1. General Performance
ABS appears as opaque, ivory-colored granules that are non-toxic, odorless, and have a low water absorption rate. Its products can be colored in various hues and possess a high gloss of 90%. ABS has good compatibility with other materials, making it easy to print, coat, and plate on its surface. With an oxygen index of 18.2, ABS is a flammable polymer; it burns with a yellow flame and black smoke, charring without dripping, and emits a distinctive cinnamon odor.
ABS is a resin with excellent overall performance, maintaining high impact strength and surface hardness across a broad temperature range. It has a higher heat distortion temperature than PA (Nylon) and PVC, with good dimensional stability.
The melt flow of ABS is better than that of PVC and PC, but worse than PE, PA, and PS, similar to POM and HIPS. The flow characteristics of ABS belong to non-Newtonian fluids, with its melt viscosity being related to both processing temperature and shear rate, though it is more sensitive to the shear rate.
2. Mechanical Properties
ABS possesses excellent mechanical properties, with outstanding impact strength, allowing it to be used at extremely low temperatures. Even if ABS products are damaged, they can only undergo tensile failure and not impact failure. ABS exhibits superior abrasion resistance, good dimensional stability, and oil resistance, making it suitable for bearings under medium loads and speeds. ABS has higher creep than PSF and PC, but lower than PA and POM. Among plastics, ABS has relatively poor bending strength and compressive strength. The mechanical properties of ABS are significantly affected by temperature.
3. Thermal Properties
ABS belongs to the category of amorphous polymers, lacking a distinct melting point. It has a high melt viscosity and poor fluidity, along with limited weather resistance—exposure to ultraviolet light can cause discoloration. The thermal deformation temperature of ABS ranges from 70 to 107°C (approximately 85°C), and the temperature can be increased by about 10°C after annealing treatment of the products. ABS is quite sensitive to temperature and shear rate. At -40°C, ABS still exhibits a certain degree of toughness, allowing for its long-term use within a temperature range of -40°C to 85°C.
4. Electrical Properties
ABS has good electrical insulation properties and is almost unaffected by temperature, humidity, and frequency, making it suitable for use in most environments.
5. Environmental Performance
ABS is unaffected by water, inorganic salts, alcohols, hydrocarbon solvents, and various acids, but it is soluble in ketones, aldehydes, and chlorinated hydrocarbons. It is susceptible to stress cracking when exposed to glacial acetic acid and vegetable oils.
As a plastic with excellent comprehensive properties, ABS demonstrates its unique advantages in many application fields. It not only possesses good mechanical properties, thermal stability, and electrical insulation but also exhibits superior environmental adaptability, all at a relatively low cost. This has led to its widespread use in the automotive industry, electronic products, household appliances, and building materials, among others.
In the future, with continuous advancements in technology and an increasing awareness of environmental protection, the modification and application of ABS materials will become more diversified. By compositing with other materials or adding specific functional additives, its performance can be further enhanced to meet more stringent application requirements.