ABS or Acrylonitrile butadiene styrene is a common thermoplastic polymer typically used for injection molding applications. This engineering plastic is popular due to its low production cost and the ease with which the material is machined by plastic manufacturers. Better yet, its natural benefits of affordability and machinability do not hinder the ABS material’s desired properties:
- Impact Resistance
- Structural Strength and Stiffness
- Chemical Resistance
- Excellent High and Low Temperature Performance
- Great Electrical Insulation Properties
- Easy to Paint and Glue
ABS plastic attains these physical attributes through the initial creation process. By polymerizing styrene and acrylonitrile in the presence of polybutadiene, chemical “chains” attract each other and bind together to make ABS stronger. This combination of materials and plastics provides ABS with superior hardness, gloss, toughness and resistance properties, greater than that of pure polystyrene. View a detailed ABS Material Data Sheet to learn more about ABS’s physical, mechanical, electrical and thermal properties.
ABS plastic is advantageous in a wide variety of industries; however, certain physical limitations restrict the materials use in certain products and applications. These shortcomings include:
- Weatherability (damaged by sunlight)
- Solvent Resistance
- Hazardous When Burned
- Limited Uses in Association with Food Industry
- Higher Price Than Polystyrene or Polyethylene
Thankfully, these limited disadvantages have not prevented ABS from providing effective solutions to thousands of industries and quality products for millions of different applications. The broad spectrum of ABS’s involvement in common products and applications that assist daily life is staggering. Here is a small selection of well-known products and applications that rely on ABS material: LEGO bricks, small kitchen appliances, keyboard keycaps, automotive components, protective headgear and musical instruments. Just to name a few!
All these products and applications are possible due to ABS’s ability to be injection molded and extruded, one of Plastic Extrusion Technologies many capabilities. With over 100 years in the plastics industry, Plastic Extrusion Technologies is one of many plastic manufacturers who use ABS material to create quality products and provide plastic solutions to companies around the world. Call or contact Plastic Extrusion Technologies today to learn more about ABS material and our plastic extrusion services.