Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene Resin CAS 9003-56-9

What is Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene Resin?

ABS is a terpolymer of acrylonitrile, butadiene and styrene, combining three components that each contribute a distinct property: acrylonitrile gives chemical resistance and rigidity, butadiene gives impact strength, styrene gives processability and surface finish.

It is made by grafting styrene and acrylonitrile onto a polybutadiene rubber substrate, usually by emulsion or mass polymerisation, then blending with SAN.

Applications centre on appliance housings, automotive interior and exterior parts, electronics enclosures, pipe and fittings, and toys.

ABS takes surface decoration better than almost any other engineering plastic: it paints, plates and textures readily, which is why it dominates visible consumer parts.

Why ABS specifically

• Three components, three properties. The terpolymer balances toughness, rigidity and processability in a way no homopolymer achieves.
• Excellent surface finish. Takes high gloss, texture, paint and electroplating, which is why visible parts use it.
• Good dimensional stability. Amorphous structure gives low shrinkage and accurate moulding.
• Ratio tuning. Changing the acrylonitrile, butadiene and styrene ratio tailors the grade to the application.

How Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene Resin is Manufactured

ABS is made by grafting SAN onto polybutadiene rubber, by emulsion or mass polymerisation.

• Polybutadiene latex preparation. Rubber latex is produced by emulsion polymerisation of butadiene, with particle size controlled by agglomeration.
• Grafting. Styrene and acrylonitrile are polymerised in the presence of the rubber, grafting onto the particle surface.
• SAN production. Separate styrene-acrylonitrile copolymer provides the continuous matrix phase.
• Mass process alternative. Continuous mass polymerisation dissolves rubber in the monomers, avoiding the latex and coagulation steps.
• Coagulation and drying. Emulsion product is coagulated, washed and dried to powder.
• Compounding. Graft powder, SAN, stabilisers, lubricants and any flame retardant are compounded and pelletised.

Typical Commercial Specification

Figures below are representative of a general-purpose injection moulding ABS. Plating, FR and high-heat grades differ — tell us the application and we will send the matching sheet.

Physical & Chemical Properties

Behaviour in the process

ABS is easy to mould but has characteristic sensitivities:

• Moisture causes splay. Hygroscopic enough that undried resin gives surface streaks and reduced properties.
• UV degradation. The polybutadiene phase oxidises under UV, yellowing and embrittling the surface outdoors.
• Thermal degradation. Overheating degrades the rubber phase, losing impact strength irreversibly.
• Excellent plating adhesion. Etching the rubber phase creates the mechanical keying that makes ABS the standard plating substrate.

ABS Grades and Alternatives

ABS is bought by grade family, with plating, flame retardancy and heat resistance each defining a separate product line.

Stated plainly: plating grade ABS is not an ordinary grade with a certificate — the rubber particle morphology is engineered specifically so that etching produces the right surface. Substituting a general purpose grade into a plating line does not work.

Industries We Supply Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene Resin To

ABS serves appliances, automotive, electronics, construction and consumer goods.

Where Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene Resin is Used

Appliances and automotive take the largest ABS volumes, with electronics and consumer goods behind them.

In electroplating

ABS is the standard plateable plastic because the polybutadiene rubber particles can be chemically etched out of the surface, leaving microscopic cavities that key the deposited metal mechanically. Plating grades have rubber particle size and distribution engineered for this, which is why they are a distinct product rather than a certification of a general purpose grade.

Drying and processing

ABS must be dried to below 0.1% moisture, typically two to four hours at 80 to 90 °C. Undried resin gives splay marks and reduced impact. Overheating in the barrel degrades the rubber phase and loses impact strength permanently, so melt temperature and residence time both need control.

Quality Control & Testing

Every lot is released against a batch-specific Certificate of Analysis with the grade's defining properties, so your incoming inspection can release against the actual material.

• Melt flow rate — the primary processing indicator for the grade.
• Notched Izod impact — the defining toughness property.
• Heat deflection temperature — for parts with a thermal requirement.
• Tensile and flexural properties — to the grade data sheet.
• Moisture as delivered — confirming the resin was packed dry.
• Flame rating — UL 94 classification for FR grades, with thickness specified.

Common Process Problems & Likely Causes

When ABS causes trouble, it is usually drying, overheating or grade mismatch. This table is the shortcut our technical desk works through before anyone opens a complaint file.

Packaging, Storage & Shipping

• Standard packing. 25 kg bags, 500 to 1250 kg jumbo bags, octabins and bulk containers.
• Moisture protection. ABS is hygroscopic; keep bags sealed until use and dry before processing.
• Drying. Two to four hours at 80 to 90 °C in a dehumidifying dryer.
• Storage. Dry, covered warehousing away from direct sunlight; UV degrades the rubber phase.
• Grade segregation. Keep plating, FR and general purpose grades strictly separated; they are visually similar.
• Regrind control. Limit regrind content; repeated heat history degrades the rubber phase and impact strength.
• Shelf life. Typically 24 months in sealed bags in covered storage.
• Transport classification. Not classified as dangerous goods for transport.

Hazards & Safe Handling

ABS is an inert polymer with no significant health hazard in normal handling. The practical concerns are molten polymer burns, fume from overheating and pellet slip hazards.

• Inert in normal handling. Not classified as hazardous. Pellets present no chemical risk in storage or transport.
• Molten polymer burns. Melt at 210 to 250 °C adheres to skin and causes severe burns; use proper PPE at the machine.
• Thermal decomposition. Overheating releases styrene, acrylonitrile and butadiene fragments; ventilate processing areas properly.
• Residual monomers. Controlled to low ppm, with tighter limits for food contact and toy applications.
• Slip hazard. Spilled pellets are a serious slip hazard; clean up promptly.
• Environment. Pellet loss to the environment is a recognised litter source; containment at every transfer point is expected practice.

Regulatory & Compliance Notes

ABS is unregulated for transport, with toy safety, food contact and flame rating requirements applying by application. The notes below are orientation rather than legal advice.

• GHS classification. Not classified as hazardous.
• Transport. Not classified as dangerous goods. Standard packaged and bulk cargo documentation applies.
• Toy safety. EN 71 and equivalent standards apply, covering residual monomers and heavy metals in toy applications.
• Food contact. Food grades must comply with EU 10/2011 and FDA regulations, with residual acrylonitrile limits.
• Flame ratings. Electrical applications require UL 94 classification at the specified wall thickness.
• Automotive specifications. OEM material specifications and interior emissions testing apply to automotive grades.

We Supply Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene Resin Worldwide

Chelora Chemicals is a supplier and export partner, not a single-plant trader. We ship Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene Resin from India and from partner sources to customers across Asia, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and North and South America, handling the export documentation, transport paperwork and freight so the material arrives ready to use.

• Incoterms. EXW, FOB, CIF, CFR and DAP quoted to suit your purchasing terms and freight arrangements.
• Ports. Regular shipments through Nhava Sheva (JNPT) and Mundra, with other ports arranged where routing and cargo rules allow.
• Documentation. Commercial invoice, packing list, certificate of origin, COA, SDS and the transport declaration issued as a complete set.
• Flexible volumes. From a pallet of bagged resin up to repeat bulk shipments on a supply contract.
• Supply continuity. Because we are independent of any one producer, a plant turnaround or a shipping disruption at one source does not have to become your stock-out.

Buying Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene Resin from Chelora

We are an independent sourcing and supply partner. For ABS that means settling three things at enquiry: the grade family your application requires, the impact and heat targets your part must meet, and whether plating, flame rating or automotive documentation applies.

• Documentation on every lot. Batch-specific COA (MFR, impact, heat deflection, moisture), plus SDS and the full transport paperwork.
• Analysis before commitment. Representative analysis shared ahead of a commercial order so your lab can qualify the material.
• Quantities. From a pallet of bagged resin through to full bulk shipments on contract supply.
• Grade matching. General purpose, high impact, plating, FR or high-heat ABS at the melt flow rate and property balance your part requires.
• Inspection. Independent third-party inspection available at loading when the contract requires it.
• Related products. Acrylonitrile, Styrene Monomer, 1,3-Butadiene and other feedstocks alongside Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene Resin from one supplier.

How ordering works

• Send the enquiry. Product, grade or purity, quantity, destination port and the Incoterm you buy on. If you have a spec sheet, attach it — it saves a round trip.
• We quote. Price, lead time, packing format and a sample COA, normally within one working day.
• Qualify the supply. For first orders or critical applications, we share the analysis and handling documentation so your technical and safety teams can sign off before you commit.
• Confirm the order. Proforma invoice issued; payment terms agreed against the volume and the relationship.
• Allocation and QC. Material allocated and released against a batch-specific COA, with an independent inspection where the contract calls for it.
• Ship and document. Filled, labelled and loaded with the full export document set, and tracked through to arrival.

Related Products

Buyers of ABS often source related resins and monomers alongside it — polycarbonate for alloys, polystyrene and the monomers themselves are commonly bought on the same programme.