For all your Gold Coast plastic fabrication, cutting, moulding and prototyping needs
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Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene (ABS)
ABS is an opaque engineering thermoplastic widely used in the plastics industry.
What is Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene (ABS)?
ABS plastic is an opaque thermoplastic and amorphous polymer. That means that the material responds well to heat treatment. Instead of burning, thermoplastics become liquid at a certain temperature - in the case of ABS, approximately 100 degrees Celsius. The material can be heated to its melting point, cooled and reheated without significant degradation.
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Performance characteristics of Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene (ABS)
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Resistant to corrosive chemicals
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Strong - resistant to physical impact
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Easy to machine, mould, sand, bond and paint
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Relatively inexpensive
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Colour fast in a wide range of opaque colours
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Wide range of cosmetic finishes (eg. matte, texture, gloss)
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Limitations of Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene (ABS)
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Poor solvent and fatigue resistance
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Poor UV resistance
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Not suitable for high temperature applications (maximum continuous use temperature of approximately 70 degrees C)
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Poor bearing properties (not suitable for high friction or wear applications)
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​Applications for Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene (ABS)
The uses for ABS plastic are incredibly wide ranging. Being structurally sturdy, ABS is a good choice for housings, fittings, covers, components and packaging - really, any application where an inexpensive, impact-resistant, mouldable plastic is called for.
ABS can also be a good material choice for plastic prototyping. ABS prototypes can often be produced quickly and affordably. We invite you to talk with us about your prototyping needs.