Home · Materials · ABS
Plastic

ABS

ABS is the everyday engineering thermoplastic, a tough, rigid, impact-resistant terpolymer that's easy to process by molding, printing, and machining (4/5). It balances decent strength (40 MPa), good chemical resistance (4.5/5), and low cost (1.5/5). Its modest max temperature (80°C) keeps it out of hot service, but it dominates consumer parts and prototypes.

How ABS machines

At 4/5 it machines cleanly and predictably. Use sharp tools, moderate-to-high speeds, and good chip clearance; ABS cuts without melting easily as long as the tool stays sharp and heat doesn't build. Dull tools or excessive speed will gum and melt the surface. No special coolant needed, but compressed air helps clear chips and keep edges cool.

Manufacturing & processing

Suits injection molding, FDM 3D printing, and CNC machining, an unusually versatile spread. It bonds well with solvent cement (acetone) and adhesives, and is easily painted, plated, and vapor-smoothed. Not fusion-weldable, but ultrasonic and solvent welding join it. Dry pellets before molding to avoid splay; large printed parts can warp.

Typical applications

Consumer-product housings, enclosures, and panels; automotive interior trim; toys (famously LEGO); prototypes and fixtures; pipe and fittings (ABS/DWV). The default choice for tough, inexpensive injection-molded or printed parts that don't see high heat or outdoor UV.

When to choose it

Choose ABS when you need a tough, low-cost, easily processed plastic for housings, prototypes, or consumer parts at moderate temperatures. If you need optical clarity or higher impact, use polycarbonate. For outdoor UV stability, ASA is better. For wear surfaces and gears, nylon or acetal outperform it.

Suitable surface finishes

Common finishes for ABS: bead blasting, powder coating. Use the finish selector →

FAQ

Is ABS suitable for outdoor use?
Not without protection. ABS has poor UV resistance and yellows, chalks, and embrittles under sustained sunlight. For outdoor parts, choose ASA, which has nearly identical processing but excellent UV stability, or paint/coat the ABS. Indoors, ABS holds up well within its 80°C temperature limit.
How do I glue ABS parts together?
Solvent cement works exceptionally well: acetone or ABS pipe cement softens the surfaces so they fuse into a single piece, stronger than most adhesive bonds. Cyanoacrylate and epoxy also work. This solvent-bonding ability is one reason ABS is so popular for assembled prototypes and housings.
Why does ABS warp or smell when 3D printing?
ABS shrinks as it cools, so large flat parts lift at the corners without an enclosed, heated chamber and bed adhesion. The odor is styrene off-gassing, print in a ventilated, enclosed space. Drying the filament first reduces bubbling and splay. PETG or PLA warp far less if enclosure isn't available.

Property values are typical/nominal for early guidance and vary by temper, grade, supplier and heat treatment. Confirm critical specs against a certified datasheet or with an mfgiq engineer.