3D Printing Guides

PLA vs ABS: Ultimate Filament comparison

What should you consider in 3D printing your part, PLA or ABS? These two most popular filaments have both pros and cons, but which should you use? In this post, we will uncover the differences between PLA and ABS, and present to you why you should choose one over the other.

strength testing 3d prints
Strength testing of 3D Prints: CNC Kitchen

Which is better, PLA or ABS?

However, considering that you’ve asked this question means that you may be just beginning your 3D printing journey. With that, we can give you an immediate answer to this question: PLA is the better material to begin with 3D printing. We’ve answered your question, at least from a beginner’s point of view. We still recommend ABS also for many reasons, but please read on to know more.

Printing Requirements

3d printing

PLA and ABS are relatively the earlier filaments to get into the market. Although ABS was earlier adopted as a filament before PLA, the former is a harder material to use. This is the primary reason why ABS is not recommended to begin with when you’re starting with 3D printers.

The printing requirements for PLA and ABS differs in these areas:

Extruder Temperature

 

PLA 

ABS

Extruder Temperature

190- 210 °C

220- 260 °C

The temperature needed to melt PLA is around 190-210 °C, while ABS is at about 220-260 °C. At first glance, you may think that this won’t matter too much, since you can just set your extruder temperature accordingly. Most 3D printers in the hobbyist level are on specs, as they can be able to print up to 260°C, covering ABS’ max printing temperature.

The problem here is that these hobby 3D printer extruders have a PTFE tube inside, installed just before the hotend. This PTFE tube guides the filament into the hotend. PTFE, in general, has a max working temperature of 260°C.

According to the experiences of 3D print hobbyists, the PTFE tube deteriorates over time when printing at high temperatures. On paper, it may seem okay, but with repeated exposure to ABS printing temperatures, 3D printer users have experienced melting/ burning PTFE tubes that caused clogging.

Bed Temperature

 

PLA 

ABS

Heated Bed Temperature

50-60 °C

95-110 °C

Similar to the issue with hotend temperature, PLA can be printed fine on hobby 3D printers as most of them can reach up to 70 °C easily. Moreover, PLA can also be printed with no bed healing with the use of adhesive materials and special bed materials.

On the other hand, reaching the ABS hotend temperature can be an issue for some 3D printers. They can be slow, and sometimes not reachable by the 3D printer.

Enclosure

 

PLA

ABS

Requires Enclosure?

No

Yes

We can say that Polylactic Acid or PLA is the most accessible filament because it does not need a 3D printer enclosure to achieve a successful print.

ABS, on the other hand, requires enclosure as it is sensitive to sudden changes in temperature. ABS tends to shrink once it is cooled. This is what causes it to warp and separate at its layers. An open frame 3d printer can expose an ABS 3D print to this unstable ambient temperature. This makes ABS more troublesome to work with unless you have a printer tuned in to its requirements.

Cooling

 

PLA

ABS

Cooling Fan

100%

0%

PLA loves cooling. A good part cooling system is a great benefit for PLA. As PLA is not sensitive with drafts, PLA can get the most out of cooling, as you can print better overhangs, increase print speed, and capture better details.

For ABS, cooling is not recommended. When turned on, the cooling fan will introduce a variance of temperature on the printed part, which can cause warping during the start of the print or layer separation, especially for large ABS parts.

Material Properties

3d print properties
With the given printing requirements, will it be worth using PLA or ABS? We’ll break down the properties of both and compare them as well.

Strength

 Tensile Strength (psi)
PLA8383.18 
ABS6500
In terms of the tensile strength (the maximum stress a material can handle before breaking. Also called or ultimate strength), PLA is significantly greater than ABS. This would mean that PLA can handle greater loads.
 

Flexural Strength (psi)

PLA

8020.58

ABS

11000

However, for flexural strength (maximum stress a material can handle when bending), ABS is better. This means that for thin prints that have a tendency to bend, ABS is a better choice.
 

Izod Impact Strength

PLA

26 J/m

ABS

34 J/m

Impact strength, or toughness, is a material’s ability to absorb impact without breaking. This comparison proves that ABS is better at handling impact than PLA. With this, it is more recommended to use ABS if your prints are exposed to sudden forces (e.g. falling, hammering, etc.)

Note: There is more to 3D printed part strength aside from material selection. Test and studies show that there are other things that you should consider. There are other factors that affect 3D printing strength, such as printing orientation, print quality, filament quality, and your print settings.

Density

 

Density

PLA

1.24 g/cm3

ABS

1.04 g/cm3

This shows that PLA filament has more mass per unit volume than ABS. Meaning, if you print the same 3D model with PLA and ABS, the part printed with PLA will weigh more. This leans more as a benefit for ABS, especially for prototyping. For example, ABS will be a better material for printing RC parts, drones, etc.

Also, when you buy a PLA and ABS filament for 1 kg each, that means you get to have longer filament for ABS!

Heat Resistance

 

Max. Working Temperature

PLA

52°C

ABS

98°C

 

Glass Transition Temperature

PLA

60°C

ABS

105°C

 

The following tables show the difference between the heat resistance of PLA and ABS. It is evident that ABS handles temperature better as it can be functional until 98 °C, and will begin to soften at the glass transition temperature of 105 °C. PLA on the other hand can only be functional at about 52°C and will start melting at 60°C.

Cooling

 

PLA

ABS

Cooling Fan

100%

0%

PLA loves cooling. A good part cooling system is a great benefit for PLA. As PLA is not sensitive with drafts, PLA can get the most out of cooling, as you can print better overhangs, increase print speed, and capture better details.

For ABS, cooling is not recommended. When turned on, the cooling fan will introduce a variance of temperature on the printed part, which can cause warping during the start of the print or layer separation, especially for large ABS parts.

Part Accuracy

calibration cube 3d print
 

Shrinkage rate

PLA

0.2-0.25%

ABS

0.8%

For part accuracy, PLA is a much better material, as it shrinks at about 0.2 to 0.25 % only, as compared to ABS, which can shrink over 0.8%, according to 3dprintergeeks. Moreover, the tendency of ABS to warp makes ABS a material hard to use for detailed and accurate print.

Surface Finish and Post Processing

Post-processing with ABS tends to be easier for the following reasons:

Acetone smoothing

ABS prints can be smoothed by using acetone. Acetone smoothing is done by enclosing ABS print in a chamber and exposing it to acetone vapor. The acetone vapor can dissolve the surface of your ABS part, and smooth out the layer lines, resulting in a glossy finish.

Easier Sanding

Since PLA is temperature-sensitive, sanding PLA can be detrimental to the print, especially when not done carefully. ABS, on the other hand, can be sanded with the assistance of machines.

On the other hand, PLA has options for post-processing as well:

Thermoforming

Although the temperature sensitivity of PLA is painted as a disadvantage for the material, you can also use this property for easy thermoforming. Thermoforming is a process of heating PLA and then forming it to the desired shape.

Sanding

PLA parts can, of course, be sanded as well. As earlier stated, take precautions in sanding PLA by doing it more slowly. Applying water while sanding also helps to prevent heating up the part during the process.

Smoothing

There are several products in the market that also provides smoothing to PLA or any 3D printed material. Conventional substances like primer paints, epoxy, wood fillers were used by several 3D print enthusiasts with success.

Price

3d printed signs
When it comes to pricing, ABS and PLA prices are almost equal. Both average about $20 to $28 per kg of filament. This factor will not matter in your selection between PLA and ABS.
High-Quality ABS Filament starts at $25.99
Customer Ratings: 5/5
5/5
High-Quality PLA Filament starts at $25.99
Customer Ratings: 5/5
5/5

Wrapping Up

Our comparison between PLA and ABS ends here, but here are the points you should remember.

PLA and ABS have both pros and cons in the 3D printing industry. We recommend PLA for people who are just starting on 3D printing. Soon after, you can try our ABS for tougher prints that you can use in practical projects.

When to use PLA?

  • Best for beginners
  • Prints in almost any 3D Printer
  • For detailed prints
  • Low-temperature applications

When to use ABS?

  • Best for lightweight applications
  • Recommended for prints that require toughness
  • High-temperature applications (up to 98°C)
  • Easy post-processing
PLA and ABS have both pros and cons in the 3D printing industry. We recommend PLA for people who are just starting on 3D printing. Soon after, you can try our ABS for tougher prints that you can use in practical projects.

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