Polyacrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene Rod - Material Information

ABS (Acrylonitrile–Butadiene–Styrene) is an amorphous engineering thermoplastic known for its excellent toughness, impact resistance, and processability. This terpolymer combines the rigidity and strength of acrylonitrile and styrene with the flexibility and resilience of polybutadiene rubber. ABS rods are widely used across engineering, automotive, and consumer product sectors due to their balance of mechanical robustness and ease of machining or molding.

Material Overview

ABS consists of elastomeric butadiene dispersed as a grafted particulate phase within a styrene–acrylonitrile (SAN) copolymer matrix. This unique microstructure imparts both rigidity and toughness. Li, Wang, and Mahmoodi (2024) describe ABS as a versatile polymer whose structure allows precise tailoring of mechanical and thermal properties through variation in SAN-to-butadiene ratios. The material exhibits a glass transition temperature (T_g) around 105 °C, with a tensile strength of approximately 40 MPa and density of 1.04 g·cm?³. Che et al. (2025) demonstrated that blending ABS with polycarbonate (PC) can increase the T_g by over 20% and improve tensile strength by 36%, while maintaining good printability for additive manufacturing. Mohd Alauddin et al. (2018) further enhanced electrical conductivity and mechanical performance by incorporating graphene nanoplatelets, achieving improved tensile and flexural strength with low percolation thresholds. The polymer’s low water absorption (<1%) and high oxidative stability make it particularly useful in environments where dimensional stability and chemical resistance are key.

Applications and Advantages

ABS is used extensively in structural components, piping, protective housings, and 3D printing due to its combination of mechanical integrity, thermal stability, and machinability. A. N. et al. (2025) highlighted its suitability for lightweight composite structures in automotive and aerospace applications owing to its high strength-to-weight ratio and rigidity. Its resistance to impact and fatigue allows its use in enclosures, fittings, and consumer appliances. Additionally, surface treatments such as metallization or UV stabilization expand ABS’s range into electroplating and outdoor-use applications. The polymer’s adaptability and cost-effectiveness make it one of the most popular engineering plastics globally.

Goodfellow Availability

Goodfellow supplies Polyacrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (ABS) rods in research-grade quality for mechanical, thermal, and prototyping applications. Each batch is processed for uniform density, surface finish, and machinability. Custom diameters, copolymer grades, and pre-stabilized formulations are available upon request for specialized engineering and design requirements.

Explore Polyacrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (ABS) and other advanced materials in Goodfellow’s online catalogue: Goodfellow product finder.

References

• Li, D., Wang, S., & Mahmoodi, M. (2024). Acrylonitrile–Butadiene–Styrene (ABS) Polymers. Encyclopedia of Polymer Science and Technology. https://doi.org/10.1002/0471440264.pst011.pub2
• Che, S., Qu, G., Ding, J., Wang, G., Hao, Y., & Li, D. X. (2025). Preparation and properties of Acrylonitrile–Butadiene–Styrene/Polycarbonate composite filament for fused deposition modeling. Journal of Polymer Materials. https://doi.org/10.32604/jpm.2025.058587
• Mohd Alauddin, S., Ismail, I., Zaili, F. S., Ilias, N. F., & Kamalul Aripin, N. F. (2018). Electrical and mechanical properties of Acrylonitrile–Butadiene–Styrene/Graphene platelet nanocomposite. Materials Today: Proceedings, 5(8), 16580–16587. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.matpr.2018.08.053
• A. N., Neima, O., Kumar, R., Rangaswamy, N., & Karthikeyan, A. G. (2025). Experimental investigation on the mechanical properties of PLA+, ABS+, and e-ABS sandwich panels. Preprint, Research Square. https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-6868653/v1
• Yasinee, W., Supakanok, T., Sirirat, W., & Praserthdam, P. (2013). Study on the properties of blends between acrylonitrile–butadiene rubber and acrylonitrile–butadiene–styrene. Advanced Materials Research, 812, 192–197. https://doi.org/10.4028/WWW.SCIENTIFIC.NET/AMR.812.192