ABS Key Facts
Introduced commercially in the 1940s, ABS is a terpolymer whose sales have grown over the years to become the largest engineering thermoplastic in the world. In the U.S. alone, sales in 1990 exceeded 1.2 billion pounds. ABS enjoys a unique position as a “bridge” between commodity plastics and higher-performing engineering thermoplastics.
The versatility of ABS is derived from its three monomeric building blocks – acrylonitrile, butadiene, and styrene. Each component imparts a different set of useful properties to the final polymer. Acrylonitrile primarily offers chemical resistance and heat stability; butadiene delivers toughness and impact strength; and the styrene component provides ABS with rigidity and process ability.
Key Features of ABS
- Toughness
- Stiffness
- General Purpose Material At A Low Cost
- Good Impact Strength
- Excellent Aesthetic Qualities
Applications of ABS
- Aircraft interior trim
- Cassette holders
- Business machine housings and parts
- Tote bins and trays
- Luggage
- Model building
- Water purification equipment components
- Automotive parts
- Laboratory equipment