ABS

A tough, glossy terpolymer of acrylonitrile, butadiene and styrene used for appliance housings, car interiors, electronics and toys; China now dominates capacity.

Pseudo-commodities · Engineering plastics · No. 52

• Single chemical
• Feedstock: Oil, gas or coal
• about 10 Mt a year of demand (2024, indicative, basis: monomer balances in the styrene, acrylonitrile and butadiene tiles imply 10-12 Mt of ABS and SAN)
• 3.3 t CO₂e per t
• HS 390330

Your fridge lining, vacuum cleaner and plastic toys share one glossy plastic built from three different monomers.

Chart: Illustration: ABS

Where it comes from

Chart: Map of where it comes from

Butadiene is made into a rubber latex, then styrene and acrylonitrile are grafted onto it and blended with SAN. Rubber gives toughness, styrene gloss, acrylonitrile chemical resistance.

Three things to know

1. China announced 4.43 Mt a year of new ABS capacity to 2027, about 96% of Asia's additions.
2. Its three monomers make up about 80% of both its cash cost and its footprint of about 3.3 t CO2e per tonne.
3. Burning a tonne of ABS releases about 3.1 t of CO₂, so recycling old appliances and electronics matters.

The journey

1. 1 Three monomersStyrene, acrylonitrile and butadiene
2. 2 Rubber latexButadiene polymerised into tiny particles
3. 3 GraftingStyrene and acrylonitrile grafted onto rubber
4. 4 CompoundingBlended with SAN, 15-30% rubber
5. 5 MouldingPellets moulded into housings, trims, toys

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