Injection Molding Material
ABS is a tough, low-cost thermoplastic. It is one of the most popular materials for plastic injection molding. We mold it into housings, toys, and automotive interior parts every day.
Overview
ABS stands for Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene. It is an amorphous thermoplastic made by blending three monomers. Each monomer gives ABS a different strength.
Adds chemical resistance and heat stability. It keeps parts from degrading in mild solvents.
Adds toughness and impact resistance. This is what makes ABS hard to crack.
Adds rigidity and a smooth, glossy surface. It makes ABS easy to mold and paint.
Because it is amorphous, ABS softens gradually when heated. It has no sharp melting point. This makes it stable and predictable during injection molding.
Specifications
Typical values for unfilled ABS. Actual numbers vary by grade and supplier. We confirm the right grade during your DFM review.
| Property | Typical Value | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Material family | Amorphous thermoplastic | No sharp melting point |
| Density | 1.04–1.06 g/cm³ | Light and easy to handle |
| Tensile strength | 38–44 MPa | Good for structural parts |
| Flexural modulus | 1.9–2.6 GPa | Stiff but not brittle |
| Melt temperature | 200–240 °C | Injection barrel setpoint |
| Mold temperature | 60–80 °C | Helps avoid warping |
| Glass transition (Tg) | ~105 °C | Softening starts here |
| Heat deflection temp (HDT) | 73–96 °C | Up to ~98 °C for some grades |
| Shrinkage | 0.5–0.7 % | Mold must be sized for this |
| Impact strength (Izod) | 3.0–7.5 ft·lb/in | High impact resistance |
Glass-filled ABS grades raise stiffness and heat resistance. They can run at higher operating temperatures. Tell us if your part needs extra strength.
The Process
Injection molding turns ABS pellets into solid parts in seconds. The machine melts the plastic and forces it into a steel mold. Here are the main steps.
ABS is hygroscopic. It absorbs moisture from air. We dry it at 80–85 °C for several hours before molding to avoid surface defects.
ABS pellets drop from a hopper into a heated barrel. They melt under heat and shear at about 200–240 °C.
The molten plastic is pushed into the steel mold cavity under high pressure, about 100–200 bar. It fills every detail.
The mold is held at 60–80 °C. The part cools and takes the shape of the cavity. Cooling time sets the cycle speed.
Ejector pins push the finished part out. The mold closes and the cycle repeats. One mold can make millions of parts.
Why Choose ABS
Cycle times are short. One mold can produce millions of identical parts fast.
Mold one part with thin walls, ribs, threads, and even living hinges. No assembly needed.
ABS resists impact and everyday drops. It is hard to crack under load.
The molded surface is glossy. It is easy to paint, texture, or plate.
Sprue and runner scraps are reground and reused. Material cost stays low.
The price per part drops sharply in high volume. Great for production.
Things to Watch
A steel mold is a big upfront investment. Best for medium to high volumes.
Designing and cutting a mold takes weeks, not days.
ABS must be dried before molding. Skipping this causes splay and weak parts.
ABS yellows and brittles in sunlight. Keep it indoors or add a coating.
Uneven walls or cooling cause warping. Good design prevents this.
ABS shrinks 0.5–0.7 %. Thick sections can show sink marks without care.
Most limits are solved by good design. Our free DFM review catches these issues before we cut the mold.
Where ABS Is Used
Dashboards, interior trim, bumpers, and seat-belt covers. ABS is a car interior staple.
Housings, keyboard keys, remote controls, and phone shells. Glossy and tough.
Toys, appliance bodies, and storage boxes. The classic "LEGO plastic."
Power-tool housings, enclosures, and machine covers built to take abuse.
Finishing
ABS accepts almost every plastic finish. Pick the look and function your part needs.
Mold texture (SPI finishes) adds grip and hides marks. No extra step needed.
Spray painting gives color and UV protection. Matches brand colors.
Print logos, labels, and marks directly on the part surface.
Chrome-like electroplating for a metal look on cosmetic parts.
High-gloss polish for clear, shiny surfaces.
Ultrasonic welding joins parts. We also assemble and package.
Design Guide
Good design avoids warping, sink marks, and high cost. Follow these rules for clean, moldable ABS parts.
Keep walls even, 1.0–3.5 mm. Uneven walls cause sinks and warping.
Ribs add strength without thick spots. Keep them half the wall thickness.
Use 0.5–1.5° draft on walls. It helps the part release from the mold.
Round the corners. Sharp inside corners create stress and sink marks.
Place the gate at the thickest section. Use enough gate pressure to fill.
Dry at 80–85 °C for hours. Control mold temp at 60–80 °C for stable parts.
Maximum part size is about 480 × 751 × 203 mm. Standard molding tolerance is around ±0.08 mm, and we hold ±0.02 mm on well-controlled runs.
Our Service
We are a China-based factory with CNC, 3D printing, and injection molding under one roof. We help you go from prototype to production in ABS.
Aluminum and soft steel molds for fast, low-cost prototyping runs.
Hardened steel molds built for millions of cycles and tight repeatability.
Combine ABS with other materials or metal inserts in one shot (2K).
Our engineers check your design and suggest cost- and quality-saving changes.
Painting, plating, printing, welding, and full assembly before shipping.
Parts ship from our Dongguan factory to your door, worldwide.
Get a Quote
Send STEP, IGES, STL, or PDF drawings. The more detail, the better our quote.
We review your design and return a quote with free DFM feedback within 24 hours.
Approve the quote. We build the mold and ship your ABS parts to you.
FAQ