ABS (acrylonitrile plastic) – amorphous thermoplastic terpolymer of acrylonitrile, butadiene and styrene, the title of which is formed from the initial letters of names monomers. Graft copolymerization product of styrene and acrylonitrile butadiene rubber obtained by emulsion copolymerization of styrene and acrylonitrile in the presence of a rubber latex. The combination of acrylonitrile and butadiene units with fragments of styrene provides ABS elasticity and necessary crashworthiness, making it one of the most popular plastic for the production of complex moldings with high draw ratio. ABS resin is produced in a stabilized form of white powder or granules.
Average designation acrylonitrile plastic on the Russian market – ABS plastic, but can meet other names: ABS copolymer, acrylonitrile copolymer of butadiene and styrene, ABS, ABS.
The callout ABS grades first two digits represent the magnitude of Izod impact strength, the following two – melt flow index, the letter at the end mark indicates the processing method, or particular properties.
Notation example ABS plastic with toughness 8 kJ / m2 Melt flow index – 9 g / 10 min, with high heat resistance ABS-0809T.
On the basis of ABS, produced different compositions related to the specific polymers

Structure: ABS is the product of grafting three monomers – acrylonitrile (a colorless liquid with a pungent odor), butadiene (a colorless gas with a characteristic unpleasant odor) and styrene (colorless liquid with a pungent odor) and is a two-phase system. A statistical copolymer of styrene and acrylonitrile having a molecular weight of 120-180 thousand forms the continuous phase – a rigid matrix in which the particles are distributed butadienstirolnogo size 0.5-2 microns rubber forming a discontinuous phase. rubber particles contain occluded copolymer and the matrix microparticles to rubber graft copolymer macromolecule of providing interfacial interaction. The proportion of disperse phase is from 15 to 30% of the total weight of the plastic.

Properties: ABS plastic – impact resistant material relating to engineering plastics. It has a higher impact resistance as compared with general purpose polystyrene, high impact polystyrene and other styrene copolymers. Exceeds their mechanical strength and rigidity. Hardwearing. It withstands intermittent heating to 90-100 ° C. Maximum temperature of continuous operation: 75 – 80 ° C. ABS suitable for plating, vacuum metallization and soldering contacts. Good welds. It recommended for precise casting. It has a high dimensional stability. It gives a shiny surface. There are special brand with high and low gloss. Resistant to alkalis, lubricants, salts and solutions of inorganic acids, hydrocarbons, fats, fuels. Soluble in acetone, ether, benzene, ethyl chloride, ethylene chloride, aniline, anisole. Not resistant to ultraviolet radiation. Characterized limited resistance to weathering and reduced electrical insulating properties compared to general purpose polystyrene and high impact polystyrene.
Physical and mechanical properties of ABS plastic.
Density: 1,02-1,08 g / cm3.
Tensile strength: 35-50 MPa.
Bending strength: 50-87 MPa.
Compressive strength: 46-80 MPa.
Elongation: 10-25%.
Shrinkage (the manufacture of products): 0.4-0.7%.
Moisture absorption: 0,2-0,4%.
Tensile modulus at 23 ° C: 1700 – 2930 MPa
Impact strength Charpy (notched): 10-30 kJ / m2.
Brinell hardness: 90-150 MPa.
Heat resistance Martens: 86-96 ° C.
Softening point: 90-105 ° C.
The maximum continuous operation temperature: 75-80 ° C.
Process temperature range: 200-260 ° C.
Dielectric constant at 106 Hz: 2,4-5,0.
Dielectric loss tangent at 106 Hz (3-7) × 10-4.
Volume resistivity: 5 × 1013 ohm / m.
Dielectric strength: 12-15 MV / m.
Auto-ignition temperature: 395 ° C.
Properties of ABS can be varied within wide limits by modifying the starting material. For example, replacement of improving weather resistance is achieved on the saturated butadiene elastomers. Transparent ABS modification can be obtained using a fourth monomer – methyl methacrylate. Heat-resistant ABS plastic with a maximum operating temperature of up to 90-100 ° C and the possibility of short-term heating to 110-130 ° C contains a fourth monomer – N-alpha-methylstyrene or fenilmaleinimid.
On the basis of ABS materials are polymeric composites having improved performance as compared with the actual ABS plastic. The most famous of them:
1. Composite ABS / PC.
Other designations: ABS + PC, ABS / PC, PC / ABS.
Impact-resistant amorphous material. It has a large heat resistance than ABS plastic, which increases with the content of polycarbonate. It withstands intermittent heating without loading up to 130-145 ° C, with the loading of up to 100-110 ° C (glass-mark to 130-140 ° C). The maximum continuous operation temperature: 60-95 ° C. Brittleness temperature: -50 ° C. Increasing the polycarbonate content increases the impact resistance and hardiness. Composite ABS / PC has a good chemical resistance. Resistant to alcohols, water, salt solutions, and oils. It may crack under the action of alkalis, aliphatic hydrocarbons, chlorinated hydrocarbons. Processed better in comparison with the polycarbonate. It has a high dimensional stability. It recommended for precise casting. Very low warpage. Good friction welded, hot plate, ultrasound.
2. Composite ABS / PVC.
Other designations: ABS + PVC, PVC + ABS, ABS / PVC, PVC / ABS. A mixture of ABS and PVC is an amorphous impact-resistant material. It withstands intermittent heating to 90-97 ° C. Composite ABS / PVC has greater weatherability than ABS. Resistant to aging. Good processed.
3. Composite ABS / PBT.
Other designations: ABS + PBT, ABS / PBT, PBT / ABS.
A mixture of ABS and PBT – hard, impact-resistant amorphous or crystallized material. Characterized by high dimensional stability at elevated temperatures. Increasing the content of polybutylene terephthalate increases heat resistance. Braves short-term heating at loading up to 85-150 ° C (for glass-filled grades – up to 150-200 ° C). It has good dielectric properties and high chemical resistance. It is resistant to aliphatic hydrocarbons, gasoline, oil and grease, dilute acids and alkalis, detergents. Good processed. Increased content of ABS reduces shrinkage and increases the dimensional accuracy.
4. Composite ABS / PA.
Other designations: ABS / PA, ABS / PA, PA / ABS.
A mixture of ABS and polyamide – shock-resistant amorphous or crystallized material. Mainly it produced a mixture of ABS + PA6. A mixture of ABS + PA6 briefly withstand temperatures up to 180 ° C, ABS + PA66 – up to 250 ° C. The temperature of the mixture continuous operation without ABS + PA6 shock to 80-110 ° C; with shock loads – up to 60-65 ° C.. Increasing the polyamide content increases the impact resistance. It has a high wear resistance. It features a low density compared to the PBT + ABS, ABS + PC. Characterized by good dielectric properties. It has good chemical resistance. Resistant to cracking. It has good processability, good texture plays. Characterized by high quality junctions: high strength, invisible weld lines. Shrinkage less than that of PA. It has better dimensional stability than PA6.
5. Composite ABS plastic and elastomers. Taken in different ratios thermoplastic elastomers (thermo-, termoplastelastomery) and ABS form alloys which have good properties unattainable for individual polymers. Co-extrusion with ABS thermoplastic elastomers increases the cost of the material, but increases its weather and frost resistance, rigidity and resistance to oxidizing agents and aliphatic hydrocarbons

Preparation: In Industry ABS resin prepared by polymerization, which is the formation of high molecular compounds with the joint polymerization of two or more different monomers. Methods of preparation of ABS based on the radical copolymerization of styrene and acrylonitrile in the presence of a rubber latex. When the ratio of styrene / acrylonitrile equal to 76:24 by weight, a copolymer of the same composition. For other ratios of monomers requires careful control of the homogeneity of the resulting copolymer. In addition, with increasing amounts of acrylonitrile increases the viscosity of the system dramatically.
The most widespread two-stage emulsion copolymerization in a continuous or intermittent pattern. In the first stage latex synthesize styrene and acrylonitrile are added to polybutadiene emulsion was stirred and heated to 50 ° C. In the second stage graft to rubber monomers are emulsified in the latex: adding a water-soluble initiator, such as potassium persulfate, and the mixture was polymerized. The resulting suspension was degassed, filtered, dried and packaged polymer. The resulting powder ABS sometimes granulated.
ABS with improved toughness typically obtained in the combined process, in which first lead the emulsion or solution, and then – in aqueous suspension, allowing to introduce an additional amount of rubber.
Used as the synthesis of ABS in mass, which comprises the following main steps: preparation of raw materials and reagents in the cascade of polymerisation reactors (process was terminated when the content in the ABS system, 70-80% of copolymer), the removal of unreacted monomers and solvent, and granulation of the primary compounding, packaging and storage of finished products.
The main producer of ABS in the Russian market is JSC “Plastic” in Uzlovaya Tula region, part of the “SIBUR” holding. In particular, JSC “Plastic” (knots) produces injection molding grades of ABS plastic: ABS 1030-30, ABS 2020-30, 2020-31 ABS, ABS-S; ekstruzionnnye grade ABS plastic: ABS 2802-30, 2802-31 ABS, ABS in 1106; molding composite ABS / PC brand DISKAR; DILUR sheet plastic, plastic ABS (single), ABS with PMMA sheet, a sheet of ABS + PC PMMA coextruded three-layer sheets.

Application: ABS plastic has an optimal combination of flexibility and toughness, which in combination with excellent dimensional stability making it one of the most popular plastic for the production of complex molded articles with a high degree of manufacturing precision and hoods. Applications ABS due to the unique combination of properties that allow its use in those parts where previously it was impossible to do without the use of non-ferrous metals, thermosets and rubbers, ceramics, concrete or wood.
ABS plastic is processed by any known means, but finds greatest application processing ABS plastic injection molding and extrusion (due to high melt viscosity necessary to apply higher voltages and temperatures than the processing of high impact polystyrene, it is advisable to dry before processing ABS). plastic cold flow can also be molded at high pressures it below the glass transition temperature. In the manufacture of products made of ABS plastic used embossing, printing and electroplating surface. It is also used as a filler, the impact resistance increases and improving the processability of compositions based on polyvinyl chloride, polycarbonates, polystyrene.
In Russian widespread following types of specialized processing ABS: ABS directly applying the granular and compositions based on ABS sheets and manufacture of a thickness of 1 mm to 7 for the manufacture of technical purposes. Furthermore, foaming is used ABS (the density usually decreases by 25-40%), or filling it with finely divided substances.
The generalized use of ABS plastic gives the following picture. Because ABS are made:
details of the interior and exterior of the car, including the large body parts;
the instrument panel and other interior details;
car radiator grille;
Caps road wheels;
body parts working in the room: TV cabinet, radios, tape recorders, video recorders, vacuum cleaners, coffee makers, remote controls, telephones, fax machines, computers, monitors, printers, calculators, other household and office equipment;
metallic parts of household appliances and office equipment;
structural parts for electrical purposes;
breakers, switches;
the tool body;
stationery;
desk accessories;
toys;
Children’s designers;
suitcases; containers;
door handles;
metalized plumbing products: faucets, showers crowns, sink, pans, flushing cisterns;
metallic decoration;
furniture accessories;
fitting;
items of medical equipment and medical supplies;
smart cards.
The arrangement on the different sectors of the economy use of ABS as follows.
In the automotive industry, based on ABS and its songs are produced interior and exterior parts of the car. These include panels, frames, dash boards, window frames, door paneling and other interior parts, grille, wheel covers, body lights and exterior mirrors, air intake mouth, facing the door, bamper.Otnositelno widely used in the automotive industry has found a composition based on ABS – ABS / PC.
The instrument ABS plastic is used as a structural material for the manufacture of casings of electrical appliances, power tools, battery. It is possible to separately identify the use of ABS-plavstika for the production of basic parts of electrical appliances, working in the room. This could include the housing of such devices as televisions, radios, tape recorders, video recorders, vacuum cleaners, coffee makers, remote controls, telephones, fax machines, computers, monitors, printers, calculators, other household and office equipment. Also based on the ABS can be made part of electrical and electronic devices: a floppy disk CD-ROM, DVD insertion .ABS plastic is widely used for manufacturing parts of refrigerators.
In the production of consumer goods ABS plastic is used for the production of such kinds of consumer goods, such as: household goods for household items – products for the bathroom and toilet room, gardening tools; sporting goods – helmets, shields; children’s products and toys, including children’s constructors; desktop stationery.
In the food industry ABS plastic is used as utensils for food by air, rail and water transport: cups, plates, boxes made from ABS plastic grades approved for use with hot food.
In addition, based on the ABS-plastic made signs, the elements of movements, optical instruments. In medicine, ABS plastic is used for the production of medical equipment parts, medical suitcases. Also ABS plastic used in the manufacture of profiles for commercial equipment. In the furniture industry, and ABS plastic compositions based on it are used for the production of furniture accessories.