3D Printing Info

Filament comparison

ASA-CF vs TPU 95A

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

Carbon-fibre ASA (ASA-CF) guideTPU 95A guide

2 selected · all documented properties

Open these two in the interactive comparisonMore ASA-CF comparisonsMore TPU 95A comparisons
ASA-CF vs TPU 95A — documented properties and sources
PropertyCarbon-fibre ASA (ASA-CF)ASATPU 95AFLEX
Market snapshot
Listing priceUSD/kg; dated snapshots$36.99/kg median; $25.00–$90.00/kg across 5 dated product listings$39.99/kg median; $23.00–$106.05/kg across 15 dated product listings
Identity & Market
Base polymer / chemistryASA reinforced with chopped carbon fibre — Formfutura's ApolloX CF10 is 10 wt%[1][2][3]Thermoplastic polyurethane, polyester or polyether based, at about 92–95 Shore A[4][5]
Densityg/cm³1.02 (Bambu Lab), 1.1 (Formfutura ApolloX CF10) and 1.11 (3DXTech), ISO 1183[1][2][3]1.20–1.25 (ISO 1183); Prusament 1.25, Polymaker 1.20–1.24, Bambu Lab 1.22[4][5][6]
Typical priceUSD/kg1 kg spools cluster near 37[7][8]1 kg spools cluster near 35; the specialist and industrial brands run to 106[8][9][6][10][11][12]
Price range across brandsUSD/kg25–90 across brands; IEMAI 25, Ambrosia 33, Bambu Lab 37, Polymaker Fiberon 40, 3DXTech 90[13][7][8][14][15]23–106 across brands; IEMAI 3D 23, LANDU 24, Siraya Tech 25, PS Imports 25, PrimaCreator 32, Bambu Lab 35–42, Polymaker 40–50, add:north 72, Recreus 90, 3DXTech 96, NinjaTek Cheetah 106[9][16][8][14][10][11][17][18][19][12]
Market availability1–5Available from several mainstream brands[7][8][14][13]Ubiquitous, every brand and retailer[8][14][9][16][10][11]
Spool sizes & diameters1.75 and 2.85 mm; 0.5, 0.75 and 1 kg spools[8][14][7]1.75 and 2.85 mm; 0.5, 0.75 and 1 kg spools[8][14]
Typical applicationsOutdoor structural parts, drone and antenna mounts where stiffness and UV stability both matter[1][2]Gaskets, phone cases, tyres, vibration mounts and protective covers[20]
Diameter tolerance± mmNot documented±0.06 (Prusament) — the loosest tolerance Prusa publishes, because soft filament deforms in the gauge[5]
Printing Parameters
Nozzle temperature°C250–280 (Bambu Lab)[1]210–240; Polymaker 210–230, Prusament 230 ± 10, Bambu Lab HF 220–240[4][5][6]
Bed temperature°C80–100 (Bambu Lab)[1]25–65; Prusament 65 ± 10, Bambu Lab 30–35, Polymaker 25–60[5][6][4]
Enclosure / chamber requirement1–5Enclosure recommended — Bambu Lab specifies a 45–60 °C chamber[1][21]Open frame is fine[4]
Recommended chamber temperature°C45–60 (Bambu Lab)[1]Not documented
Part cooling fanFan on (Bambu Lab)[1]Fan on[4][6]
Bed surface & adhesion aidPEI sheet, BuildTak or an adhesion aid such as Magigoo (Polymaker); Simplify3D also lists Kapton tape and ASA slurry[22][23]PEI sheet or painter's tape; Polymaker warns TPU can over-stick and advises a glue stick as a release agent[24][20]
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][25]2.4 at Polymaker's 30–50 mm/s and 2.4 at Prusa's 30 mm/s cap on a 0.4 mm nozzle at 0.2 mm layer; Bambu Lab's high-flow grade lifts the cap to 200 mm/s (16 mm³/s)[4][5][6]
Warping tendency1–5Moderate — needs adhesion aid or draught shield; the fibre reduces warping against unfilled ASA[21]None[4]
Bed-adhesion difficulty1–5Needs a specific surface plus adhesive[22]Sticks to most surfaces[4]
Stringing / oozing tendency1–5Slight — Polymaker advises 1–2 mm retraction at 20–30 mm/s[22]Moderate — retraction tuning needed; Polymaker specifies 3–6 mm retraction, well above the 1–3 mm used for rigid filaments[4]
Overall printing difficulty1–5Intermediate — dry filament and a tuned profile; hardened nozzle mandatory[21]Intermediate — dry filament and a tuned profile; the speed ceiling is the main constraint[4][5]
Extruder requirementNot documentedDirect drive strongly preferred. BASF rates its 95A grade as running on both direct-drive and Bowden machines, but every maker caps speed at 15–50 mm/s unless the grade is specifically high-flow[26][4][5]
Hardware Wear & Reliability
Nozzle hardness required1–4Hardened steel required[21]Brass fine indefinitely[27]
Abrasiveness1–5Highly abrasive — standard CF composite[21]Non-abrasive[27]
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[28][29]Moderate — needs dry filament and a clean nozzle[30]
Heat-creep / jam sensitivity1–5Slightly sensitive[23]High — all-metal hotend and strong cooling needed; soft filament buckles in the cold zone if it slows[20]
Hotend requirementNo special hotend required[23]No special hot-end required, but a direct-drive extruder is (Simplify3D)[24]
Moisture Behaviour
Moisture absorption (hygroscopicity)1–5Moderate — 0.33 % saturated at 25 °C / 55 % RH (Bambu Lab)[1]Low (0.1–0.3 %) by Prusa's measurement at 0.04 % in 7 days, but Polymaker measures 0.82 % equilibrium and groups TPU with the highly hygroscopic materials[5][4][30]
Equilibrium moisture content at ~50 % RH%0.33 saturated at 25 °C / 55 % RH (Bambu Lab)[1]0.82 equilibrium (Polymaker); 0.02 after 24 h and 0.04 after 7 days at 22 % RH (Prusa)[4][5]
Drying temperature & time80 °C for 8 h (Bambu Lab)[1]70 °C for 8 h (Polymaker); 70 °C for 8 h or an 80–90 °C heatbed for 12 h (Bambu Lab)[4][6]
Symptoms when wetBubbling and popping at the nozzle, stringing and a rough surface[30]Bubbling and popping at the nozzle, stringing, rough surface and weak layers[30]
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[30]Polymaker groups TPU with nylon, PVA and PETG as highly hygroscopic and says these often need to stay in a dryer while printing; no dry-versus-conditioned figures are published[30]
Storage requirementSealed with desiccant; Polymaker rates the styrenics moderate-sensitivity[30]Sealed with desiccant; often kept in a dryer during the print[30]
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]41.4 ± 1.3 printed (Prusament, ISO 37); NinjaTek Cheetah 39 ultimate (ASTM D638)[5][31]
Young's modulusMPa4200 ± 270 printed XY, ISO 527 (Bambu Lab); 3DXTech quotes 5355 and Formfutura 7580[1][2][3]Not documented
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]551 ± 24 printed (Polymaker, ISO 37); the filament itself stretches 7264 % before break (Prusa, ISO 527)[4][5]
Flexural strengthMPa72 ± 5 printed XY, ISO 178 (Bambu Lab); 3DXTech quotes 78[1][2]Not documented
Flexural modulusMPa3740 ± 130 printed XY, ISO 178 (Bambu Lab); 3DXTech quotes 5210[1][2]Not documented
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][32]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][32]Not documented
Layer adhesion / Z tensileMPa30 ± 4 printed Z, ISO 527 (Bambu Lab); flexural Z falls to 33 against 72 in XY[1]9.5 ± 0.2 (Prusament interlayer adhesion, ISO 527)[5]
Brittleness1–5Brittle — snaps with little warning[1][2]Very ductile — bends far before failing[4][5]
Hardness (scale-specific)Shore A / Shore D / RockwellNot documented92 ± 0.4 Shore A and 39 ± 0.7 Shore D (Prusament); 95A (Polymaker, ISO 7619-1); 91 Shore A / 40 Shore D (Fiberlogy FiberFlex 40D, ISO 7619); 95A (NinjaTek Cheetah, ASTM D2240); 94.5 A measured on a printed Bambu Lab 95A part and 96.2 A on a Qidi one (My Tech Fun)[5][4][33][31][34]
Creep resistance / sustained load1–5Good — no creep test found; chopped carbon fibre lifts modulus to 4200 MPa against 2379–2450 for unfilled ASA[1][35]Poor — deforms under load at room temperature; a loaded bar crept from 74.5 to 82.7 mm over 5 days[34]
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][32]Excellent — living hinges viable[20]
Elasticity / flexibility1–5Rigid[1]Rubbery / highly elastic[4][5]
Z strength as % of XY%88 by tensile, 46 by flexural (printed, Bambu Lab)[1]Not documented
Wear resistance & frictionNot documentedAbrasion resistance is a headline property; BASF measures 64 mm³ loss by ISO 4649 on its 92A grade[26]
Thermal Properties
HDT at 0.45 MPa°C110 (ISO 75, 0.45 MPa, Bambu Lab) against 100 for unfilled Bambu Lab ASA[1][32]Not documented
HDT at 1.8 MPa°C102 (ISO 75, 1.8 MPa, Bambu Lab) against 92 for unfilled Bambu Lab ASA[1][32]Not documented
Melting point / Vicat°CNot documented144 melting (BASF 95A, ISO 11357-3); Bambu Lab 183, Polymaker's modulus at 100 % elongation 8.9 MPa[26][6]
Continuous service temperature°C93 — Prusa publishes this as the temperature resistance of Prusament ASA[36]Bounded by a melting point of 144–183 °C; no loaded-bar service figure is published for TPU[26][6]
Flammability / UL 94Flammable; no UL 94 rating published[32]Flammable; no UL 94 rating published for the grades surveyed[4]
Environment & Chemical
UV resistance1–5Excellent — designed for permanent outdoor use; the acrylate rubber phase is unchanged by the fibre[37][22]Good — years with some colour shift; Polymaker lists UV exposure among the conditions TPU withstands[20]
Chemical resistanceGood against weak acids, weak alkalis, oils and grease; dissolved by acetone[35]Good resistance to oils and common solvents (BASF)[26]
Food contactNot food safe[22]Not food safe without specific certification (Polymaker)[20]
Biodegradability / compostabilityNot biodegradable[22]Not biodegradable[20]
RecyclabilityNot accepted in household plastic collection[22]Not accepted in household plastic collection[20]
Electrical & ESD propertiesSurface resistance above 10⁹ ohm/sq — not static-dissipative (3DXTech, ASTM D257)[2]Not documented
Health & Safety
Fume toxicity1–5High — hazardous VOC such as styrene; enclosure and filtration needed[38][21]Low hazard — minimal VOC and particle emission; TPU was not among the nine filaments in the chamber study[38]
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][38]Not documented
Ventilation / filtration requirement1–5Enclosure with carbon and HEPA filtration[38][21]Open a window / occasional ventilation[38]
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[22]Sanding is impractical — the surface tears rather than abrades[20]
Painting & finishingPaints readily; ASA holds colour outdoors so many parts are left unpainted[22]Not documented
Gluing & solvent weldingSolvent-welds with acetone[35]Cyanoacrylate bonds TPU; no common solvent welds it[20]
Vapour / chemical smoothingAcetone vapour smoothing works[35]No practical vapour smoothing[20]
Support material pairingHIPS breaks away or dissolves in d-limonene; Bambu Lab sells a Support for ABS that also serves ASA[21]Polymaker warns TPU supports are often very difficult to remove; PolyDissolve S1 is rated for TPU[20]
Dimensional accuracy & detailMatte fibre-filled finish hides layer lines[1]Stringing and elephant-foot are the accuracy limits; retraction has to be long and slow[4]
Solvents & Solubility
Soluble inAcetone dissolves the resin and leaves the fibre; MEK, THF, ethyl acetate and chlorinated solvents attack the styrenic backbone.[39][35]DMF, DMSO, NMP and THF dissolve TPU; acetone, MEK and cyclohexanone are partial solvents. All laboratory reagents.[40]
Softened or crazed byLimonene attacks some grades — Prusa reports Prusament ASA Orange flaking apart as layer adhesion fails.[41]Toluene and benzene swell it up to +50 % by weight at 23 °C; esters swell it severely; ethanol and IPA soften it.[40]
Solvent welding & smoothing agentAcetone vapour reaches only the resin fraction, so the fibre is left standing proud of the smoothed surface.[42][35]None practical — the true solvents (DMF, THF, NMP) are laboratory reagents and leave the joint swollen and weak.[40]

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. PolyFlex TPU95 Technical Data Sheet V5.4 Polymaker · 2024-11 · tds
  5. Prusament TPU 95A Technical Datasheet v1.0 Prusa Polymers · 2025-05 · tds
  6. Bambu Filament Technical Data Sheet — TPU 95A HF Bambu Lab · 2026-08 · tds
  7. ASA-CF — product page Bambu Lab US Store · 2026-08 · vendor
  8. Polymaker product catalogue Polymaker · 2026-08 · vendor
  9. Printed Solid product catalogue Printed Solid · 2026-08 · vendor
  10. LANDU TPU 3D Printer Filament 1.75 mm 95A Black 1 kg — Amazon listing Amazon.com · 2026-08 · vendor
  11. IEMAI 3D TPU 3D Printing Filament — store page IEMAI 3D · 2026-08 · vendor
  12. Cheetah product page — print guidelines, spool sizes and price NinjaTek · 2026-08 · vendor
  13. Filastruder product catalogue Filastruder · 2026-08 · vendor
  14. 3DXTech product catalogue 3DXTech · 2026-08 · vendor
  15. IEMAI CF-ASA 3D Printing Filament product page IEMAI 3D · 2026-08 · vendor
  16. TPU for AMS — product page Bambu Lab US Store · 2026-08 · vendor
  17. Siraya Tech Flex TPU 95A Filament — product page Siraya Tech · 2026-08 · vendor
  18. PrimaCreator EasyPrint FLEX TPU 95A product page PrimaCreator · 2026-08 · vendor
  19. add:north TPU Pro Matte 95A product page add:north · 2026-08 · vendor
  20. TPU — material basics Polymaker Wiki · 2026-08 · doc
  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. Flexible (TPE/TPU) — Ultimate 3D Printing Materials Guide Simplify3D · 2026-08 · doc
  25. Max volumetric speed Prusa Knowledge Base · 2026-08 · doc
  26. Ultrafuse TPU 95A Technical Data Sheet (Version 2.0) BASF Forward AM · 2022-08 · tds
  27. Extrudr Product Catalogue (DURAPRO PA12 data block) Extrudr · 2025-03 · tds
  28. Composite materials filled with carbon, kevlar or glass Prusa Knowledge Base · 2026-08 · doc
  29. Carbon Fiber Filled — Ultimate 3D Printing Materials Guide Simplify3D · 2026-08 · doc
  30. Wet Filament — signs, causes and drying Polymaker Wiki · 2026-08 · doc
  31. NinjaTek technical specs comparison chart (Cheetah, NinjaFlex, Armadillo, Alloy 910, Nylon 645) NinjaTek · 2026-08 · tds
  32. Bambu Filament Technical Data Sheet V3.0 — ASA Bambu Lab · 2026-08 · tds
  33. FiberFlex 40D Technical Data Sheet Fiberlogy · 2026-08 · tds
  34. BambuLab TPU 95A HF vs Qidi TPU 95A HF — results spreadsheet My Tech Fun (Igor Gaspar) · 2024-02 · test
  35. PolyLite ASA Technical Data Sheet Polymaker · 2024-11 · tds
  36. Prusament ASA — material page Prusa Polymers · 2026-08 · doc
  37. ASA — FDM Material Data Sheet (includes 1000 h QUV exposure results) Stratasys · 2026-08 · tds
  38. 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
  39. Chemical resistance — resistance of Ensinger plastics to chemicals (DIN 50 014, 23/50) Ensinger · 2026-08 · tds
  40. Elastollan — Chemical properties: swelling and chemical resistance BASF · 2026-08 · tds
  41. HIPS — Knowledge Base Prusa Research · 2026-08 · doc
  42. Improve your 3D prints with chemical smoothing Prusa Research · 2026-08 · doc