3D Printing Info

Filament comparison

ASA-CF vs HIPS

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

Carbon-fibre ASA (ASA-CF) guideHIPS guide

2 selected · all documented properties

Open these two in the interactive comparisonMore ASA-CF comparisonsMore HIPS comparisons
ASA-CF vs HIPS — documented properties and sources
PropertyCarbon-fibre ASA (ASA-CF)ASAHIPSABS
Market snapshot
Listing priceUSD/kg; dated snapshots$36.99/kg median; $25.00–$90.00/kg across 5 dated product listings$29.99/kg median; $27.99–$32.00/kg across 3 dated product listings
Identity & Market
Base polymer / chemistryASA reinforced with chopped carbon fibre — Formfutura's ApolloX CF10 is 10 wt%[1][2][3]High-impact polystyrene — polystyrene toughened with a butadiene rubber phase[4][5]
Densityg/cm³1.02 (Bambu Lab), 1.1 (Formfutura ApolloX CF10) and 1.11 (3DXTech), ISO 1183[1][2][3]1.04 (ISO 1183)[4]
Typical priceUSD/kg1 kg spools cluster near 37[6][7]1 kg spools cluster near 31[8][9]
Price range across brandsUSD/kg25–90 across brands; IEMAI 25, Ambrosia 33, Bambu Lab 37, Polymaker Fiberon 40, 3DXTech 90[10][6][7][8][11]28–32 across brands; YXPOLYER 28, Push Plastic 30, 3DXTech 32[9][8][12]
Market availability1–5Available from several mainstream brands[6][7][8][10]Available from several mainstream brands[8][9]
Spool sizes & diameters1.75 and 2.85 mm; 0.5, 0.75 and 1 kg spools[7][8][6]1.75 and 2.85 mm; 1 and 3 kg spools[9][8]
Typical applicationsOutdoor structural parts, drone and antenna mounts where stiffness and UV stability both matter[1][2]Break-away and d-limonene-soluble support for ABS and ASA, and a light model material in its own right[5]
Printing Parameters
Nozzle temperature°C250–280 (Bambu Lab)[1]230–245 (Simplify3D)[13]
Bed temperature°C80–100 (Bambu Lab)[1]100–115 (Simplify3D)[13]
Enclosure / chamber requirement1–5Enclosure recommended — Bambu Lab specifies a 45–60 °C chamber[1][14]Enclosure recommended[14]
Recommended chamber temperature°C45–60 (Bambu Lab)[1]Not documented
Part cooling fanFan on (Bambu Lab)[1]Part cooling fan not required[13]
Bed surface & adhesion aidPEI sheet, BuildTak or an adhesion aid such as Magigoo (Polymaker); Simplify3D also lists Kapton tape and ASA slurry[15][16]Glue stick, glass plate, Kapton tape or PET sheets[13]
Maximum volumetric flow (mm³/s; see test conditions)mm³/s20 at Bambu Lab's 250 mm/s cap on a 0.4 mm nozzle at 0.2 mm layer[1][17]Not documented
Warping tendency1–5Moderate — needs adhesion aid or draught shield; the fibre reduces warping against unfilled ASA[14]Moderate — needs adhesion aid or draught shield[14]
Bed-adhesion difficulty1–5Needs a specific surface plus adhesive[15]Needs a specific surface plus adhesive[13]
Stringing / oozing tendency1–5Slight — Polymaker advises 1–2 mm retraction at 20–30 mm/s[15]Slight — HIPS oozes less than ABS[13][18]
Overall printing difficulty1–5Intermediate — dry filament and a tuned profile; hardened nozzle mandatory[14]Intermediate — dry filament and a tuned profile[14]
Hardware Wear & Reliability
Nozzle hardness required1–4Hardened steel required[14]Brass fine indefinitely[14]
Abrasiveness1–5Highly abrasive — standard CF composite[14]Non-abrasive[14]
Nozzle clog risk1–5Moderate — needs dry filament and a clean nozzle; Prusa lists higher risk of nozzle clogging for fibre-filled composites and Simplify3D a higher tendency to clog[19][20]Low — no special hot-end required, no drybox and no hardened nozzle, and 3DXTech states drying is not needed[13][21][5]
Heat-creep / jam sensitivity1–5Slightly sensitive[16]Slightly sensitive[13]
Hotend requirementNo special hotend required[16]No special hot-end required[13]
Moisture Behaviour
Moisture absorption (hygroscopicity)1–5Moderate — 0.33 % saturated at 25 °C / 55 % RH (Bambu Lab)[1]Low (0.1–0.3 %) — Simplify3D lists water resistance as a headline property[13]
Equilibrium moisture content at ~50 % RH%0.33 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[22]Bubbling and popping at the nozzle, stringing and a rough surface[22]
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[22]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[22]
Storage requirementSealed with desiccant; Polymaker rates the styrenics moderate-sensitivity[22]Sealed with desiccant; less critical than for the polyamides[22]
Mechanical Properties
Tensile strength (XY)MPa34 ± 3 printed XY, ISO 527 (Bambu Lab); 3DXTech quotes 48 at break and Formfutura 79 at 23 °C[1][2][3]40 at break (printed XY, ISO 527)[4]
Young's modulusMPa4200 ± 270 printed XY, ISO 527 (Bambu Lab); 3DXTech quotes 5355 and Formfutura 7580[1][2][3]1350 (printed XY, ISO 527) — the lowest modulus of the styrenics here[4]
Elongation at break%9.6 ± 1.4 printed XY, ISO 527 (Bambu Lab); 3DXTech quotes 3 at break and Formfutura 1.8[1][2][3]18 at break (printed XY, ISO 527)[4]
Flexural strengthMPa72 ± 5 printed XY, ISO 178 (Bambu Lab); 3DXTech quotes 78[1][2]70 (printed XY, ISO 178)[4]
Flexural modulusMPa3740 ± 130 printed XY, ISO 178 (Bambu Lab); 3DXTech quotes 5210[1][2]1600 (printed XY, ISO 178)[4]
Charpy impact, notchedkJ/m²6.2 ± 1.4 printed XY, ISO 179, notched (Bambu Lab) — a third of unfilled Bambu Lab ASA's 19.6[1][23]Not documented
Other impact dataCharpy unnotched 14.0 ± 2.2 printed XY (Bambu Lab, ISO 179), against 41.0 for unfilled Bambu Lab ASA[1][23]Not documented
Layer adhesion / Z tensileMPa30 ± 4 printed Z, ISO 527 (Bambu Lab); flexural Z falls to 33 against 72 in XY[1]Not documented
Brittleness1–5Brittle — snaps with little warning[1][2]Tough — absorbs impact, yields before breaking[4]
Creep resistance / sustained load1–5Good — no creep test found; chopped carbon fibre lifts modulus to 4200 MPa against 2379–2450 for unfilled ASA[1][24]Moderate — no printed-HIPS creep test found; Tg of 100 °C keeps room-temperature service far below softening[4][13]
Fatigue / repeated-flex resistance1–5Below average — no CF-grade S-N curve; notched Charpy falls to 6.2 kJ/m² against 19.6 for unfilled Bambu Lab ASA[1][23]Moderate[4]
Elasticity / flexibility1–5Rigid[1]Rigid[4]
Z strength as % of XY%88 by tensile, 46 by flexural (printed, Bambu Lab)[1]Not documented
Thermal Properties
HDT at 0.45 MPa°C110 (ISO 75, 0.45 MPa, Bambu Lab) against 100 for unfilled Bambu Lab ASA[1][23]Not documented
HDT at 1.8 MPa°C102 (ISO 75, 1.8 MPa, Bambu Lab) against 92 for unfilled Bambu Lab ASA[1][23]Not documented
Glass transition (Tg)°CNot documented100 (DSC)[4]
Melting point / Vicat°CNot documentedAmorphous — no melting point[4]
Continuous service temperature°C93 — Prusa publishes this as the temperature resistance of Prusament ASA[25]Bounded by a glass transition of 100 °C; no loaded-bar service figure is published for HIPS[4]
Flammability / UL 94Flammable; no UL 94 rating published[23]Flammable; no UL 94 rating published[4]
Environment & Chemical
UV resistance1–5Excellent — designed for permanent outdoor use; the acrylate rubber phase is unchanged by the fibre[26][15]Months outdoors before embrittlement — polystyrene yellows and chalks under UV[27]
Chemical resistanceGood against weak acids, weak alkalis, oils and grease; dissolved by acetone[24]Dissolves completely in d-limonene — the basis of its use as a soluble support[5]
Food contactNot food safe[15]Not food safe[27]
Biodegradability / compostabilityNot biodegradable[15]Not biodegradable[27]
RecyclabilityNot accepted in household plastic collection[15]Not accepted in household plastic collection[27]
Electrical & ESD propertiesSurface resistance above 10⁹ ohm/sq — not static-dissipative (3DXTech, ASTM D257)[2]Surface resistance above 10¹³ ohm/sq — insulating (ASTM D257)[4]
Health & Safety
Fume toxicity1–5High — hazardous VOC such as styrene; enclosure and filtration needed[28][14]High — hazardous VOC such as styrene; enclosure and filtration needed[28]
VOC emission rateµg/minNot documented12–113 styrene, the range measured across ABS and the one HIPS filament tested[28]
Ultrafine-particle emission rateparticles/minNot documented≈4 × 10⁹ median for the HIPS filament tested, an order of magnitude below ABS but forty times PLA[28]
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[14][28]Styrene was the only dominant VOC identified for the HIPS filament tested[28]
Ventilation / filtration requirement1–5Enclosure with carbon and HEPA filtration[28][14]Enclosure with carbon and HEPA filtration[28]
Dust & fibre handling hazardCarbon fibre is bound in the matrix; sanding dust should not be inhaled[2]Not documented
Post-Processing
Sanding & machiningSands well and takes filler before painting[15]Sands and paints readily, like ABS[27]
Painting & finishingPaints readily; ASA holds colour outdoors so many parts are left unpainted[15]Not documented
Gluing & solvent weldingSolvent-welds with acetone[24]Solvent-welds with d-limonene, and with acetone via its polystyrene backbone[13][5]
Vapour / chemical smoothingAcetone vapour smoothing works[24]d-limonene attacks the surface; acetone smoothing is far less effective than on ABS[5][13]
Support material pairingHIPS breaks away or dissolves in d-limonene; Bambu Lab sells a Support for ABS that also serves ASA[14]Used as the support material itself — dissolves in d-limonene, or breaks away from ABS and ASA[5]
Dimensional accuracy & detailMatte fibre-filled finish hides layer lines[1]Not documented
Solvents & Solubility
Soluble inAcetone dissolves the resin and leaves the fibre; MEK, THF, ethyl acetate and chlorinated solvents attack the styrenic backbone.[29][24]d-limonene, 12–24 h submerged with occasional agitation; acetone also dissolves it, and xylene does so at 23 °C.[30][29][31]
Softened or crazed byLimonene attacks some grades — Prusa reports Prusament ASA Orange flaking apart as layer adhesion fails.[32]Limonene also disrupts layer adhesion in some ABS and ASA grades, so an ABS model can flake apart in the same bath.[32]
Solvent welding & smoothing agentAcetone vapour reaches only the resin fraction, so the fibre is left standing proud of the smoothed surface.[33][24]Limonene welds and lightly etches it; acetone welds through the polystyrene backbone but smooths less well than ABS.[30][32]

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-CF Bambu Lab · 2026-08 · tds
  2. CarbonX Carbon Fiber ASA Technical Data Sheet 3DXTech · 2026-08 · tds
  3. ApolloX CF10 Technical Data Sheet Formfutura · 2026-08 · tds
  4. 3DXMAX HIPS Technical Data Sheet 3DXTech · 2026-08 · tds
  5. 3DXMAX HIPS — product page 3DXTech · 2026-08 · vendor
  6. ASA-CF — product page Bambu Lab US Store · 2026-08 · vendor
  7. Polymaker product catalogue Polymaker · 2026-08 · vendor
  8. 3DXTech product catalogue 3DXTech · 2026-08 · vendor
  9. Push Plastic product catalogue Push Plastic · 2026-08 · vendor
  10. Filastruder product catalogue Filastruder · 2026-08 · vendor
  11. IEMAI CF-ASA 3D Printing Filament product page IEMAI 3D · 2026-08 · vendor
  12. YXPOLYER HIPS product page YXPOLYER · 2026-08 · vendor
  13. HIPS — Ultimate 3D Printing Materials Guide Simplify3D · 2026-08 · doc
  14. ABS / ASA / PC Usage Guide Bambu Lab Wiki · 2026-08 · doc
  15. ASA — material basics Polymaker Wiki · 2026-08 · doc
  16. ASA — Ultimate 3D Printing Materials Guide Simplify3D · 2026-08 · doc
  17. Max volumetric speed Prusa Knowledge Base · 2026-08 · doc
  18. ABS — Ultimate 3D Printing Materials Guide Simplify3D · 2026-08 · doc
  19. Composite materials filled with carbon, kevlar or glass Prusa Knowledge Base · 2026-08 · doc
  20. Carbon Fiber Filled — Ultimate 3D Printing Materials Guide Simplify3D · 2026-08 · doc
  21. Filament Material Guide Prusa Knowledge Base · 2026-08 · doc
  22. Wet Filament — signs, causes and drying Polymaker Wiki · 2026-08 · doc
  23. Bambu Filament Technical Data Sheet V3.0 — ASA Bambu Lab · 2026-08 · tds
  24. PolyLite ASA Technical Data Sheet Polymaker · 2024-11 · tds
  25. Prusament ASA — material page Prusa Polymers · 2026-08 · doc
  26. ASA — FDM Material Data Sheet (includes 1000 h QUV exposure results) Stratasys · 2026-08 · tds
  27. ABS — material basics Polymaker Wiki · 2026-08 · doc
  28. 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
  29. Chemical resistance — resistance of Ensinger plastics to chemicals (DIN 50 014, 23/50) Ensinger · 2026-08 · tds
  30. D-Limonene — FDM post-processing guide Filament2Print · 2026-08 · review
  31. US 5,278,282 Polymer recycling by selective dissolution — xylene dissolution temperatures Nauman & Lynch, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute · 1994-01 · paper
  32. HIPS — Knowledge Base Prusa Research · 2026-08 · doc
  33. Improve your 3D prints with chemical smoothing Prusa Research · 2026-08 · doc