Ultimate 3D Printing Materials Guide (2024)

FAQs

Is ASA stronger than ABS? ›

Flexibility: ASA plastic possesses greater flexibility compared to ABS, meaning that ASA is better at resisting impacts and is less prone to deformation when subjected to external forces. Hardness: ASA plastic has higher hardness than ABS, which means it can withstand compressive forces better.

Polycarbonate (PC) delivers high tensile strength along with high impact and heat resistance. It's widely seen as one of the strongest 3D printing filaments. PC can be a little complicated to 3D print with because it requires a relatively high extrusion and build plate temperature.

Strength. In terms of strength, both PLA and PETG offer good performance, but there are some key differences. PLA has a slightly higher tensile strength than PETG. However, it is more brittle than PETG, making it less resistant to impact or sudden forces.

PETG vs ABS: Strength and Durability

In terms of strength, PETG has a stronger tensile strength in comparison to ABS.

ASA has a slightly higher flexural modulus and melting temperature than PETG but a lower density and tensile strength. ASA also has better weather resistance than PETG but worse layer adhesion.

Due to its heritage, ASA still retains many of the same printability drawbacks that are seen with ABS. Warping is still a consistent issue that you need to account for, as well as the potentially dangerous fumes that the plastic emits during printing, due to the presence of Styrene.

PETG retraction parameters varied significantly from those for other filaments. This is because PETG prints at a relatively high temperature, making it difficult to stop and control the material flow.

PLA is brittle and weak. PLA+ is stronger, more flexible, and more ductile. The use of additional fillers/additives makes PLA+ have greater heat resistance than standard PLA. PLA+ materials are used in high-temperature environments—so long as the temperature doesn't exceed its glass-transition temperature of 130 °F.

PETG has a melting point of 260°C making it a high heat resistance filament. Due to this property, you can keep your printed parts out in the sun. PLA is not the filament you should use to print 3D models with outdoor applications since its melting point range from 160°C to 180°C.

At 180 °C is when PLA begins to melt and flow, while between 50 and 80 °C is when it begins to distort. This temperature is fairly low and not good for most functional prints. You also can't expose your PLA prints to the sun, or else they'll begin to lose their shape.

How long will PLA last in sunlight? ›

PLA that's not sealed and exposed to direct sunlight may only survive in 1 year. PLA exposed to direct sunlight at ambient temperature can survive for 1 week then it becomes brittle. PLA filaments exposed to more than 60% humidity can be usable for less than a month but can produce bad prints.

However, avoid washing with very hot water, as PETG is more prone to moisture absorption at higher temperatures. On a similar note, always use caution when turning to your PETG part for a given food application. Boiling water is too hot for PETG to handle safely.

You can find a detailed technical data sheet here. ASA can be considered a true successor to ABS. Compared to ABS, it's UV stable, it doesn't suffer from shrinking so badly and the fumes produced are much less noticeable. ASA 3D prints are durable, tough and suitable for a wide range of applications.

PLA and ABS are both thermoplastics. PLA is stronger and stiffer than ABS, but poor heat-resistance properties means PLA is mostly a hobbyist material. ABS is weaker and less rigid, but also tougher and lighter, making it a better plastic for prototyping applications.

ASA plastic is a tough and strong material known for its high impact, wear, and UV resistance. ASA can also withstand extremely high and low temperatures as well as several chemicals like saturated hydrocarbons, aqueous salt solutions, weak acids and alkalis, and many oils.

The high elastomer content of the ASA cap provides an ultra low-gloss look and a soft-touch feel that makes it ideal for multiple interior and exterior applications. Since ASA is compatible with ABS, regrind can be re-used back into future extrusion runs, without significant loss in performance.