Short answer
Will the part be outdoors, withstanding sun, rain and temperature swings? Then ASA is the obvious choice. If the part does not need to be outside, ABS can do the same job, and if you want the easiest possible print, choose PLA.
What is ASA? The short answer
ASA (acrylic styrene acrylonitrile) is a strong, durable filament similar to ABS but with better UV and weather resistance (see ASA vs ABS). It is the first choice for parts that will be outdoors, where colour and strength need to last over time.
Weather- & UV-resistant
Acrylic styrene acrylonitrile
Best for: Outdoor parts, signs & durable functional parts
- Very good UV and weather resistance
- Strong and durable
- Keeps its colour outdoors
- Handles heat well
Needs the right conditions
Heated bed & enclosure
Less suited to: Beginners & open printers in draughty rooms
- Corners lift, like ABS
- Needs a bed at around 90–110 °C
- Benefits from an enclosed space
- Good ventilation recommended
Rule of thumb: Will the part be outdoors, withstanding sun, rain and temperature swings? Then ASA is the obvious choice. If the part does not need to be outside, ABS can do the same job, and if you want the easiest possible print, choose PLA.
Advantages and what to bear in mind
Very good UV and weather resistance. Keeps its colour outdoors and handles heat well.
Strong and durable. Tough and resistant to impact.
Corners lift, like ABS. Needs a bed around 90–110 °C and is best printed in an enclosure. Make sure the room is well ventilated.
ASA in practice
ASA prints at 230–265 °C with a bed temperature of 90–110 °C. Like ABS, it shrinks as it cools and the corners can lift. An enclosure that keeps the heat even helps a lot. Keep the speed moderate, around 35–70 mm/s, so the layers bond well. Ventilate while printing. You will find every setting step by step in How to print ASA.
What you get is parts that can live outdoors. Where PLA softens in the sun and colours can fade, ASA keeps its shape and colour season after season.
Our data sheets give ASA a tensile strength of 47.1 MPa and an elongation at break of 25 percent. That makes it tough and good at taking knocks. The density is low, 1.07 g/cm³.
Weather resistance is where ASA earns its place. It stands up to UV light and weather considerably better than most other filaments, so it suits signs, holders, brackets and parts that stay outdoors all year. For stiffer parts, ASA also comes as a carbon fiber variant, which adds the strength of carbon fibre to the weather resistance.
Technical data
The table summarises the key figures from our data sheets, with PLA as the reference. Exact values may vary slightly between colours and variants.
When should you choose ASA?
Our ASA filament comes both as a classic variant and as carbon fiber, at the same good price as the rest of the range. If you are unsure how it differs from the easier materials, read PLA vs PETG.
→ Choose ASA
When the part will sit outdoors and withstand sun, rain and temperature swings without fading or weakening. Signs, holders, brackets and outdoor parts. Provided you have a printer with a heated bed.
→ Choose something else
If the part will not be outdoors, ABS does the same job. If you want the easiest possible print, choose PLA, and if you need moisture and chemical resistance without an enclosure, PETG is easier to work with.
Frequently asked questions about ASA
Which filament lasts best outdoors?
ASA. It is designed for outdoor use and keeps both its shape and its colour in sun and rain. PLA softens in the sun and can fade, and ABS works well indoors but has weaker UV and weather resistance than ASA.
What is the difference between ASA and ABS?
They are closely related and have similar strength and heat resistance, but ASA has clearly better UV and weather resistance. For parts that will sit outdoors ASA is the better choice, while ABS works very well indoors.
Can ASA stay outdoors all year round?
Yes. ASA is developed specifically for outdoor use and keeps both its shape and colour when exposed to sun and weather, where many other materials fade or soften over time.
Do I need an enclosed printer for ASA?
It is recommended. Like ABS, ASA shrinks as it cools and the corners can lift. An enclosure that keeps the heat even gives a much more reliable result. Good ventilation is also a plus.
Is ASA difficult to print?
It is more demanding than PLA and PETG, mainly because the corners tend to lift (warping). With a hot bed (90–110 °C), moderate speed and ideally an enclosure, the results are still reliable.
ASA in 5 shades, from 190 SEK
Every colour test-printed, vacuum-packed with a silica gel sachet and shipped from Tibro within 48 hours.
