ABS (Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene)
A tough, machinable, paintable thermoplastic that is the standard material for product housings, automotive trim and 3D printing.
About ABS
ABS is the combination of acrylonitrile, butadiene and styrene. This material has outstanding impact and mechanical strength. Its chemical resistance also helps make ABS suitable for tough products.
We supply haircell ABS, which has a fine textured surface that hides fingerprints and scratches and gives a finished appearance without painting. It is one of the easiest plastics to vacuum form, and it bonds, paints and prints easily. Standard stock is 1mm to 6mm in black and white.
We cut ABS to size and CNC route it to shape. Send us your dimensions and we will have it ready.
Key Properties
- Polymer family
- Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene, ABS
- Density
- Around 1.05 g/cm3
- Max service temperature
- Approximately 80 to 90 C continuous
- Tensile strength
- Around 40 to 50 MPa
- Common thicknesses
- 1, 1.5, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 10 mm
- Surface finish
- Smooth glossy face, textured back available
What makes ABS useful
High impact strength compared to other rigid thermoplastics
Machines, drills, sands and paints like a dream
Available in white, black and many production colours
Bonds easily with solvent cements and most structural adhesives
Thermoformable for product housings and trim parts
Standard material for FDM 3D printing filaments
Common uses for ABS
Product enclosures and electronic housings
Automotive interior trim and dashboards
Toys including the original Lego brick
Power tool casings and handles
Appliance panels and white goods cladding
Caravan and RV interior panels
Vacuum formed packaging and trays
Signage faces (especially where painting is required)
Prototype parts from CNC and 3D printing
Pipe fittings (in pressure rated grades)
Helmet shells and protective gear
Custom dashboards and machinery covers
The honest picture
Every material has trade offs. Here is where ABS shines and where it falls short.
Pros
Outstanding impact strength while staying rigid and dimensionally stable
Machines and finishes like a soft wood, so prototypes and one offs are practical
Paints, plates and bonds with little fuss
Available in flame retardant, UV stabilised and high impact grades
Affordable for what it offers, sitting below polycarbonate on price
Limitations
Not UV stable in standard grades, so unsuitable for unprotected outdoor service
Will craze and crack with aggressive solvents and many fuels
Burns readily and produces toxic smoke unless flame retardant grade is specified
Lower service temperature than nylon or polycarbonate, limited to around 90 C
ABS versus the alternatives
HDPE
ABS is stiffer, machines better and paints well, but is not chemically resistant or weather durable in standard grades. Choose ABS for visible product parts, HDPE for tanks, outdoor signage and wear surfaces.
Polycarbonate
Polycarbonate is clear, far tougher and handles higher temperatures, but is more expensive and harder to bond and paint. ABS is the go to where opacity, paintability and cost matter more than outright impact strength.
Polystyrene
High impact polystyrene (HIPS) looks similar to ABS but is significantly less impact resistant. ABS is the better choice anywhere parts will be handled, dropped or stressed.
How we work with ABS
The fabrication methods best suited to ABS, and what we do with them in our Moonah workshop.
ABS FAQs
Need ABS for Your Project?
Talk to our team about how we can cut, fabricate or repair ABS for you. Free quotes, expert advice and Australia wide delivery from our Moonah workshop.