ABS Blends – Thermoplastic Alloy

To overcome some of these limitations, ABS can be readily blended or alloyed with other polymers such as PA, PBT, PC etc. This blending with polymers further increases the range of properties available such as mechanical, thermal... & more. Get instant access commercially available ABS/thermoplastics blends using the link below:

ABS/PC is an abbreviated form used for acrylonitrile butadiene styrene/polycarbonate blend. It is a thermoplastic alloy made up of polycarbonate and acrylonitrile butadiene styrene. Both of these polymers are widely used on their own and have very specific properties and also drawbacks of their own.

However, when alloyed together they form one of the most widely used industrial amorphous thermoplastics with:

·         Enhanced processability

·         Good flow characteristics, strength, stiffness and,

·         Good heat resistivity 

Furthermore, additives can be added in the blend to improve for example its UV and oxidation stability, fire safety and reinforcing agents such as glass fibers and mineral fillers are added to improve the blend's strength and rigidity.

Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene/Polycarbonate (ABS/PC) blends are commonly used in commercial and industrial applications such as example automotive, electronics, telecommunication, etc. where hard yet light-weight, heat resistant and easily processed materials are required.

Applications of Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene (ABS)

Several properties like high impact strength, heat performance etc. make ABS suitable for use in automotive, home appliances, electronics, building & construction, transportation industries and many more.

Automotive Applications – ABS is the preferred engineering plastic when it comes to dealing with automotive applications. There has been an increasing focus on weight reduction in automotive. Being a great substitute to metals, ABS has been extensively used in manufacturing automotive parts.

Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene applications in automotive and transportation include:

·         Instrument panels

·         Pillar trim

·         Dashboard components

·         Door liners and handles

·         Seat backs, seat belt components, etc.

Appliances – Used of ABS in appliances include appliance control panels, housings (shavers, vacuum cleaners, food processors), refrigerator liners, etc. Household and consumer goods are the major applications of ABS. Keyboard keycaps are commonly made out of ABS.

Electrical & Electronics Applications – ABS provides good all-round performance for electronic enclosures, computer keyboards etc.

Pipes and fittings made from ABS are widely used as they are easier to install and do not rot, rust or corrode. Under proper handling, they withstand earth loads and shipping & can also resist mechanical damage, even at low temperatures.

ABS is further used to make legos, instruments, sports equipment, gardening tools, medical applications include manufacturing nebulizers, compressors and more.

ABS Processing Conditions

Acrylonitrile-butadiene Styrene (ABS) has a broad processing window and can be processed on most standard machinery.

1.      Injection Molding

a.       Pre-drying is not always needed for injection molding with a vented cylinder. In case drying is needed then 4 hours at 80°C is generally sufficient. Signs of moisture are stripes, streaks or bubbles in the molding and if any of these are seen then the material should be pre-dried

b.      Melt temperature: 210-270°C

c.       Mold temperature: of 40-70°C

d.      Material Injection Pressure: 50 - 100 MPa

e.       Injection Speed: Moderate - High

2.      Extrusion

a.       Pre-Drying: 3 hours at 70-80°C

b.      Extrusion temperature: 210 to 240°C

c.       Screw Design: L/D ratio of 25-30 is recommended

ABS Properties for 3D Printing

ABS is one of the most versatile materials available for 3D printing today. ABS comes in the form of a long filament wound around a spool. The 3D Printing process used with ABS is the FDM (Fusion Deposition modelling) process where material is heated and squeezed through a fine nozzle to build your design in 250 micron layers.

Objects printed with ABS boast slightly higher strength, flexibility, and durability. It is a great material for prototyping and it can be easily machined, sanded, glued and painted.

One of main competitors of 3D Printing ABS is PLA. Unlike ABS, PLA is a renewably derived plastic. It is therefore biodegradable whereas ABS is only biocompatible. However, like many plastic materials, ABS is recyclable.

ABS Recycling and Toxicity

As mentioned above ABS plastic is biocompatible and recyclable material. ABS does not have its own plastic number. Products made with ABS use recycling number #9.

·         ABS is 100% recyclable

·         ABS is non-toxic and harmless

It doesn't have any known carcinogens, and there are no known adverse health effects related to exposure to its exposure. It is stable and non-leaching.