ABS Injection Moulding
ABS, or Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene is an amorphous polymer commonly used in the plastic injection moulding process. ABS is typically formed from three ingredients or monomers, acrylonitrile, butadiene, and styrene. ABS moulding is popular due to its relatively low cost and the ease with which it can be injection moulded. This opaque thermoplastic becomes liquid at a relatively low temperature and can be heated to melting point, cooled and heated again without deterioration making it a popular choice for recycling.
This page is for informational purposes only. Fern Plastics provides injection moulding services and does not supply the material.
Properties of Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene (ABS)
ABS material is a popular engineering plastic offering a number of excellent qualities making it ideal for use in plastic injection moulding. One of the main ABS properties that makes it popular for use is its recyclability meaning it can be reused time and again. ABS properties such as ABS’ plastic strength, the ability to mix with additives to enhance performance and the wealth of options for decoration make ABS injection moulding ideal.
- Good chemical resistance
- Excellent high and low-temperature performance
- High impact resistance
- Good structural strength and stiffness
- Great electrical insulation properties
- Good weldability
- ABS is easy to paint and glue
- High surface brightness & excellent surface aspect
Benefits of Using ABS Material in Plastic Injection Moulding
There are a range of benefits to ABS injection molding and ABS polymers. Among other useful qualities, acrylonitrile butadiene styrene is a lightweight, inexpensive plastic injection moulding material. When the combination of acrylonitrile, butadiene and styrene are varied, ABS plastics have additional qualities such as flame retardant abs when fire retardant additives are added. Adding other materials to ABS can create grades of ABS with medium to high-impact resistance, high heat resistance and improved ability to be electroplated.
- Lightweight
- Inexpensive
- Recyclable
- Non-toxic
- Good low heat and low electrical conductivity
- Helpful with electrical insulation
Common ABS Plastic Uses
Once it has been through the plastic injection moulding process, ABS plastic uses vary greatly across a number of different industries. The properties of ABS plastics make them ideal for everything from injection moulded protective headgear to keyboard parts and more.
- Automotive moulded parts such as car body parts
- Computer keyboards & other ABS plastic moulded computer parts
- Pipes & radiator grilles
- Protective headwear
- Musical instruments & parts
- Heads for golf clubs
- Lego & plastic moulded toy parts
ABS Plastic Disadvantages
Whilst there are many benefits to ABS injection moulding, there are some ABS plastic disadvantages that may affect the use of ABS in your injection moulded project.
- Can be easily damaged by sunlight unless mixed with additives
- High smoke evolution. Whilst ABS plastics are non-toxic to humans, they can produce smoke during fabrication
- Limited uses for medical parts
- Poor solvent resistance, particularly aromatic, ketones & esters
Using ABS Materials for Your Plastic Injection Moulded Project
Due to its fantastic versatility and ability to be mixed with different additives for enhanced qualities, ABS material is the ideal plastic choice for injection moulding. It is a high-quality, low-cost plastic that is widely recycled to reduce waste in your moulding production process.
To find out more about using ABS in your injection moulding, contact Fern Plastics now online or by calling 01902 758282 to talk to our team.
ABS FAQs
What are the limitations of ABS plastic?
When compared to other plastics, ABS has a low melting point which makes it unsuitable for applications requiring high heat. It also has low resistance to chemicals and solvents.
How many times can ABS be recycled?
One of the benefits of ABS plastic is that it can be recycled many times without losing its quality making it a sustainable choice for many industries.
Is ABS toxic when heated?
Under normal working conditions, ABS isn’t hazardous. However, when heated to extreme temperatures beyond the recommended processing range, ABS can produce fumes that can irritate the skin and respiratory system.