[24][19]
Outdoor durabilityNot documentedNot suitable for long-term outdoor use — UV embrittlement plus softening above 55 °C in direct sun[19][24]
Chemical resistanceGood against weak acids, weak alkalis, oils and grease; dissolved by acetone[44]Good against weak acids, oils and grease; poor against strong acids and alkalis; dissolved by chloroform, THF and hot benzene[5][24]
Water / humidity resistance in service1–5Not documentedGood — insoluble in water, absorbs 0.4–0.5 % at equilibrium[4][45]
Food contactNot food safe[22]Base resin is food-contact grade and EN 71-3 certified by some brands, but printed layer grooves harbour bacteria; Prusa advises against food use[24][45]
Biodegradability / compostabilityNot biodegradable[22]Industrially compostable only — needs sustained 55 °C and specific microbial conditions; not home compostable[45][24][4]
RecyclabilityNot accepted in household plastic collection[22]Mechanically recyclable; not accepted in household plastic collection, so brand take-back schemes are the practical route[45]
Health & Safety
Fume toxicity1–5High — hazardous VOC such as styrene; enclosure and filtration needed[46][21]Low hazard — minimal VOC and particle emission[46]
VOC emission rateµg/minNot documented4–5 lactide, the dominant VOC (chamber study, three printers)[46]
Ultrafine-particle emission rateparticles/minNot documented≈1 × 10⁸ median across three printers; only laywood ≈8 × 10⁷ and laybrick ≈6 × 10⁷ were lower[46]
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[21][46]Lactide (3,6-dimethyl-1,4-dioxane-2,5-dione) dominates; no styrene or caprolactam as a leading species[46]
Ventilation / filtration requirement1–5Enclosure with carbon and HEPA filtration[46][21]None needed in a normal room[46]
Post-Processing
Sanding & machiningSands well and takes filler before painting[22]Wet sanding — dry sanding heats the surface by friction and smears it[19][24]
Painting & finishingPaints readily; ASA holds colour outdoors so many parts are left unpainted[22]Not documented
Gluing & solvent weldingSolvent-welds with acetone[44]Cyanoacrylate for most joints; some grades partially dissolve and bond with acetone, depending on additives and colour[24][20]
Vapour / chemical smoothingAcetone vapour smoothing works[44]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[21]PolySupport and PolyDissolve S1 (Polymaker); Support for PLA (Bambu Lab)[5][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]Good — low shrinkage and features under 0.2 mm resolve; 55° overhangs and 30 mm bridges[26][4][15]
Solvents & Solubility
Soluble inAcetone dissolves it (Polymaker); MEK, THF, ethyl acetate and the chlorinated solvents dissolve the styrenic backbone.[47][44]Chloroform: 10 % w/v in 2–4 h at 23 °C, every grade and morphology; THF and DMF only at 65 °C. Laboratory reagents.[48]
Softened or crazed byLimonene attacks some grades — Prusa reports Prusament ASA Orange flaking apart as layer adhesion fails.[49]Acetone, ethyl acetate and toluene plasticise it but dissolve <1 % even at 65 °C; submersion in acetone crazes and destroys parts.[48][50]
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.[50]Chloroform vapour smooths and welds PLA at the cost of tensile strength; acetone does not smooth it at all.[51][50]

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. Prusament PLA Technical Datasheet v1.1 Prusa Polymers · 2022-02 · tds
  4. Bambu Filament Technical Data Sheet V3.0 — PLA Basic Bambu Lab · 2026-08 · tds
  5. PolyLite PLA Technical Data Sheet V5.4 Polymaker · 2024-11 · tds
  6. ASA Aero — product page Bambu Lab US Store · 2026-08 · vendor
  7. PLA Basic — product page Bambu Lab US Store · 2026-08 · vendor
  8. MH Build Series PLA Filament White 1.75mm 1kg MatterHackers · 2026-08 · vendor
  9. 3DJAKE ecoPLA Black 1.75mm 1000g 3DJake International · 2026-08 · vendor
  10. JAYO PLA Classic 1.1KG 1.75mm JAYO Official Store · 2026-08 · vendor
  11. ELEGOO PLA Filament 1.75mm Colored 1KG Elegoo US Official Store · 2026-08 · vendor
  12. Fillamentum PLA Extrafill Natural 1kg Fillamentum USA · 2026-08 · vendor
  13. Prusament PLA Jet Black 1kg (NFC) Prusa Research · 2026-08 · vendor
  14. Filament Material Guide Prusa Knowledge Base · 2026-08 · doc
  15. PLA — Ultimate 3D Printing Materials Guide Simplify3D · 2026-08 · doc
  16. Fiberlogy rPLA Refill Anthracite 850 g 3DJake International · 2026-08 · vendor
  17. JAYO Silk PLA+ 1.75mm 1.1kg JAYO Official Store · 2026-08 · vendor
  18. ColorFabb PLA/PHA 750g 3D Universe · 2026-08 · vendor
  19. Prusament PLA Technical Data Sheet v1.0 Prusa Polymers · 2018-09 · tds
  20. Prusament rPLA Corn Pigment 1kg — product page Prusa Research · 2026-08 · vendor
  21. ABS / ASA / PC Usage Guide Bambu Lab Wiki · 2026-08 · doc
  22. ASA — material basics Polymaker Wiki · 2026-08 · doc
  23. ASA — Ultimate 3D Printing Materials Guide Simplify3D · 2026-08 · doc
  24. PLA — material guide Prusa Knowledge Base · 2026-08 · doc
  25. Max volumetric speed Prusa Knowledge Base · 2026-08 · doc
  26. Prusament PLA — material page Prusa Polymers · 2026-08 · doc
  27. PLA — material basics Polymaker Wiki · 2026-08 · doc
  28. Filament Drying Recommendations Bambu Lab Wiki · 2026-08 · doc
  29. Bambu Filament Technical Data Sheet V3.0 — ASA Bambu Lab · 2026-08 · tds
  30. PolySonic PLA Technical Data Sheet V5.4 Polymaker · 2024-11 · tds
  31. Wet Filament — signs, causes and drying Polymaker Wiki · 2026-08 · doc
  32. 16 PLA brand comparison test — results spreadsheet My Tech Fun (Igor Gaspar) · 2022-10 · test
  33. Creality Hyper PLA filament review — results spreadsheet My Tech Fun (Igor Gaspar) · 2026-08 · test
  34. Easy PLA — product and technical data Fiberlogy · 2026-08 · tds
  35. Carbon Fiber PLA vs META-PLA vs PLA+ vs PLA by Sunlu — results spreadsheet My Tech Fun (Igor Gaspar) · 2026-08 · test
  36. BambuLab PLA Basic vs PLA Tough vs PLA-CF — results spreadsheet My Tech Fun (Igor Gaspar) · 2026-08 · test
  37. PolyTerra PLA vs PLA+ — results spreadsheet My Tech Fun (Igor Gaspar) · 2026-08 · test
  38. 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
  39. Mechanical Properties of Additively Manufactured Polymeric Materials — PLA and PETG — For Biomechanical Applications Polymers 16(13):1868 · 2024-06 · paper
  40. Prusament ASA — material page Prusa Polymers · 2026-08 · doc
  41. Bambu Filament Technical Data Sheet V3.0 — PLA Matte Bambu Lab · 2026-08 · tds
  42. Characterization of Thermal Expansion Coefficient of 3D Printing Polymeric Materials Using Fiber Bragg Grating Sensors Materials 17(18):4668 · 2024-09 · paper
  43. ASA — FDM Material Data Sheet (includes 1000 h QUV exposure results) Stratasys · 2026-08 · tds
  44. PolyLite ASA Technical Data Sheet Polymaker · 2024-11 · tds
  45. Filamentive PLA (recycled) — product page Filamentive · 2026-08 · vendor
  46. 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
  47. Chemical resistance — resistance of Ensinger plastics to chemicals (DIN 50 014, 23/50) Ensinger · 2026-08 · tds
  48. Solubility Study of Ingeo Biopolymer Grades in Common Organic Solvents (NWPD003) NatureWorks · 2019-10 · tds
  49. HIPS — Knowledge Base Prusa Research · 2026-08 · doc
  50. Improve your 3D prints with chemical smoothing Prusa Research · 2026-08 · doc
  51. 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