About Acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) Material

Acrylonitrile butadiene styrene, or ABS, (chemical formula (C8H8· C4H6·C3H3N)n) is a common thermoplastic used to make light, rigid, molded products such as piping, plastic for electronics component, gear, automotive body parts, wheel covers, enclosures, protective head gear, toys, small appliance housings and power tools applications (hair dryers, blenders, food processors, lawnmowers, etc.


ABS is the polymerization of Acrylonitrile, Butadiene, and Styrene monomers, the proportions can vary from 15 to 35% acrylonitrile, 5 to 30% butadiene and 40 to 60% styrene. The result is a long chain of polybutadiene criss-crossed with shorter chains of poly(styrene-co-acrylonitrile). The nitrile groups from neighboring chains, being polar, attract each other and bind the chains together, making ABS stronger than pure polystyrene. this polymers can be engineered by the manufacturer togive a range of physical properties, depending on the ratio of the monomeric constituents and the molecular level connectivity. Typically, a styrene-acrylonitrile glassy phase is toughened by an amorphous butadiene/butadiene-acrylonitrile rubber phase.

ABS Properties
ABS polymers are resistant to aqueous acids, alkalis, concentrated hydrochloric and phosphoric acids, alcohols and animal, vegetable and mineral oils, but they are swollen by glacial acetic acid, carbon tetrachloride and aromatic hydrocarbons and are attacked by concentrated sulfuric and nitric acids. They are soluble in esters, ketones and ethylene dichloride.

Injection molding processing conditions
Melt Temperature
200 - 280 C (392 - 536 F); Aim: 230 C (446 F). Average value: 232 °C
Feed Temperature 191 - 210 °C 375 - 410 °F Average value: 200 °C
Rear Barrel Temperature 149 - 227 °C 300 - 441 °F Average value: 196 °C
Middle Barrel Temperature 177 - 250 °C 350 - 482 °F Average value: 214 °C
Front Barrel Temperature 191 - 249 °C 375 - 480 °F Average value: 225 °C
Nozzle Temperature 191 - 274 °C 375 - 525 °F Average value: 227 °C
Adapter Temperature 221 - 241 °C 430 - 465 °F Average value: 231 °C
Mold Temperature 25 - 80 C (77 - 176 F). Mold temperatures control the gloss properties; lower mold temperatures produce lower gloss levels.
Dry Time 2.00 - 24.0 hour 2.00 - 24.0 hour Average value: 4.01 hour
Material Injection Pressure 50 - 100 MPa, Average value: 45.9 MPa
Back Pressure 0.172 - 2.00 MPa 24.9 - 290 psi Average value: 0.702 MPa
Shot Size 30.0 - 80.0 % 30.0 - 80.0 % Average value: 57.9 %
Vent Depth 0.00380 - 0.00760 cm 0.00150 - 0.00299 in Average value: 0.00487 cm G
Screw Speed 25.0 - 100 rpm 25.0 - 100 rpm Average value: 63.7 rpm


Physical Properties
Density 0.350 - 1.26 g/cc 0.0126 - 0.0455 lb/in³ Average value: 1.05 g/cc
Water Absorption 0.0500 - 2.30 % 0.0500 - 2.30 % Average value: 0.565 %
Moisture Absorption at Equilibrium 0.200 - 0.450 % 0.200 - 0.450 % Average value: 0.339 %
Water Absorption at Saturation 0.300 % 0.300 % Average value: 0.300 %
Maximum Moisture Content 0.150 0.150 Average value: 0.150
Linear Mold Shrinkage 0.00240 - 0.00800 cm/cm 0.00240 - 0.00800 in/in Average value: 0.00536 cm/cm
Linear Mold Shrinkage, Transverse 0.00250 - 0.00700 cm/cm 0.00250 - 0.00700 in/in Average value: 0.00519 cm/cm
Melt Flow 0.0800 - 56.7 g/10 min 0.0800 - 56.7 g/10 min Average value: 10.1 g/10 min

ABS Resistance:
Excellent resistance (no attack) to Glycerine, Inorganic Salts, Alkalis, Many Acids, Most Alcohols and Hydrocarbons
Limited resistance (moderate attack and suitable for short term use only) to Weak Acids
Poor resistance (not recommended for use with) Strong Acids and Solvents, Ketones, Aldehydes, Esters, and some Chlorinated Hydrocarbons.

Mechanical Properties
Hardness, Rockwell R 90.0 - 119 90.0 - 119 Average value: 107
Tensile Strength, Ultimate 20.0 - 43.0 MPa 2900 - 6240 psi Average value: 31.8 MPa

Tensile Strength, Yield 20.0 - 65.0 MPa 2900 - 9430 psi Average value: 43.5 MPa
Elongation at Break 2.40 - 110 % 2.40 - 110 % Average value: 27.0 %
Elongation at Yield 1.70 - 6.00 % 1.70 - 6.00 % Average value: 3.00 %
Modulus of Elasticity 1.52 - 6.10 GPa 220 - 885 ksi Average value: 2.34 GPa
Flexural Modulus 1.50 - 25.0 GPa 218 - 3630 ksi Average value: 2.47 GPa
Flexural Yield Strength 40.0 - 95.1 MPa 5800 - 13800 psi Average value: 69.0 MPa
Izod Impact, Unnotched 0.981 J/cm - NB 1.84 ft-lb/in - NB Average value: 3.46 J/cm
Izod Impact, Unnotched (ISO) 39.2 kJ/m² - NB 18.7 ft-lb/in² - NB Average value: 39.2 kJ/m²
Izod Impact, Unnotched Low Temp 0.600 - 2.00 J/cm 1.12 - 3.75 ft-lb/in Average value: 1.28 J/cm
Izod Impact, Notched, Low Temp (ISO) 5.00 - 14.0 kJ/m² 2.38 - 6.66 ft-lb/in² Average value: 8.18 kJ/m²
Charpy Impact Unnotched 2.00 J/cm² - NB 9.52 ft-lb/in² - NB Average value: 14.3 J/cm²
Charpy Impact, Notched, Low Temp 0.200 - 1.60 J/cm² 0.952 - 7.61 ft-lb/in² Average value: 0.831 J/cm²
Charpy Impact, Unnotched Low Temp 0.300 J/cm² - NB 1.43 ft-lb/in² - NB Average value: 7.15 J/cm²
Charpy Impact, Notched 0.500 - 14.0 J/cm² 2.38 - 66.6 ft-lb/in² Average value: 2.18 J/cm²
Gardner Impact 1.80 - 22.6 J 1.33 - 16.7 ft-lb Average value: 15.5 J
Falling Dart Impact 2.82 - 37.6 J 2.08 - 27.7 ft-lb Average value: 22.7 J
Impact Test 5.40 - 58.0 J 3.98 - 42.8 ft-lb Average value: 40.4 J
Tensile Creep Modulus, 1 hour 2000 - 2500 MPa 290000 - 363000 psi Average value: 2200 MPa Grade Count:6
Tensile Creep Modulus, 1000 hours 1150 - 1900 MPa 167000 - 276000 psi Average value: 1550 MPa Grade Count:11
Izod Impact, Notched @ -40°C 0.350 - 3.95 J/cm 0.656 - 7.40 ft-lb/in Average value: 2.32 J/cm
Izod Impact, Notched 0.100 - 6.40 J/cm 0.187 - 12.0 ft-lb/in Average value: 2.32 J/cm
Izod Impact, Notched, Low Temp 0.500 - 2.14 J/cm 0.937 - 4.01 ft-lb/in Average value: 0.792 J/cm
Izod Impact, Notched (ISO) 5.00 - 25.0 kJ/m² 2.38 - 11.9 ft-lb/in² Average value: 15.5 kJ/m²

Standard and References
D 2282 Spesification for ABS Plastic Pipe
D 2468 Spesification for ABS Plastic Pipe fitting
D 3965-05 Standard Specification for Rigid Acrylonitrile-Butadiene-Styrene (ABS) Materials for Pipe and Fittings
D 1527 - 99(2005) Standard Specification for Acrylonitrile-Butadiene-Styrene (ABS) Plastic Pipe
ASTM D4673 - 02 Standard Classification System for Acrylonitrile-Butadiene-Styrene (ABS) Plastics and Alloys Molding and Extrusion Materials
ASTM D3641 - 02 Standard Practice for Injection Molding Test Specimens of Thermoplastic Molding and Extrusion Materials