ABS Characteristics
ABS (acrylonitrile-butadlene-styrene) is a low-cost engineering thermoplastic that is easily machined, fabricated and thermoformed. This thermoplastic material has excellent chemical, stress and creep resistance. ABS offers a good balance of impact, heat, chemical and abrasion resistance, dimensional stability, tensile strength, surface hardness, rigidity and electrical characteristics.
ABS is considered a food grade thermoplastic, and can be safe for use in food processing.
ABS plastic remains hard, rigid and tough even at low temperatures. It is available in fire-retardant, heat-resistant and platable grades. Impact strength varies by grade. See the chart below for ABS yield strength, Young’s modulus (ABS elasticity), tensile yield strength of ABS plastic, mechanical properties of ABS plastic, and other properties.
Most natural ABS resins are translucent to opaque, but they can be produced in transparent grades and can be pigmented to almost any color.
General purpose grades may work for some outdoor applications, but prolonged exposure to sunlight causes color changes and reduces surface gloss, hardness, impact strength and elastic modulus. Set the chart below for details of the material properties of ABS.
ABS Offers These Advantages
Excellent impact, chemical and abrasion resistance- Superior stiffness and strength
- Easily machined and thermoformed
- Easy to paint and glue
- Good dimensional stability
- Excellent electrical properties
Applications for ABS Thermoplastic
- Plumbing parts
- Housings and covers
- Automotive instrument panels
- Vacuum-formed parts
- Prototypes
- Food processing components
- Bumpers
Contact a Dielectric Manufacturing knowledge expert to discuss use of ABS for fabrication of your plastic parts. Call 800-367-9122 or email sales@dielectricmfg.com.
ABS Material Properties
| Property | Metric | units | English | units |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| General | ||||
| Density | 1.01e3 - 1.21e3 | kg/m^3 | 63.1 - 75.5 | lb/ft^3 |
| Mechanical | ||||
| Yield Strength | 1.85e7 - 5.1e7 | Pa | 2.68 - 7.4 | ksi |
| Tensile Strength | 2.76e7 - 5.52e7 | Pa | 4 - 8.01 | ksi |
| Elongation | 0.015 - 1 | % strain | 1.5 - 100 | % strain |
| Hardness (Vickers) | 5.49e7 - 1.5e8 | Pa | 5.6 - 15.3 | HV |
| Fracture Toughness | 1.19e6 - 4.29e6 | Pa/m^0.5 | 1.08 - 3.9 | ksi/in^0.5 |
| Young's Modulus | 1.19e9 - 2.9e9 | Pa | 0.16 - 0.421 | 10^6 psi |
| Thermal | ||||
| Max Service Temperature | 61.9 - 76.9 | °C | 143 - 170 | °F |
| Insulator or Conductor | Insulator | Insulator | ||
| Specific Heat Capability | 1.39e3 - 1.92e3 | J/kg °C | 0.331 - 0.458 | BTU/lb. °F |
| Thermal Expansion Coefficient | 8.46e-5 - 2.34e-4 | strain/°C | 47 - 130 | µstrain/°F |
| Eco | ||||
| CO2 Footprint | 9.1e7 - 1.02e8 | kg/kg | 3.27 - 3.62 | lb/lb |
| Recyclable | Yes | Yes |
