Processing high impact ABS plastics

ABS plastic is an easily machined, low cost rigid thermoplastic plastic with high impact strength, ideal for turning, drilling, milling, sawing, die-cutting, shearing. ABS plastics are composed of acrylonitrile, butadiene, and styrene in varying proportions and combined through various methods, including graft copolymerisation and physical blending.

The combination of several materials has rendered ABS plastics with such properties as mechanical toughness, good dimensional stability, chemical resistance, electrical insulating and ease of fabrication. Available today are ABS plastics in a wide range of grades including medium and high-impact, heat-resistant, plateable fire-retardant, and both low and high gloss varieties. ABS plastics are available as compounds for injection moulding, blow moulding, extrusion, and calendaring, as sheet for thermoforming or cold forming, and in expandable grades for foam moulding.

ABS standard grades are developed according to requirements of customers. Aside from combining the three monomers - acrylonitrile, butadiene and styrene – the material is modified by additives that grades are customised into a wide range such as those that are high and medium impact, high heat resistant, and electroplatable. Fibre reinforcement can be incorporated to increase stiffness and dimensional stability. ABS is readily blended or alloyed with other polymers further raising the range of properties available. Fire retardancy may be achieved by infusing fire retardant additives or by blending with PVC. The natural material is an opaque ivory colour and is readily coloured with pigments or dyes. Transparent grades are also available.

End-use applications
3D Systems Corporation released its VisiJet? X Plastic Material, the first jetted plastic available with the look, feel and performance of injection moulded ABS plastic ideal for prototyping, product mockups and end-use applications requiring extreme toughness and high temperature resistance. The Visijet X plastic works in 3D Systems’ ProJet? 3500 3D Printers including the SD, HD, HDPlus and new HDMax models, and provides new levels of durability and functionality previously unattainable with a jetted plastic.

“Our new VisiJet X material is a revolutionary breakthrough in jetted plastics,” said Buddy Byrum, Vice President of Product & Channel Management for 3D Systems. “VisiJet X parts have the toughness and durability of ABS for both prototyping and end use applications, and a heat deflection temperature of 88oC right out of the printer with no additional tempering needed. Best of all, VisiJet X parts look great with a stunning white finish that really looks like it came from an injection mould.”

3D Systems is a leading provider of 3D content-to-print solutions including 3D printers, print materials and on-demand custom parts services for professionals and consumers alike. The company also provides CAD, reverse engineering and inspection software tools and consumer 3D printers, apps and services. Its expertly integrated solutions replace and complement traditional methods and reduce the time and cost of designing new products by printing real parts directly from digital input. These solutions are used to rapidly design, create, communicate, prototype or produce real parts, empowering customers to create and make with confidence.