Negosentro | The Numerous Advantages of Using ABS Plastic | Thermoplastics have been used in creating many utility products and tools for many years. Large scale usage of thermoplastics is so common mainly due to its ability to liquefy and not burn when reaching high temperatures.
Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene, or ABS, is an opaque and shiny thermoplastic. It is found as amorphous polymers, consisting of three main monomers- acrylonitrile, butadiene, and styrene.
These monomers are polymerized most commonly through the emulsification process, a process that combines monomers or compounds that typically don’t combine well to form a single compound.
As the three monomers combine, acrylonitrile shows polar attraction towards the other compounds, which lead to the formation of tough and durable plastic. Because of these properties, there is a great demand for these products in the Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene market.
Before thermoplastics were regularly used, thermosets were used but they had major limitations. Heating them even once at high temperatures causes an irreversible change in their chemical structure. The recyclability on these is negligible unlike thermoplastics like ABS, which can be heated and molded multiple times.
Material Properties
ABS plastic has many desirable physical and chemical properties that make it an ideal plastic for all industries. Each monomer brings different properties to form the required features of the plastic. Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene market is highly popular because it also blends with multiple other fibers to bring down its limitations to nothing.
The main properties are:
- Offers high impact resistance
- Is highly rigid
- Is very heat resistant and offers chemical resistance
- Electrical insulator
- Is resistant to abrasion and stain
- Structurally very stable
- High surface brightness
- Can be weld and molded according to its purpose
The acrylonitrile in ABS gives the plastic it’s chemical and thermal stability, the butadiene gives it toughness and strength and styrene gives the polymer a nice, shiny, and bright look.
It also has a low melting point, which makes it very easy to undergo the injection molding process and also makes it an important component in 3D print. High tensile strength and anti-corrosion properties make it the ideal material to use in harsh environmental conditions as well.
The plastic can also be molded very easily and shaped according to any mold it sits on, giving the product a glossy finish as well. It also absorbs color very easily and makes coloring and dyeing very precise.
Applications of the plastic
From being used in electronic components to children’s playthings, ABS plastic is used in everyday products and industrial products. It is used in making bricks, plastic guards for wall sockets, or even power tools.
It is actively used in the automobile field, for products that need plastic alloys or in decorative parts. In construction, due to its high tensile strength, the plastic is used as it is in manufacturing, plastic tubing, or corrugated plastic structures. It can be cut and molded into various shapes and color can easily be added and it comes handy in the manufacture of hard hats and helmets as well.
Printers, vacuum cleaners, utensils, decors, instruments, fax machines, toys, and various other products use ABS plastic as well. Plastic items that will be subjected to harsh conditions and weather use ABS plastic since the versatile plastic can easily resist such harsh conditions.
It is not only multi-faceted, but it is also very cost-effective and highly affordable. It is not completely resistant to long periods unprotected from UV rays and extremely terrible environmental conditions, but taking care of this plastic is very low maintenance.
In 3D printing, ABS plastic has played a key role in its development. These polymers are easily moldable and, because of the high demand, are always in supply. It can also be electroplated and enable further options for usage.
Benefits of the Plastic
There are one too many advantages of ABS polymers, from how cheap it is, low reproduction costs to its strong and visually appealing structure. It has a great ability to withstand heat and it only liquefies instead of burning when reaching extreme temperatures. It is also thoroughly recyclable as heating it doesn’t drastically change its chemical integrity.
It is also versatile with colors and surface finishing, which can be used to the advantage of many manufacturers. It is also very light yet highly sturdy and has low heat and electricity conductivity. It is very helpful in protecting surfaces from electric shocks.
The Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene market is constantly changing and is currently in very high demand because of its numerous benefits. Even when limitations arise, manufacturers blend the polymer with plastic fibers that add to the properties of the plastic, thereby limiting the few limitations that exist.
