ABS Plastic Extrusions

Material Name: ABS (Acrylonitrile butadiene Styrene)

ABS is an opaque polymer with a wide range of properties such as strong resistance to physical impact and corrosive chemicals. It is available as a natural or colorable compound. ABS is not weatherable and should not be specified in outdoor applications where exposed to weathering due to poor UV resistance (ASA extrusions are similar, but with better UV and weather resistance).

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Ideal Product Applications

ABS is used for applications in the appliance, construction, plumbing, marine, hydroponics and furniture industries. Fun Fact: they’re not extruded, but Lego bricks are made from ABS!

  • Appliance parts
  • Pipes and tubing
  • Trims and mouldings
  • Power tool casings
  • Trays & storage bins
  • Automotive parts
  • Sports equipment
  • POP components
  • Office equipment

Acrylonitrile butadiene Styrene Definition

ABS is a terpolymer made by polymerizing styrene and acrylonitrile in the presence of polybutadiene. The nitrile groups from neighboring chains, being polar, attract each other and bind the chains together, making ABS tougher than pure polystyrene. The styrene gives the plastic a glossy, waterproof surface. Polybutadiene provides toughness even at low temperatures.

ABS Pros

  • Wider operating temperature range (high and low)
  • Better impact through temperature ranges
  • Higher HDT than PVC
  • Comparable cost
  • ABS Pricing (volatile)
  • Lightweight

ABS Cons

  • Low UV resistance
  • Requires cap layer in weathering applications
  • Typically, higher CTE
  • Not inherently flame retardant

Custom Plastic Extrusion

Whether its extruded ABS or any number of different plastics, choosing the perfect material for a new extrusion project can be an intimidating task. Intek works closely with industry-leading material manufacturers to offer you many different thermoplastic compound options to meet your project’s needs. And Intek Plastics’ tool and die team applies their knowledge and expertise with the most advanced CAD/CAM software, CNC machining and the latest in EDM technology to custom build the highest quality tools. They’ll work with you to literally shape your ideas and take them from concept to production.

Capabilities

With over 30 production lines, we can manufacture ABS extrusions 24 hours a day, 5 days a week, allowing us to scale production to complete large orders of any complexity. And our extensive extrusion experience in pellet and powder compounds, as well as our advanced cooling capabilities in water, air and vacuum sizing, allow us to succeed in jobs of any shape or size. We serve a wide range of OEMs with orders from 5,000 to 15,000,000 feet.

ABS Plastic Properties

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