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ABS Characteristics
ABS (acrylonitrile-butadlene-styrene) is a low-cost engineering thermoplastic that is easily machined, fabricated and thermoformed.
Is ABS Food Safe?
ABS plastic is considered food safe. It can be safely used in food processing and food handling operations. So, yes, ABS is food safe for processors.
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 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 display almost any color.
This material is primarily for indoor use. 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.
As a thermoplastic, ABS material is recyclable.
ABS Offers These Advantages
Safe for food processing- 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
- Recyclable
Applications for ABS Thermoplastic
- Food processing components
- Plumbing parts
- Housings and covers
- Automotive instrument panels
- Vacuum-formed parts
- Prototypes
- Protective bumpers
Contact a Dielectric Manufacturing knowledge expert to discuss use of food-safe ABS for fabrication of your plastic parts, including parts used in food processing operations. Call 800-367-9122 or email sales@dielectricmfg.com.
ABS Material Properties
Dielectric Manufacturing, Richfield, Wisconsin USA dielectricmfg.com ABS Material Properties Provided By Dielectric Manufacturing, Richfield, Wisconsin
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
