ABS Resin

Details

Material hierarchy: Polymer - Thermoplastic - Styrenic

ABS (Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene) is an amorphous material, like RPVC. It is naturally ivory in color. It is made of three components, with varying degrees of each, depending on the properties desired. The acrylonitrile gives the material chemical resistance and heat stability, the butadiene gives it mechanical toughness and impact strength, and the styrene provides rigidity. ABS is used in many different areas because of its versatility. ABS is known for it good processability and it is easy to fabricate. It is desired for its high gloss and it can be colored to fit your needs.

ABS is called an engineering plastic due to its excellent combination of mechanical properties. ABS is a two-phase terpolymer, one phase being the hard copolymer styrene-acrylonitrile, while the other phase is styrene-butadiene copolymer that is rubbery. The name of the plastic is derived from the three starting monomers, which may be mixed in various proportions. Typical applications include components for automotive, appliances, business machines; and pipes and fittings.

ABS materials are composed of acrylonitrile, butadiene, and styrene in varying proportions, combined by a variety of methods including graft copolymerization and physical blending. Originally an outgrowth of polystyrene modification, the materials long have been in a category of their own.

ABS materials provide a balanced combination of mechanical toughness (Izod impacts can range from 2 ft-lb/in. of notch to 12 ft-lb/in. of notch), wide service temperature range (−40 to 240°F), good dimensional stability, chemical resistance, electrical insulating properties, and ease of fabrication.

ABS materials are produced in a wide range of grades including medium- and high-impact, heat-resistant, plateable fire-retardant, and both low- and high-gloss varieties.

ABS is used as a component in alloys with other plastics, notably polycarbonate, nylon, PVC, polysulfone, and SMA. Because of their stiff melt flow, most ABS polymers are difficult to color. ABS makers have installed sophisticated color matching and compounding equipment to meet customers' needs.

ABS is somewhat hygroscopic and has to be dried before processing.

ABS materials are available as compounds for injection molding, blow molding, extrusion, and calendaring, as sheet for thermoforming or cold forming, and in expandable grades for foam molding. Although most ABS materials are opaque, a transparent grade has been developed, using methyl methacrylate to match the refractive index to that of the rubber component.


ProsCons
  • have relatively good electrical insulating properties, which make them suitable for secondary insulating applications.
  • In general, ABS materials have very good resistance to a wide range of chemicals.
  • They exhibit low water absorption
  • very good in weak acids, and in both weak and strong alkalis
  • generally good in strong acids
  • poor in solvents such as esters, ketones, aldehydes, and some chlorinated hydrocarbons


Common Applications

The range of applications for ABS plastics is extremely broad. Falling in between the commodity plastics and the engineering resins, ABS fills the property requirements for many parts at a reasonable price. It is used in appliances, for example refrigerator door liners and crisper drawers. Because of its impact performance you will find ABS used in various housings, consoles, and toys. The automotive sector is a large consumer. You will find ABS used for instrument panels and trim. It can be used on the interior as well as the exterior of the vehicle.