ABS Plastic Sheet

ABS Plastic

Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene (ABS) is an amorphous thermoplastic material that offers a balanced combination of mechanical toughness, impact resistance, and ease of fabrication and thermoforming. ABS sheets are heat resistant even at low temperatures, with a continuous use temperature range of -4° F (-20° C) to 176° F (80° C). It provides good dimensional stability, chemical resistance, abrasion resistance, and electrical insulating properties that remain fairly constant in the acceptable operating range of temperature regardless of humidity.

In filament form, ABS is one of the most widely used materials in 3D Printing. ABS plastic is the go-to material that offers a good balance of cost and mechanical performance within a reasonable operating temperature range. 

• Outstanding Impact Strength
• High Melt Strength for Easy Thermoforming
• Excellent for Deep Draw Thermoforming
• Very Good Chemical Resistance

ABS Plastic Application

• Automotive
• Bus and Rail
• Chemical Processing
• Enclosures
• Food and Beverage Preparation and Processing
• Packaging and Conveying Equipment

• Recreational Vehicles
• Semiconductor and Electronics
• Sporting Goods
• Thermoformers
• Tooling & Prototyping

ABS vs PVC Pipe

Plastic pipes are a favorite amongst homeowners and plumbers alike for many reasons. Compared to their counterparts, they are inexpensive, lightweight, don’t corrode, keep hot water hot, and don’t collect condensation from cold water. But not all plastic pipes are the same.

The differences between ABS and PVC are either minor or situational, but the one difference that really stands out to many homeowners is that ABS pipe is made with BPA, and PVC pipe is not. BPA is commonly used to harden the plastic. While there is no evidence that BPA poses a risk to humans, animal studies show signs of potential health risks. The current assessment by the FDA is that BPA is safe at current levels occurring in foods. (Please conduct your own research). It’s also important to consider that your local government may have already made the decision for you. Some local building codes mandate the use of one type of pipe over the other for drainage, sewage, or other plumbing projects, though many leave the option up to plumbers and builders. 

Here are some other differences:

ABS vs Polycarbonate

Polycarbonate is the preferred material for applications that require transparent plastic that is virtually unbreakable. They are also easy to incorporate colors and patterns. When comparing ABS vs Polycarbonate, polycarbonate always wins in the “looks department”. Polycarbonate is temperature resistant and somewhat flame retardant/self-extinguishing.

ABS is a popular choice for applications where high impact resistance is required or that experience a great deal of wear and tear. It’s an affordable option that can easily be processed into different shapes while offering a nice gloss property. ABS is a blend of three different plastic materials - Acrylonitrile in ABS plastic provides the chemical and hardness factor, the Butadiene plastic enhances impact resistance properties, and the Styrene offers heat resistance and excellent property enhancements.

ABS Plastic Fabrication Methods

ABS is among the industry’s most versatile materials, is easily fabricated, and can be painted, glued, and sanded. 

For users who do not have the skill, experience, tools, or time to fabricate these sheets, ShapesPlastics offers cut-to-size ad hoc services. The ability to create cut-to-size products that deliver the best quality, precision in cutting, and tight tolerances, is what truly sets us apart. You can also benefit from additional savings in shipping as cutting the sheet down to your final size, might qualify it for free standard shipping.

Cutting ABS Plastic using a Circular Saw

This works well for ABS plastic sheets that have a thickness of more than ⅛”

• Mark the cutting line, front and back, on your plastic sheet.
• Secure the plastic sheet using a clamp. Fix the material to the edge of your workbench.
• Use the guidelines drawn earlier to navigate the saw.
• The friction from the blades heats the material, so once you finish sawing the plastic, allow it to cool. 

Cutting ABS Plastic using a Jigsaw

You can use this for complex curved cuts as it offers better mobility when machining your ABS Plastic.

• Mark the cutting line, front and back, on your plastic sheet.
• Secure the plastic sheet using a clamp.
• Use the guidelines drawn earlier to navigate the jigsaw. This requires precision and focus. If you are cutting a curve, take control of the jigsaw, slowly turning it and keeping it as steady as possible.

If you have a portable band saw, you can easily cut thick ABS plastic as it allows for detailed and precise cuts. 

Bending ABS Plastic

Lay the piece of plastic sheet on the edge of the table and heat up the part where it needs to bend. When the texture of the ABS changes, slow push it in the direction you want to bed. Please use caution and wear protective gloves. Hold the bent part until it holds its shape.

Gluing ABS Plastic

Most adhesives are suitable for bonding ABS. MS polymers can be used where a flexible solution is required. Remember to keep the surface clean, dry, and free from any contamination before starting the gluing process. 

For the do-it-yourselfers, we recommended ordering a sample piece of plastic sheets prior to purchase so you can practice different machining styles. You can also take advantage of our custom fabrication services to save time and money - get what you want - exactly the way you want it. 

Maintenance and Cleaning of ABS Plastic

You can clean your plastic sheet with a mild soap or detergent and lukewarm water solution. Rinse well. You can then wipe it down using a clean soft cloth or sponge to prevent any scratches or brightness degradation.

Do not use any harsh chemicals such as chlorides, ketones, and degreasers as they accelerated the aging process and gives it a yellowish color. 

Physical Properties

* Technical Data is provided courtesy of UL Prospector (www.ulprospector.com) and IAPD (www.IAPD.org).

Data is to be considered representative and is provided for guidance only. All product performance must be verified by the user under actual application conditions.

Frequently Asked Questions