What does ABS stand for?

ABS stands for Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene, a tough, durable thermoplastic polymer made from these three distinct monomers. ABS combines strength, gloss, and impact resistance.

Is ABS plastic toxic?

ABS is generally stable and safe for normal handling. However, when melted or 3D printed, it can release fumes or vapors containing styrene, which can be irritating. Use proper ventilation or an enclosure equipped with suitable exhaust or filtration when heating or printing ABS.

What is ABS plastic used for?

Common ABS applications include automotive interior trim and components, protective headgear (like hard hats), computer keyboard caps, electronic housings, luggage, and household plumbing.

How do you glue ABS plastic?

ABS can be joined with compatible ABS solvent cement or an adhesive formulated for ABS. Solvent cement softens the mating surfaces, allowing them to fuse as the solvent evaporates. Choose the bonding method for the materials being joined, joint design, and service conditions.

How do you smooth ABS plastic?

ABS can be sanded, and some 3D-printed ABS parts can be smoothed with acetone vapor. Acetone softens and partially dissolves the surface, reducing visible layer lines but potentially rounding details or changing dimensions. Vapor smoothing requires suitable equipment and controls for flammable solvent vapors.

Is ABS plastic heat resistant?

ABS offers better heat resistance than many commodity plastics and has a glass transition temperature of approximately 221°F (105°C). For loaded applications, heat deflection temperature is usually the better design reference; typical ABS HDT values are often below its glass transition temperature and vary by grade.

Standard ABS plastic is not inherently UV resistant. Prolonged exposure to direct sunlight will cause the material to degrade, yellow, and become brittle over time. For outdoor applications, use a specialized UV-resistant grade of ABS or protect it with an opaque paint or coating.

ABS Plastic Sheet & Rod

Buy cut-to-size ABS sheet & rod in machine-grade for tight-tolerance machining & impact strength, & in extruded for durable, thermoformable panels & parts.

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ABS Machine Grade Sheet

ABS Extruded Sheet

ABS Natural
Machine Grade Rod

ABS Black
Machine Grade Rod

ABS Welding Rod

What Is ABS Plastic?

Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene (ABS) is an opaque, amorphous thermoplastic polymer known for its balanced combination of high impact strength, mechanical toughness, and excellent machinability. It is easily fabricated, thermoformed, and bonded, making it a go-to material for both heavy-duty industrial components and consumer goods.

ABS is an ideal material for turning, drilling, milling, sawing, and die-cutting. It can be bonded to itself using ABS solvent cement and can also be joined with specialty plastic adhesives depending on the application. ABS can also be line bent with standard heat strips.

Superior Machinability: Cuts clean with standard tooling.
High Impact Strength: Resists cracking even at sub-zero temperatures (-40°F).
Excellent Thermoformability: Ideal for vacuum forming panels and housings.
Chemical Resistance: Resists many aqueous acids and alkalis, depending on concentration, temperature, and exposure conditions.
Electrical Insulation: Good dielectric properties for electronics housings.

Choosing Your Material: Machine Grade vs. General-Purpose ABS

ABS plastic sheets and rods are manufactured in two different grades:

Machine-grade ABS is produced for machining applications where dimensional stability and consistency are important. Annealed stock helps reduce residual stresses and the risk of distortion during machining.

Best For: CNC turning, milling, and complex machined parts.
Common Uses: Fluid handling components, manifolds, prototypes, and tight-tolerance spacers.

General-purpose extruded ABS is more cost-effective and better-suited for thermoforming, vacuum forming, and general fabrication. While extruded ABS can be machined for basic features, it is not the best choice for close-tolerance parts compared to machine grade ABS because residual stress may cause movement or warping during machining.

Best For: Thermoforming, vacuum forming, and structural panels.
Common Uses: Automotive interiors, appliance housings, luggage carriers, and drain-waste vent (DWV) pipes.

ABS Typical Material Properties

Property	Typical Value
Specific Gravity	1.04
Water Absorption @ 24 hrs.	0.3%
Tensile Strength	4,100 psi
Flexural Strength	9,100 psi
Tensile Modulus	294 ksi
Flexural Modulus	304 ksi
Hardness, Rockwell	R102
Izod Impact, Notched	7.7 ft-lbs/in.
Heat Deflection Temp (264 psi)	177°F

*Values listed are typical and are meant only as a guide to aid in design. Field testing should be performed to find the actual values for your application.

Frequently Asked Questions About ABS

What does ABS stand for?: ABS stands for Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene, a tough, durable thermoplastic polymer made from these three distinct monomers. ABS combines strength, gloss, and impact resistance.
Is ABS plastic toxic?: ABS is generally stable and safe for normal handling. However, when melted or 3D printed, it can release fumes or vapors containing styrene, which can be irritating. Use proper ventilation or an enclosure equipped with suitable exhaust or filtration when heating or printing ABS.
What is ABS plastic used for?: Common ABS applications include automotive interior trim and components, protective headgear (like hard hats), computer keyboard caps, electronic housings, luggage, and household plumbing.
How do you glue ABS plastic?: ABS can be joined with compatible ABS solvent cement or an adhesive formulated for ABS. Solvent cement softens the mating surfaces, allowing them to fuse as the solvent evaporates. Choose the bonding method for the materials being joined, joint design, and service conditions.
How do you smooth ABS plastic?: ABS can be sanded, and some 3D-printed ABS parts can be smoothed with acetone vapor. Acetone softens and partially dissolves the surface, reducing visible layer lines but potentially rounding details or changing dimensions. Vapor smoothing requires suitable equipment and controls for flammable solvent vapors.
Is ABS plastic heat resistant?: ABS offers better heat resistance than many commodity plastics and has a glass transition temperature of approximately 221°F (105°C). For loaded applications, heat deflection temperature is usually the better design reference; typical ABS HDT values are often below its glass transition temperature and vary by grade.
Is ABS UV resistant?: Standard ABS plastic is not inherently UV resistant. Prolonged exposure to direct sunlight will cause the material to degrade, yellow, and become brittle over time. For outdoor applications, use a specialized UV-resistant grade of ABS or protect it with an opaque paint or coating.

ABS Plastic Sheet

ABS Sheet - Black Machine Grade

Stress-relieved and annealed for high-precision CNC milling and routing. Offers maximum impact strength in a sleek, opaque black finish.

ABS Sheet - Natural Machine Grade

Compression molded and annealed for tight-tolerance machining without warping. Features a natural, unpigmented beige tone.

ABS Sheet - Black Extruded

A cost-effective, formable thermoplastic ideal for vacuum forming, thermoforming, and structural paneling in an opaque black.

ABS Sheet - White Extruded

ABS plastic is an easily machined, low cost, rigid thermoplastic plastic with high impact strength.

ABS Plastic Rod

ABS Rod - Natural Machine Grade

Stress-relieved round rod optimized for high-speed lathe turning and Swiss machining. Unpigmented natural finish.

ABS Rod - Black Machine Grade

Tough, rigid, and annealed to prevent cracking during complex CNC turning operations. Solid opaque black coloring throughout.

ABS Welding Rods

ABS Welding Rod - Black

Create seamless, high-strength bonds in black ABS fabrications. Sold by the pound in 4-foot lengths.

ABS Welding Rod - Natural

Ideal for seamless repairs and structural fabrication in unpigmented, natural ABS applications. Sold by the pound in 4-foot lengths.

ABS Welding Rod - White

Achieve clean, color-matched welded joints for white ABS panels, pipes, and appliance housings. Sold by the pound in 4-foot lengths.

ABS Accessories & Adhesives

Impact Strength Material Sample Pack

Includes a 6x6" sample of ABS, Noryl, Polycarbonate, and UHMW.

Thermoplastics Material Sample Pack

6x6" sample of ABS, Acetal, Acrylic, Nylon, PVC, UHMW, PET, and a 3x3" sample of PTFE.

Machinable Plastics Material Sample Pack

6x6" sample of ABS, Acetal, Acrylic, HDPE, PVC, UHMW, and 3x3" sample of PTFE.

Onsrud - Plastic Router Bits

Plastic router bits by Onsrud are an industry standard in quality.

Onsrud High Speed Steel Two Flute Fractional Drill Bit

Plastic drilling bits by Onsrud are an industry standard in quality.

Plastic Saw Blades

Saw blades that offer premium performance on hard and soft plastics.

Plastic Strip Heater

24" 55-Watt Plastrip Heater

SciGrip Weld-On 45 Assembly Adhesive

Sci-Grip Weld-On 45 works well for bonding unprepared and corrosion resistant plastics.

Plasticator Glue Bottle and Applicator

Applicator for applying solvent cements to acrylics and other plastics.

Small Plastic Glue Funnel (10 Pack)

10 funnels for filling small bottles and syringes.

Plasticator Glue Bottle Applicator and Funnel Pack

Universal 2oz applicator and funnels for applying solvent cements to acrylics and other plastics.

WARNING: This product can expose you to chemicals including Acrylonitrile, CAS 107-13-1, which are known to the State of California to cause cancer. For more information go to www.P65Warnings.ca.gov.

WARNING: This product can expose you to chemicals including Butadiene, CAS 106-99-0, which are known to the State of California to cause cancer and birth defects or other reproductive harm. For more information go to www.P65Warnings.ca.gov.

WARNING: This product can expose you to chemicals including Styrene, CAS 100-42-5, which are known to the State of California to cause cancer and birth defects or other reproductive harm. For more information go to www.P65Warnings.ca.gov.