ABS compounds
ABS engineering plastic for housings and structural parts.
Example grade / typical values — to be corrected by GREENPOLYMER
Selection criteria
- Appearance
- Toughness
- Flow
- GRN-ABS-G110Buttons
- GRN-ABS-H120High-impact ABS
- GRN-ABS-A110High-gloss ABS
ABS is made of acrylonitrile, butadiene and styrene. It is easy to process, has a good surface, is easy to color and costs relatively little. ABS is commonly used for cosmetic parts, accessory housings, keys, toolboxes and internal brackets.
The weak points of ABS are heat resistance and weathering. Standard ABS has a heat deflection temperature of 80–95 °C at 1.80 MPa (Typical values. Refer to the actual TDS.) and yellows and becomes brittle under long sun exposure. When higher heat resistance, low-temperature toughness or halogen-free flame retardancy is needed, consider PC/ABS.
GREENPOLYMER ABS grades
Full list · 4 grades
| Grade | Key features | Suitable parts |
|---|---|---|
| GRN-ABS-G110 | General purpose | Accessory housings, buttons, trim parts |
| GRN-ABS-H120 | High impact | Toolboxes, storage boxes, housings that must survive drops |
| GRN-ABS-A110 | High gloss, mold-in-color (paint-free) | Cosmetic parts for appliances and consumer electronics |
| GRN-ABS-F510 | Flame retardant (V-0 design target) | Cost-sensitive internal parts with moderate heat requirements |
Recycled-content versions (-R) of each grade can be customized.
Key properties
Typical values. Refer to the actual TDS.
- Notched impact (ISO 179/1eA, 23 °C)
- ABS-G11015–25 kJ/m²
- ABS-H12025–40 kJ/m²
- ABS-A11012–22 kJ/m²
- ABS-F5108–15 kJ/m²
- HDT (ISO 75, 1.80 MPa)
- ABS-G11080–95 °C
- ABS-H12080–90 °C
- ABS-A11080–90 °C
- ABS-F51075–85 °C
- Flammability (UL 94, design target)
- ABS-G110HB @ 1.5 mm
- ABS-H120HB @ 1.5 mm
- ABS-A110HB @ 1.5 mm
- ABS-F510V-0 @ 1.5 mm
Full table
| Grade | Notched impact (ISO 179/1eA, 23 °C) | HDT (ISO 75, 1.80 MPa) | Flammability (UL 94, design target) |
|---|---|---|---|
| GRN-ABS-G110 | 15–25 kJ/m² | 80–95 °C | HB @ 1.5 mm |
| GRN-ABS-H120 | 25–40 kJ/m² | 80–90 °C | HB @ 1.5 mm |
| GRN-ABS-A110 | 12–22 kJ/m² | 80–90 °C | HB @ 1.5 mm |
| GRN-ABS-F510 | 8–15 kJ/m² | 75–85 °C | V-0 @ 1.5 mm |
For full properties, see Products.
How to choose between ABS grades
First, check whether flame retardancy is needed
If it is, choose GRN-ABS-F510. If you need halogen-free, this is difficult with ABS, so consider halogen-free PC/ABS instead.
Then look at appearance
For high-gloss, mold-in-color parts choose GRN-ABS-A110. Matte or textured surfaces usually use GRN-ABS-G110.
Finally, consider drops and assembly
With drop requirements, many snap fits or many screw bosses, choose GRN-ABS-H120.
When to switch to PC/ABS
| Situation | Reason |
|---|---|
| The part works above 80 °C for long periods | ABS has too little heat margin |
| Impact performance needed below −20 °C | ABS loses much of its impact strength at low temperatures |
| Halogen-free V-0 needed | PC chars well, so halogen-free flame retardancy is easier to achieve |
| Outdoor use | Standard ABS has poor weather resistance |
Processing advice
Typical values. Refer to the actual TDS.
- Drying80–85 °C, 2–4 h; moisture content below 0.1 % recommended
- Melt temperature210–250 °C; flame-retardant grades at the lower end, usually not above 230 °C
- Mold temperature40–80 °C; upper end for high-gloss parts
- Injection speed
- Medium to high; for high-gloss parts combine with mold temperature control
- Residence time
- Avoid long residence for flame-retardant grades to prevent degradation and discoloration
- Regrind
- Control the regrind ratio to your specification and validate appearance and impact separately
Full table
| Item | Recommended |
|---|---|
| Drying | 80–85 °C, 2–4 h; moisture content below 0.1 % recommended |
| Melt temperature | 210–250 °C; flame-retardant grades at the lower end, usually not above 230 °C |
| Mold temperature | 40–80 °C; upper end for high-gloss parts |
| Injection speed | Medium to high; for high-gloss parts combine with mold temperature control |
| Residence time | Avoid long residence for flame-retardant grades to prevent degradation and discoloration |
| Regrind | Control the regrind ratio to your specification and validate appearance and impact separately |
Design points
Keep wall thickness as even as possible
Sudden changes in wall thickness cause sink marks and warpage.
Make the screw boss outer diameter about 2–2.5 times the hole diameter, with a fillet at the root
This is a common industry rule of thumb; mold trials decide.
On high-gloss parts, watch weld line locations
Keep weld lines off visible surfaces where possible.
Avoid contact with certain chemicals while under stress
Hand cream, alcohol and some cleaners can cause stress cracking; run stress cracking tests with the actual media.
FAQ
Can ABS housings reach V-0?
Yes. The design target of GRN-ABS-F510 is V-0 @ 1.5 mm, but it uses a conventional flame-retardant system. If you need halogen-free, choose halogen-free PC/ABS.
Can mold-in-color ABS fully replace painting?
It depends on the appearance requirements. Mold-in-color removes the painting step but places higher demands on the mold, gates and process. Send us your color plaque and appearance standard and we will evaluate it together.
Can ABS be used outdoors?
Standard ABS is not recommended for long-term outdoor use. For outdoor parts see weather-resistant PC/ABS (GRN-PCA-W310).
Related content
- Applications: Consumer electronics | Home appliances and cleaning | Tools and hardware
- ABS filament for 3D printing: 3D printing filament
Contact us
Tell us the part name, wall thickness, appearance requirements, whether flame retardancy is needed and the expected volume. Phone +86 18822892298 | Email hello@greenpolymer.com