ASA Filament
ASA is impact, UV, and temperature resistant, and is used frequently for outdoor applications. Overview | Positives & NegativesHardware RequirementsAn Overview of ASA Filament
ASA, also known as Acrylic Styrene Acrylonitrile, is a 3D printable plastic with properties similar to ABS. It was originally developed as an alternative to ABS that would be more UV resistant by changing the type of rubber that’s used in the formulation. ASA is known for high impact resistance, higher temperature resistance, and increased printing difficulty.
It’s commonly used in outdoor applications instead of ABS due to its superior resistance to UV and harsh weather conditions. 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.
Positives
- Strong UV resistance
- High impact and wear resistance
- High glass transition temperature
Negatives
- Expensive
- Requires higher extruder temperatures
- Requires ventilation due to potentially dangerous fumes
Typical Hardware Requirements
Printer Bed
Temperature: 90-110 °C
Heated Bed Required
No Enclosure Required
Build Surface
Kapton tape
PET Sheets
ABS/ASA Slurry
Filament Extruder
Temperature: 220-245 °C
No special hotend required
Cooling Fan
Cooling Fan Not Required
Getting Started
Common Applications
- Automotive exterior parts
- Outdoor electronics housings
- Exterior signage
Sample Projects
Popular Brands
- Fillamentum Extrafil
- 3DXTECH
- Matterhackers
- Rigid.ink