ABS or Acrylonitrile butadiene styrene is a common thermoplastic polymer. It is an opaque and amorphous polymer comprised of three monomers, acrylonitrile, butadiene, and styrene. ABS is a terpolymer made by polymerizing styrene and acrylonitrile in the presence of polybutadiene. The proportions of the three monomers can vary, resulting in a long chain of polybutadiene crisscrossed with shorter chains of poly(styrene-co-acrylonitrile) . The nitrile groups from neighboring chains attract each other and bind the chains together, making ABS stronger than pure polystyrene.
ABS has several desirable properties, including impact resistance, structural strength and stiffness, chemical resistance, excellent high and low-temperature performance, great electrical insulation properties, and ease of painting and gluing. It is also relatively inexpensive. ABS is easily machined, sanded, glued, and painted, making it a great material for prototyping. It is commonly used in manufacturing products such as drain-waste-vent (DWV) pipe systems, computer keyboard components, LEGO bricks, plastic face guards for wall sockets, protective housing for power tools, plastic tubing, and corrugated plastic structures.
However, ABS has some limitations, including weatherability (damaged by sunlight), solvent resistance, hazardous when burned, limited uses in association with the food industry, and a higher price than polystyrene or polyethylene.
