Every filament looks fine outdoors for the first month. The difference shows up after a summer.
PLA goes soft and warps in direct sun. PETG survives longer but yellows and eventually turns brittle under UV. ABS cracks. ASA is specifically formulated to resist all of that, which is why it is what gets used for automotive exterior trim and outdoor signage.
Why ASA and not ABS
ASA and ABS are chemically close, and print almost identically. The difference is in the UV-exposed acrylic component of ASA, which does not degrade the way ABS does.
Left in sunlight, ABS yellows and develops surface cracks within months. ASA keeps its colour and mechanical properties for years. Given that they cost about the same and print the same way, there is very little reason to choose ABS for anything that sees daylight.
ASA also shares ABS's useful party trick: it can be smoothed with acetone vapour for a glossy, sealed, injection-moulded look.
EMBERFORM ASA at a glance
| Diameter | 1.75 mm (±0.03 mm) |
| Net weight | 1 kg |
| Spool length | ~340 m |
| Nozzle temperature | 240-270 °C |
| Bed temperature | 80-100 °C |
| Price | $16 per spool |
Use an enclosure. ASA warps and cracks badly in a draught, and an enclosure is the difference between a clean part and a delaminated one. Print in a well-ventilated area, and use an adhesive on the bed to help the first layer hold.
What it is for
Outdoor fixtures, automotive parts, enclosures, planters, signage, and functional prototypes that will live somewhere hot. It also has high heat resistance generally, which makes it suitable for parts near motors, electronics or engine bays.
Stocked in Black and White.
Printing ASA successfully
- Enclosure, seriously. The most common ASA failure is a tall part splitting horizontally partway up. That is a cold draught, not a bad spool.
- Ventilate. ASA produces noticeable fumes. Print in a ventilated room, not a sealed bedroom.
- Slow the first layer and use adhesive. Bed adhesion is where ASA prints are won or lost.
- Minimal cooling. Unlike PLA, part cooling actively hurts ASA. Fans off or very low.
Buy it in Lebanon
EMBERFORM ASA is $16 for a 1 kg spool, in stock and shipping across Lebanon for a flat $5, typically in 3-4 days. We accept Cash on Delivery and Whish.
Not sure this is the right material? The filament materials guide compares every EMBERFORM filament side by side, or browse engineering filaments and display filaments.