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What is acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS)?

Table of Contents

What is acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS)?

Machined ABS

Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene (ABS) is a flexible plastic used in making products and designs. This blog post will examine ABS, focusing on its main features, different uses, and why it is a great choice for many industries.

What is the history of acrylonitrile butadiene styrene, and how is it made?

Acrylonitrile butadiene styrene, or ABS, is an essential plastic type in our daily lives. Its unique properties and long development history allow for many uses, from Lego bricks to car parts.

Researchers in Germany first made ABS in the 1930s. Initially, the automotive industry used it because it is strong and durable, making it perfect for different car parts.

Over the years, the way we make ABS has improved. This change has allowed manufacturers to control their properties better and expand their uses. Today, making ABS involves combining acrylonitrile, styrene, and butadiene to create a strong, lightweight, and impact-resistant material. This versatility makes it popular in many industries.

ABS has many advantages. It resists chemicals, heat, and impact and is easy to mold, making it an excellent choice for various applications, such as household appliances, electronics, toys, and car parts.

As technology progresses, the ABS manufacturing process continues to improve, focusing on better performance and sustainability. At Prototek Digital Manufacturing, we offer a range of ABS manufacturing services, including additive manufacturing, CNC machining, and sheet metal fabrication, to help our clients bring their ideas to life.

Stereolithography (SLA) - Accura® ABS (acrylonitrile butadiene styrene) Black

What are the mechanical properties of acrylonitrile butadiene styrene?

Acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) is a strong plastic used in many products because of its rugged and durable nature. It is primarily known for its ability to resist impact, which makes it ideal for items that need to withstand force.

ABS also has excellent tensile strength, meaning it is tear-resistant, and flexural strength, which allows it to handle bending without breaking. These traits help ABS stay strong and maintain its shape under different stresses.

This material is stable in size and shape, even when temperatures or humidity change. This stability is essential for manufacturing, where accuracy is required.

Additionally, ABS can tolerate high temperatures without losing its strength or shape. Standard methods for making ABS include machining, molding, and extrusion, allowing various production techniques.

Due to its versatility and performance, ABS is a popular choice in many areas, such as automotive parts, consumer products, electronics casings, and 3D printing.

ABS Filaments - acrylonitrile butadiene styrene

Which industries use the ABS?

ABS (Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene) is a flexible plastic used in many industries. Some key sectors that use ABS include:

Automotive

ABS is a strong and durable plastic commonly used to make car parts. It is easy to mold, making it ideal for items like dashboards, door panels, bumpers, and interior trim.

Electronics

ABS is a common material for covering electronic devices like computers, phones, and home appliances. It is popular because it insulates well and resists heat and chemicals.

Consumer Products

Manufacturers make consumer products like toys, sports equipment, and household items from ABS. They chose ABS because it is strong, resistant to impact, and looks good.

Construction

Due to its weather resistance and long-lasting performance, the construction industry uses ABS for piping, window frames, and electrical conduits.

Medical

The medical industry employs ABS to produce medical devices, prosthetics, and housing equipment, taking advantage of its biocompatibility and sterilization capabilities.

What are the benefits of using acrylonitrile butadiene styrene for your project?

Acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) is a strong and durable plastic material that is useful for many projects. It is known for its ability to resist impact, making it a good choice for items that need to be tough. ABS also keeps its shape well, keeping your parts accurate even when conditions change. It is easy to machine and can be injection molded, which helps create complex shapes and detailed designs. With many colors available, ABS can fit the look you want for your project. ABS is a dependable and affordable material that can help you reach your manufacturing goals.

Are you ready to start your project?

FAQs

What is ABS?

Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene is a durable and versatile thermoplastic material in 3D printing, machining, and fabrication.

What industries use ABS?

Due to its durability and versatility, the automotive, consumer electronics, and construction industries use ABS.

What applications use ABS?

Automotive parts, consumer electronics, household items, and toys use ABS. This versatile material is prized for its strength, durability, and impact resistance, making it an ideal choice for manufacturers across multiple industries.

What finishes are available for ABS?

There are a variety of options for finishing ABS to enhance its appearance and durability, including, but not limited to, painting, which provides a colorful design; plating, which adds a layer of metal for a sleek look; and polishing, which creates a smooth, glossy surface that enhances the overall finish and quality of the product.

The content on this blog post is for informational purposes only. Prototek does not make any declaration or guarantee, whether expressed or implied, regarding the information’s accuracy, completeness, or validity. Any performance parameters, geometric tolerances, specific design features, quality and types of materials, or processes should not be assumed to represent what will be delivered by third-party suppliers or manufacturers through our network. It’s crucial to note that buyers seeking quotes for parts are responsible for defining the specific requirements for their project.

Standard Drill Bit Sizes

Drill Size

Imperial

Metric

#107

0.0019 in

0.0483 mm

0.05 mm

0.0020 in

0.0500 mm

#106

0.0023 in

0.0584 mm

#105

0.0027 in

0.0686 mm

#104

0.0031 in

0.0787 mm

#103

0.0035 in

0.0889 mm

#102

0.0039 in

0.0991 mm

0.1 mm

0.0039 in

0.1000 mm

#101

0.0043 in

0.1092 mm

#100

0.0047 in

0.1194 mm

#99

0.0051 in

0.1295 mm

#98

0.0055 in

0.1397 mm

#97

0.0059 in

0.1499 mm

#96

0.0063 in

0.1600 mm

#95

0.0067 in

0.1702 mm

#94

0.0071 in

0.1803 mm

#93

0.0075 in

0.1905 mm

0.2 mm

0.0079 in

0.2000 mm

#92

0.0079 in

0.2007 mm

#91

0.0083 in

0.2108 mm

#90

0.0087 in

0.2210 mm

#89

0.0091 in

0.2311 mm

#88

0.0095 in

0.2413 mm

#87

0.0100 in

0.2540 mm

#86

0.0105 in

0.2667 mm

#85

0.0110 in

0.2794 mm

#84

0.0115 in

0.2921 mm

0.3 mm

0.0118 in

0.3000 mm

#83

0.0120 in

0.3048 mm

#82

0.0125 in

0.3175 mm

#81

0.0130 in

0.3302 mm

#80

0.0135 in

0.3429 mm

#79

0.0145 in

0.3680 mm

1/64 in

0.0156 in

0.3969 mm

0.4 mm

0.0158 in

0.4000 mm

#78

0.0160 in

0.4064 mm

#77

0.0180 in

0.4572 mm

0.5 mm

0.0197 in

0.5000 mm

#76

0.0200 in

0.5080 mm

#75

0.0210 in

0.5334 mm

#74

0.0225 in

0.5715 mm

0.6 mm

0.0236 in

0.6000 mm

#73

0.0240 in

0.6069 mm

#72

0.0250 in

0.6350 mm

#71

0.0260 in

0.6604 mm

0.7 mm

0.0276 in

0.7000 mm

#70

0.0280 in

0.7112 mm

#69

0.0292 in

0.7417 mm

#68

0.0310 in

0.7874 mm

1/32 in

0.0313 in

0.7938 mm

0.8 mm

0.0315 in

0.8000 mm

#67

0.0320 in

0.8128 mm

#66

0.0330 in

0.8382 mm

#65

0.0350 in

0.8890 mm

0.9 mm

0.0354 in

0.9000 mm

#64

0.0360 in

0.9144 mm

#63

0.0370 in

0.9398 mm

#62

0.0380 in

0.9652 mm

#61

0.0390 in

0.9906 mm

1 mm

0.0394 in

1.0000 mm

#60

0.0400 in

1.0160 mm

#59

0.0410 in

1.0414 mm

#58

0.0420 in

1.0668 mm

#57

0.0430 in

1.0922 mm

1.1 mm

0.0433 in

1.1000 mm

#56

0.0465 in

1.1811 mm

3/64 in

0.0469 in

1.1906 mm

1.2 mm

0.0472 in

1.2000 mm

1.3 mm

0.0512 in

1.3000 mm

#55

0.0520 in

1.3208 mm

#54

0.0550 in

1.3970 mm

1.4 mm

0.0551 in

1.4000 mm

1.5 mm

0.0591 in

1.5000 mm

#53

0.0595 in

1.5113 mm

1/16 in

0.0625 in

1.5875 mm

1.6 mm

0.0630 in

1.6000 mm

#52

0.0635 in

1.6129 mm

1.7 mm

0.0669 in

1.7000 mm

#51

0.0670 in

1.7018 mm

#50

0.0700 in

1.7780 mm

1.8 mm

0.0709 in

1.8000 mm

#49

0.0730 in

1.8542 mm

1.9 mm

0.0748 in

1.9000 mm

#48

0.0760 in

1.9304 mm

5/64 in

0.0781 in

1.9844 mm

#47

0.0785 in

1.9939 mm

2 mm

0.0787 in

2.0000 mm

#46

0.0810 in

2.0574 mm

#45

0.0820 in

2.0828 mm

2.1 mm

0.0827 in

2.1000 mm

#44

0.0860 in

2.1844 mm

2.2 mm

0.0866 in

2.2000 mm

#43

0.0890 in

2.2606 mm

2.3 mm

0.0906 in

2.3000 mm

#42

0.0935 in

2.3749 mm

3/32 in

0.0938 in

2.3813 mm

2.4 mm

0.0945 in

2.4000 mm

#41

0.0960 in

2.4384 mm

#40

0.0980 in

2.4892 mm

2.5 mm

0.0984 in

2.5000 mm

#39

0.0995 in

2.5273 mm

#38

0.1015 in

2.5781 mm

2.6 mm

0.1024 in

2.6000 mm

#37

0.1040 in

2.6416 mm

2.7 mm

0.1063 in

2.7000 mm

#36

0.1065 in

2.7051 mm

7/64 in

0.1094 in

2.7781 mm

#35

0.1100 in

2.7940 mm

2.8 mm

0.1102 in

2.8000 mm

#34

0.1110 in

2.8194 mm

#33

0.1130 in

2.8702 mm

2.9 mm

0.1142 in

2.9000 mm

#32 

0.1160 in

2.9464 mm

3 mm

0.1181 in

3.0000 mm

3.1 mm

0.1221 in

3.1000 mm

1/8 in

0.1250 in

3.1750 mm

3.2 mm

0.1260 in

3.2000 mm

#30

0.1285 in

3.2639 mm

3.3 mm

0.1299 in

3.3000 mm

3.4 mm

0.1339 in

3.4000 mm

#29

0.1360 in

3.4544 mm

9/64 in

0.1406 in

3.5719 mm

5/32 in

0.1563 in

3.9688 mm

11/64 in

0.1719 in

4.3656 mm

3/16 in

0.1875 in

4.7625 mm

13/64 in

0.2031 in

5.1594 mm

7/32 in

0.2188 in

5.5563 mm

15/64 in

0.2344 in

5.9531 mm

1/4 in

0.2500 in

6.3500 mm

17/64 in

0.2656 in

6.7469 mm

9/32 in

0.2813 in

7.1438 mm

19/64 in

0.2969 in

7.5406 mm

5/16 in

0.3125 in

7.9375 mm

21/64 in

0.3281 in

8.3344 mm

11/32 in

0.3438 in

8.7313 mm

23/64 in

0.3594 in

9.1281 mm

3/8 in

0.3750 in

9.5250 mm

25/64 in

0.3906 in

9.9219 mm

13/32 in

0.4063 in

10.3188 mm

27/64 in

0.4219 in

10.7156 mm

7/16 in

0.4375 in

11.1125 mm

29/64 in

0.4531 in

11.5094 mm

15/32 in

0.4688 in

11.9063 mm

31/64 in

0.4844 in

12.3031 mm

1/2 in

0.5 in

12.700 mm

33/64 in

0.5156 in

13.0969 mm

17/32 in

0.5313 in

13.4938 mm

35/64 in

0.5469 in

13.8906 mm

9/16 in

0.5625 in

14.2875 mm

37/64 in

0.5781 in

14.6844 mm

19/32 in

0.5938 in

15.0813 mm

39/64 in

0.6094 in

15.4781 mm

5/8 in

0.6250 in

15.8750 mm

41/64 in

0.6406 in

16.2719 mm

43/64 in

0.6719 in

17.0656 mm

11/16 in

0.6875 in

17.4625 mm

45/64 in

0.7031 in

17.8594 mm

23/32 in

0.7188 in

18.2563 mm

47/64 in

0.7344 in

18.6531 mm

3/4 in

0.7500 in

19.0500 mm

49/64 in

0.7656 in

19.4469 mm

25/32 in

0.7813 in

19.8438 mm

51/64 in

0.7969 in

20.2406 mm

13/16 in

0.8125 in

20.6375 mm

53/64 in

0.8281 in

21.0344 mm

27/32 in

0.8438 in

21.4313 mm

55/64 in

0.8594 in

21.8281 mm

7/8 in

0.8750 in

22.2250 mm

57/64 in

0.8906 in

22.6219 mm

29/32 in

0.9063 in

23.0188 mm

21/23 in

0.9130 in

23.1913 mm

59/64 in

0.9219 in

23.4156 mm

15/16 in

0.9375 in

23.8125 mm

61/64 in

0.9531 in

24.2094 mm

31/32 in

0.9688 in

24.6063 mm

63/64 in

0.9844 in

25.0031 mm

1 in

1.0000 in

25.4000 mm

1 1/64 in

1.0156 in

25.7969 mm

1 1/32 in

1.0313 in

26.1938 mm

1 3/64 in

1.0469 in

26.5906 mm

1 1/16 in

1.0625 in

26.9875 mm

1 5/64 in

1.0781 in

27.3844 mm

1 3/32 in

1.0938 in

27.7813 mm

1 7/64 in

1.1094 in

28.1781 mm

1 1/8 in

1.1250 in

28.5750 mm

1 9/64 in

1.1406 in

28.9719 mm

1 5/32 in

1.1563 in

29.3688 mm

1 11/64 in

1.1719 in

29.7656 mm

1 3/16 in

1.1875 in

30.1625 mm

1 13/64 in

1.2031 in

30.5594 mm

1 7/32 in

1.2188 in

30.9563 mm

1 15/64 in

1.2344 in

31.3531 mm

1 1/4 in

1.2500 in

31.7500 mm

1 17/64 in

1.2656 in

32.1469 mm

1 9/32 in

1.2813 in

32.5438 mm

1 19/64 in

1.2969 in

32.9406 mm

1 5/16 in

1.3125 in

33.3375 mm

1 21/64 in

1.3281 in

33.7344 mm

1 11/32 in

1.3438 in

34.1313 mm

1 23/64 in

1.3594 in

34.5281 mm

1 3/8 in

1.3750 in

34.9250 mm

1 25/64 in

1.3906 in

35.3219 mm

1 13/32 in

1.4063 in

35.7188 mm

1 27/64 in

1.4219 in

36.1156 mm

1 7/16 in

1.4375 in

36.5125 mm

1 29/64 in

1.4531 in

36.9094 mm

1 15/32 in

1.4688 in

37.3063 mm

1 31/64 in

1.4844 in

37.7031 mm

1 1/2 in

1.5000 in

38.1000 mm