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Material Monday: PC + ABS (ABS + Polycarbonate Alloy)
What is ABS + PC?
ABS + PC is an opaque material that is a low-cost alternative to Polycarbonate. This low-temperature material has improved strengths over its ABS counterpart, as well as mechanical and thermal properties. Known
Monitor made with ABS + PC (ABS + Polycarbonate Alloy)
Monitor made with ABS + PC (ABS + Polycarbonate Alloy)
for its toughness and rigidity, it has excellent dimensional stability. Extremely versatile, this material can be modified by the addition of glass fiber,
mineral fillers, and flame retardant. It retains colour exceptionally well so it will work fantastically with any branding your project might need.
Benefits
Good impact resistance with toughness and rigidity
Metal coating with excellent adhesion to ABS
Very good indoor light colour stability
Excellent processability and appearance
Easy Processing
Sterilization by gamma, e-beam, and EtO
Drawbacks
Medical Part made with PC + ABS
Poor solvent resistance
Low dielectric strength (not a good insulator)
Low continuous service temp. (melts easily)
Color shift due to UV exposure or certain sterilization methods
How can I use it?
ABS + PC can be used for various industries, such as industrial, medical, and consumer fields.
Industrial
Common applications for the industrial market include automotive exterior and interior components, and electrical housings.
Medical
Common applications for the medical field include housings/covers, monitor bezels, handles, caps, battery enclosures, access panels, and control knobs.
Consumer Products
Common applications for the consumer industry include computers, monitors, and business equipment housings and enclosures.
Specs
Tensile Strength Flexural Modulus Impact Strength Max Temp. Chemical Resistance
6400-9150 psi 300,000-400,000 psi 8-12 ft-lb/in notched izod 140°-210° F Poor to Fair
Conclusion
This opaque material is easy to process, and tough enough to stand the test of time. It’s a cheaper material than your standard Polycarbonate and can be modified to suit the needs of your product.