ABS: Characteristics
How rubber content sets drop and crash toughness
What this tab covers The physical and chemical properties that set its grade, price and uses, with the commercial grades and the standards that define them.Buyers pick ABS grades by impact strength, flow, heat resistance and surface quality. Rubber content sets toughness; acrylonitrile content sets chemical resistance; molecular weight sets flow. Plating, flame-retardant and transparent grades command premiums.
Properties that matter commercially
| Property | Value / specification | Why it matters | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Notched Izod impact strength | about 15-40 kJ/m2 depending on rubber content (indicative) | Decides drop and crash performance | typical datasheet values (indicative) |
| Melt flow index | about 2-50 g/10 min at 220 C, 10 kg (indicative) | High flow for thin-wall moulding; low flow for extrusion | typical datasheet values (indicative) |
| Heat deflection temperature | about 85-105 C at 1.8 MPa (indicative) | Limits use near motors and lamps; heat-resistant grades use alpha-methylstyrene | typical datasheet values (indicative) |
| Density | about 1.04-1.06 g/cm3 (indicative) | Lighter than PC and PVC | typical datasheet values (indicative) |
Commercial grades
- general-purpose injection
- high-impact
- high-flow thin-wall
- extrusion sheet (fridge liners)
- electroplating grade
- flame-retardant (V-0) electronics
- heat-resistant
- transparent MABS
- ASA (weatherable)
- PC/ABS blends