3D Printing Info

Filament comparison

ASA-GF vs PLA

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

Glass-fibre ASA (ASA-GF) guidePLA (standard) guide

2 selected · all documented properties

Open these two in the interactive comparisonMore ASA-GF comparisonsMore PLA comparisons
ASA-GF vs PLA — documented properties and sources
PropertyGlass-fibre ASA (ASA-GF)ASAPLA (standard)PLA
Market snapshot
Listing priceUSD/kg; dated snapshots$29.95/kg median; $26.99–$33.99/kg across 3 dated product listings$19.74/kg median; $9.99–$32.99/kg across 24 dated product listings
Identity & Market
Base polymer / chemistryASA reinforced with chopped glass fibre — 10 wt% (Spectrum ASA-X GF10), 15 wt% (ZYLtech ASA-GF)[1][2]Poly(lactic acid), a thermoplastic aliphatic polyester from fermented plant starch[3][4]
Densityg/cm³1.07 (ZYLtech) and 1.11 (Spectrum), ISO 1183[1][2]1.17–1.24 (ISO 1183)[3][5][4]
Typical priceUSD/kg1 kg spools cluster near 28[6][7]Mainstream 1 kg spools cluster near 20[8][9][10]
Price range across brandsUSD/kg27–34 across brands; Ambrosia 27, ZYLtech 30, Siraya Tech 34[6][7][11]10–33 across brands; budget house brands 10–14, premium European 26–33[12][13][14][15]
Market availability1–5Niche, a handful of specialist brands[6][1][2]Ubiquitous, every brand and retailer[16][17]
Spool sizes & diameters1.75 and 2.85 mm; 1 kg spools[2][6]1.75 and 2.85 mm; 0.75, 0.85, 1 and 1.1 kg spools plus spool-less refills[8][18][19][14][20]
Typical applicationsOutdoor brackets and mounts that need stiffness and dimensional stability under sun and moisture[1][2]Concept models, functional prototypes, low-wear toys, jigs used at room temperature[21]
Diameter tolerance± mm±0.01 at 95 % probability and ±0.02 at 100 % (ZYLtech)[2]±0.02 (Prusament) to ±0.03 (Bambu Lab, Prusa Research standard)[3][8][22]
Printing Parameters
Nozzle temperature°C240–270 (Spectrum); 240–280 (ZYLtech)[1][2]190–230; Prusament specifies 210 ± 10[3][5][4]
Bed temperature°C80–100 (Spectrum); 90–110 on PEI (ZYLtech)[1][2]25–60; Prusament 40–60, Bambu Lab 35–45[3][5][4]
Enclosure / chamber requirement1–5Enclosure recommended[23]Open frame is fine[5][16]
Part cooling fan0–20 % (Spectrum)[1]100 % from the second layer; reduce on the first one or two layers for bed adhesion[3][17]
Bed surface & adhesion aidPEI sheet, BuildTak or an adhesion aid such as Magigoo (Polymaker); Simplify3D also lists Kapton tape and ASA slurry[24][25]Smooth or textured PEI, glass or painter's tape; glue stick only where release is a problem[5][26][17]
Maximum volumetric flow (mm³/s; see test conditions)mm³/s2.4–5.6 at Spectrum's 30–70 mm/s on a 0.4 mm nozzle at 0.2 mm layer; ZYLtech allows up to 200 mm/s[1][2][27]12–20 (PrusaSlicer max volumetric speed guidance for PLA)[27]
Warping tendency1–5Moderate — needs adhesion aid or draught shield[23]None[28][16]
Bed-adhesion difficulty1–5Needs a specific surface plus adhesive[24]Sticks to anything — glue only needed on smooth PEI[5][4][17]
Stringing / oozing tendency1–5Slight — Polymaker advises 1–2 mm retraction at 20–30 mm/s[24]Slight — 1–3 mm retraction handles it; oozing rises with nozzle temperature[5][17][29]
Overall printing difficulty1–5Intermediate — dry filament and a tuned profile; ZYLtech requires a hardened nozzle of 0.6 mm or larger[2][1]Beginner — prints on any machine out of the box[16][17]
Extruder requirementZYLtech specifies a hardened nozzle 0.6 mm or larger; Spectrum bases its settings on a 0.5 mm nozzle[2][1]Any extruder; Bowden and direct drive both fine, no hardware upgrades[16]
Hardware Wear & Reliability
Nozzle hardness required1–4Hardened steel required — Spectrum recommends ruby or hardened, ZYLtech requires hardened[1][2]Brass fine indefinitely[16]
Abrasiveness1–5Highly abrasive — standard GF composite[1][2]Non-abrasive[28][16]
Nozzle clog risk1–5Moderate — needs dry filament and a clean nozzle; Prusa lists higher risk of nozzle clogging for glass-filled composites[30]Very low[16][17]
Heat-creep / jam sensitivity1–5Slightly sensitive[25]Moderate — good heatbreak cooling needed; softens below 60 °C so it deforms in a warm cold zone[26][31]
Hotend requirementNo special hotend required[25]Any standard hotend; PTFE-lined is fine at PLA temperatures[16]
Other hardware wearNot documentedNone — brass nozzles and standard drive gears are unaffected[28][16]
Moisture Behaviour
Moisture absorption (hygroscopicity)1–5Moderate — the ASA matrix takes up 0.40–0.45 % saturated at 25 °C / 55 % RH; no glass-filled grade publishes its own figure[32][33][34]Moderate — 0.40–0.51 % saturated at 23–25 °C and 55–70 % RH[4][5][35]
Equilibrium moisture content at ~50 % RH%Not documented0.43 saturated at 25 °C / 55 % RH (Bambu Lab); 0.51 equilibrium (Polymaker)[4][5]
Drying temperature & timeNot documented50–55 °C for 6–8 h in a forced-air dryer; 45 °C for 12 h in the Bambu Lab AMS HT[5][4][31]
Symptoms when wetBubbling and popping at the nozzle, stringing and a rough surface[36]Bubbling and popping at the nozzle, stringing, rough surface and weak layers[36]
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[36]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[36]
Storage requirementSealed with desiccant; Polymaker rates the styrenics moderate-sensitivity[36]Sealed with desiccant below 20 % RH; shelf life at ambient is long[4][17]
Mechanical Properties
Tensile strength (XY)MPa33–36 at break, ISO 527 (ZYLtech; specimen type not stated); Spectrum quotes 55 at break on injection-moulded specimens[2][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][37][38]
Young's modulusMPa2540–2890 (ZYLtech; specimen type not stated) and 2550 (Spectrum, injection-moulded), ISO 527[2][1]2300–3427 (printed XY, ISO 527)[3][5][4]
Elongation at break%3.4 at break (ZYLtech; specimen type not stated); Spectrum quotes 2.80 at yield on injection-moulded specimens[2][1]6.3–12.2 (printed XY, ISO 527); Prusament quotes 2.9 at yield[5][4][3]
Flexural strengthMPaNot documented76–87 (printed XY, ISO 178); Fiberlogy quotes 81 by ASTM D790[3][5][4][39]
Flexural modulusMPa2130–2480 flexural modulus, ISO 178 (ZYLtech; specimen type not stated)[2]2750–3230 (printed XY, ISO 178); Fiberlogy quotes 3800 by ASTM D790[3][5][4][39]
Charpy impact, notchedkJ/m²8.3 notched Charpy at 23 °C on injection-moulded specimens (Spectrum, ISO 179-1eA); ZYLtech publishes notched Izod 6.9 by ISO 180 instead[1][2]3.3–7.9 (printed XY, ISO 179, notched)[5][4]
Other impact dataCharpy unnotched 25 kJ/m² at 23 °C on injection-moulded specimens (Spectrum, ISO 179-1eU); ZYLtech notched Izod 6.9 kJ/m² (ISO 180)[1][2]Charpy unnotched, printed: 13–14 (Prusament, ISO 179-1), 26.6 (Bambu Lab PLA Basic)[3][4]
Layer adhesion / Z tensileMPaNot documented17–31 (Prusa interlayer test and printed Z tensile); 23 mean on My Tech Fun 4×4 mm bars[3][4][38]
Brittleness1–5Brittle — snaps with little warning; elongation at break 3.4 %[2]Brittle — snaps with little warning[26][28]
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][40]
Creep resistance / sustained load1–5Good — no creep test found; chopped glass fibre lifts modulus to 2540–2890 against 2379–2450 for unfilled ASA[2][33][32]Poor — deforms under load at room temperature; 12 mm bar sagged to 20.3 mm over 5 days at 1.25 kg[41][42]
Fatigue / repeated-flex resistance1–5Below average — no GF-grade S-N curve; elongation at break falls to 3.4 % against 6.7–9.2 % for unfilled ASA[2][33][32]Poor — 38 000–49 000 cycles at 30 % of tensile strength, against 79 000–193 000 for PETG (printed, R = 0.2, 7 Hz)[43][26]
Elasticity / flexibility1–5Rigid[2]Rigid[28]
Z strength as % of XY%Not documented77–89 on TDS specimens; ≈44 on My Tech Fun 4×4 mm bars[5][4][38]
Thermal Properties
HDT at 0.45 MPa°C100 (Spectrum, injection-moulded, ISO 75 at 0.45 MPa)[1]55–60 (ISO 75, 0.45 MPa)[3][5][4]
HDT at 1.8 MPa°C97–99 unannealed (ZYLtech, ISO 75 at 1.8 MPa; specimen type not stated); Spectrum 90 on injection-moulded specimens[2][1]54–58 (ISO 75, 1.8 MPa)[3][5][4]
Glass transition (Tg)°CNot documented55–61 (DSC)[3][5][4]
Melting point / Vicat°CAmorphous ASA matrix; Vicat 98 (Spectrum, ISO 306). ZYLtech quotes a 210–220 °C melting range by ISO 11357 for its grade[1][2]145–160 peak melt (Prusament, ISO 11357); 150 and 160 by DSC (PolyLite, Bambu Lab); Vicat 57–63 (ISO 306)[21][5][4]
Continuous service temperature°C93 — Prusa publishes this as the temperature resistance of Prusament ASA[44]50–55 — loaded bars begin to move at this temperature[28][38]
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][45]
Thermal expansion (CTE)µm/m·KNot documented96 ± 5 at 0° and 99 ± 5 at 90° raster (printed PLA, fibre Bragg grating, 25–50 °C)[46]
Flammability / UL 94Flammable; no UL 94 rating published[32]Flammable; no UL 94 rating published by the major brands[4][5]
Environment & Chemical
UV resistance1–5Excellent — designed for permanent outdoor use; Spectrum states the parts resist prolonged UV and moisture exposure[1][47]Degrades within weeks outdoors[26][21]
Outdoor durabilityNot documentedNot suitable for long-term outdoor use — UV embrittlement plus softening above 55 °C in direct sun[21][26]
Chemical resistanceGood against weak acids, weak alkalis, oils and grease; dissolved by acetone[33]Good against weak acids, oils and grease; poor against strong acids and alkalis; dissolved by chloroform, THF and hot benzene[5][26]
Water / humidity resistance in service1–5Not documentedGood — insoluble in water, absorbs 0.4–0.5 % at equilibrium[4][48]
Food contactNot food safe[24]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[26][48]
Biodegradability / compostabilityNot biodegradable[24]Industrially compostable only — needs sustained 55 °C and specific microbial conditions; not home compostable[48][26][4]
RecyclabilityNot accepted in household plastic collection[24]Mechanically recyclable; not accepted in household plastic collection, so brand take-back schemes are the practical route[48]
Health & Safety
Fume toxicity1–5High — hazardous VOC such as styrene; enclosure and filtration needed[49][23]Low hazard — minimal VOC and particle emission[49]
VOC emission rateµg/minNot documented4–5 lactide, the dominant VOC (chamber study, three printers)[49]
Ultrafine-particle emission rateparticles/minNot documented≈1 × 10⁸ median across three printers; only laywood ≈8 × 10⁷ and laybrick ≈6 × 10⁷ were lower[49]
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[23][49]Lactide (3,6-dimethyl-1,4-dioxane-2,5-dione) dominates; no styrene or caprolactam as a leading species[49]
Ventilation / filtration requirement1–5Enclosure with carbon and HEPA filtration[49][23]None needed in a normal room[49]
Dust & fibre handling hazardGlass fibre is bound in the matrix; avoid inhaling sanding dust[1]Not documented
Post-Processing
Sanding & machiningSands well and takes filler before painting[24]Wet sanding — dry sanding heats the surface by friction and smears it[21][26]
Painting & finishingPaints readily; ASA holds colour outdoors so many parts are left unpainted[24]Not documented
Gluing & solvent weldingSolvent-welds with acetone[33]Cyanoacrylate for most joints; some grades partially dissolve and bond with acetone, depending on additives and colour[26][22]
Vapour / chemical smoothingAcetone vapour smoothing works[33]No practical vapour smoothing — only chloroform, hot benzene or THF, which are laboratory-only[26]
Support material pairingHIPS breaks away or dissolves in d-limonene; Bambu Lab sells a Support for ABS that also serves ASA[23]PolySupport and PolyDissolve S1 (Polymaker); Support for PLA (Bambu Lab)[5][4]
Dimensional accuracy & detailNot documentedGood — low shrinkage and features under 0.2 mm resolve; 55° overhangs and 30 mm bridges[28][4][17]
Solvents & Solubility
Soluble inAcetone dissolves the resin and leaves the fibre; MEK, THF, ethyl acetate and chlorinated solvents attack the styrenic backbone.[50][33]Chloroform: 10 % w/v in 2–4 h at 23 °C, every grade and morphology; THF and DMF only at 65 °C. Laboratory reagents.[51]
Softened or crazed byLimonene attacks some grades — Prusa reports Prusament ASA Orange flaking apart as layer adhesion fails.[52]Acetone, ethyl acetate and toluene plasticise it but dissolve <1 % even at 65 °C; submersion in acetone crazes and destroys parts.[51][53]
Solvent welding & smoothing agentAcetone vapour reaches only the resin fraction, so the fibre is left standing proud of the smoothed surface.[53][33]Chloroform vapour smooths and welds PLA at the cost of tensile strength; acetone does not smooth it at all.[54][53]

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. Spectrum ASA-X GF10 Technical Data Sheet (mechanical and thermal data marked injection-moulded) Spectrum Filaments · 2026-08 · tds
  2. ZYLtech ASA-GF Filament Technical Data Sheet v1 ZYLtech · 2026-08 · 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. Filastruder product catalogue Filastruder · 2026-08 · vendor
  7. ZYLtech ASA-GF Glass Fiber filament — product page ZYLtech · 2026-08 · vendor
  8. PLA Basic — product page Bambu Lab US Store · 2026-08 · vendor
  9. MH Build Series PLA Filament White 1.75mm 1kg MatterHackers · 2026-08 · vendor
  10. 3DJAKE ecoPLA Black 1.75mm 1000g 3DJake International · 2026-08 · vendor
  11. Siraya Tech Fibreheart ASA-GF Filament product page Siraya Tech · 2026-08 · vendor
  12. JAYO PLA Classic 1.1KG 1.75mm JAYO Official Store · 2026-08 · vendor
  13. ELEGOO PLA Filament 1.75mm Colored 1KG Elegoo US Official Store · 2026-08 · vendor
  14. Fillamentum PLA Extrafill Natural 1kg Fillamentum USA · 2026-08 · vendor
  15. Prusament PLA Jet Black 1kg (NFC) Prusa Research · 2026-08 · vendor
  16. Filament Material Guide Prusa Knowledge Base · 2026-08 · doc
  17. PLA — Ultimate 3D Printing Materials Guide Simplify3D · 2026-08 · doc
  18. Fiberlogy rPLA Refill Anthracite 850 g 3DJake International · 2026-08 · vendor
  19. JAYO Silk PLA+ 1.75mm 1.1kg JAYO Official Store · 2026-08 · vendor
  20. ColorFabb PLA/PHA 750g 3D Universe · 2026-08 · vendor
  21. Prusament PLA Technical Data Sheet v1.0 Prusa Polymers · 2018-09 · tds
  22. Prusament rPLA Corn Pigment 1kg — product page Prusa Research · 2026-08 · vendor
  23. ABS / ASA / PC Usage Guide Bambu Lab Wiki · 2026-08 · doc
  24. ASA — material basics Polymaker Wiki · 2026-08 · doc
  25. ASA — Ultimate 3D Printing Materials Guide Simplify3D · 2026-08 · doc
  26. PLA — material guide Prusa Knowledge Base · 2026-08 · doc
  27. Max volumetric speed Prusa Knowledge Base · 2026-08 · doc
  28. Prusament PLA — material page Prusa Polymers · 2026-08 · doc
  29. PLA — material basics Polymaker Wiki · 2026-08 · doc
  30. Composite materials filled with carbon, kevlar or glass Prusa Knowledge Base · 2026-08 · doc
  31. Filament Drying Recommendations Bambu Lab Wiki · 2026-08 · doc
  32. Bambu Filament Technical Data Sheet V3.0 — ASA Bambu Lab · 2026-08 · tds
  33. PolyLite ASA Technical Data Sheet Polymaker · 2024-11 · tds
  34. Prusament ASA Technical Datasheet v1.1 Prusa Polymers · 2024-05 · tds
  35. PolySonic PLA Technical Data Sheet V5.4 Polymaker · 2024-11 · tds
  36. Wet Filament — signs, causes and drying Polymaker Wiki · 2026-08 · doc
  37. 16 PLA brand comparison test — results spreadsheet My Tech Fun (Igor Gaspar) · 2022-10 · test
  38. Creality Hyper PLA filament review — results spreadsheet My Tech Fun (Igor Gaspar) · 2026-08 · test
  39. Easy PLA — product and technical data Fiberlogy · 2026-08 · tds
  40. Carbon Fiber PLA vs META-PLA vs PLA+ vs PLA by Sunlu — results spreadsheet My Tech Fun (Igor Gaspar) · 2026-08 · test
  41. BambuLab PLA Basic vs PLA Tough vs PLA-CF — results spreadsheet My Tech Fun (Igor Gaspar) · 2026-08 · test
  42. PolyTerra PLA vs PLA+ — results spreadsheet My Tech Fun (Igor Gaspar) · 2026-08 · test
  43. Mechanical Properties of Additively Manufactured Polymeric Materials — PLA and PETG — For Biomechanical Applications Polymers 16(13):1868 · 2024-06 · paper
  44. Prusament ASA — material page Prusa Polymers · 2026-08 · doc
  45. Bambu Filament Technical Data Sheet V3.0 — PLA Matte Bambu Lab · 2026-08 · tds
  46. Characterization of Thermal Expansion Coefficient of 3D Printing Polymeric Materials Using Fiber Bragg Grating Sensors Materials 17(18):4668 · 2024-09 · paper
  47. ASA — FDM Material Data Sheet (includes 1000 h QUV exposure results) Stratasys · 2026-08 · tds
  48. Filamentive PLA (recycled) — product page Filamentive · 2026-08 · vendor
  49. 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
  50. Chemical resistance — resistance of Ensinger plastics to chemicals (DIN 50 014, 23/50) Ensinger · 2026-08 · tds
  51. Solubility Study of Ingeo Biopolymer Grades in Common Organic Solvents (NWPD003) NatureWorks · 2019-10 · tds
  52. HIPS — Knowledge Base Prusa Research · 2026-08 · doc
  53. Improve your 3D prints with chemical smoothing Prusa Research · 2026-08 · doc
  54. 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