Product Name
Maven Plastic Pellets - ABS Natural (Off-White Opaque) 140°F Max Temp, 85°F Min Temp
Brief Description
ABS (Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene) is a versatile, durable, and impact-resistant engineering thermoplastic polymer. These natural (off-white opaque) pellets are suitable for various manufacturing processes, offering a balance of strength, rigidity, and ease of processing.
Popular Applications & Uses
- Automotive interior and exterior components, such as dashboards, trim, grilles, bumpers, and mirror housings.- Housings for consumer electronics including computer keyboards, phone cases, remote controls, and printer parts.- Household appliances like vacuum cleaners, blenders, washing machines, refrigerators, and microwaves.- Manufacturing of toys and games, notably LEGO bricks.- Production of pipes and fittings for various applications.- Casings and components for medical devices.- Protective housings for power tools and wall socket face-guards.- Raw material for 3D printing filament production and prototyping.
Industries that Commonly Use It
- Automotive Service/Repair- Construction/ Building Services- Distributers & Resellers- Electrical Services or Products- General Manufacturing- Industrial Supply- Medical Device/ Prosthetics- Packaging Services or Contractor- Plastic Fabrication- Prosumer- Thermoforming
Special and Unique Features
- Exhibits excellent impact resistance and toughness, making it suitable for durable applications.- Highly versatile and easy to process through various methods including injection molding, extrusion, 3D printing, and thermoforming.- Achieves a good surface finish, often smooth and glossy, and readily accepts paint and coatings.- Possesses good electrical insulation properties, making it ideal for electronic components and housings.- Offers chemical resistance to many acids and alkalis.- Maintains good dimensional stability under mechanical stress.- Considered a cost-effective material, balancing performance with affordability.
Key Properties
- Material Type: Thermoplastic polymer, amorphous.- Composition: Terpolymer made from Acrylonitrile, Butadiene, and Styrene.- Max Temperature: 140°F (60°C) for continuous use, as specified by the product.- Min Temperature: 85°F (29°C) as specified by the product, though ABS generally performs well at lower temperatures.- Impact Resistance: High.- Strength & Rigidity: Good mechanical strength and stiffness.- Chemical Resistance: Resistant to many acids and alkalis; poor resistance to chlorinated solvents, alcohols, and aldehydes.- Electrical Properties: Good electrical insulator.- Surface Finish: Can achieve a smooth and glossy surface.- Flammability: Combustible; melts and burns, releasing potentially toxic fumes; can be modified with flame retardants.- UV Resistance: Poor; susceptible to degradation, discoloration, and brittleness with prolonged UV exposure.
Surface Compatibility
- Easily finished and post-processed to achieve a smooth and aesthetically appealing surface.- Readily accepts paint and coatings without peeling.- Can be easily sanded, polished, or textured to achieve desired surface characteristics.- Highly compatible with a wide range of paints and glues.- Suitable for painting, plating, or adhesive bonding.
Known backups / known substitutes
- ASA (Acrylonitrile Styrene Acrylate): Offers similar mechanical properties to ABS but with superior weathering and UV resistance, making it suitable for outdoor applications.- Polycarbonate (PC): Known for high impact resistance and excellent clarity, though generally more expensive than ABS.- Polypropylene (PP): Provides good chemical and heat resistance, but typically has lower impact strength and stiffness compared to ABS.- High-Impact Polystyrene (HIPS): Has lower impact resistance and mechanical strength than ABS.- Tough PLA or PETG: Good alternatives for 3D printing, offering similar impact strength to ABS. Tough PLA has lower temperature resistance (60°C), while PETG provides moderate temperature resistance.- PHA (Polyhydroxyalkanoates): A biodegradable bioplastic with mechanical properties comparable to ABS, derived from renewable biomass.- Recycled PET: A common alternative, especially in packaging and textiles.- Lignin-based thermoplastics: An innovative, tougher alternative with higher renewable content.- Semi-Aromatic Polyamides (PPA): Balance chemical resistance and mechanical strength, suitable for harsh chemicals and high temperatures.- Sulapac Luxe materials: Biobased, biodegradable, and eco-friendly materials that offer similar mechanical properties and aesthetic appeal to ABS, serving as sustainable replacements.
Comparison Note
ABS offers a balanced combination of strength, impact resistance, rigidity, and ease of processing at a reasonable cost, positioning it as a versatile material between standard and engineering resins. It provides better impact strength and a slightly higher heat distortion temperature than HIPS. Compared to polypropylene (PP), ABS generally has higher impact strength and stiffness. While ABS exhibits good heat resistance for many applications, its relatively low melting point compared to some high-performance engineering plastics means it can deform at higher temperatures. Its inherent poor UV resistance limits its suitability for prolonged outdoor applications unless specifically modified. Recycled ABS maintains many of the properties of virgin ABS, presenting a sustainable and cost-effective alternative for manufacturers.
