PC ABS Granules

 PC-ABS is a blend of the two polymers - polycarbonate (PC) and acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) - and it includes the benefits (and limitations) of both thermoplastics. PC-ABS materials are widely popular in the engineering world for their functional characteristics. 

How “lightweight” a material can be is determined by its density or its mass per unit volume. The density of PC-ABS varies based on the specific ratio of PC to ABS, but generally, it is 1.15 g/ cm³. Below is a list of densities of various other thermoplastics for comparison:

• Polyethylene terephthalate (PET): 1.35 g/ cm³
• Polyvinyl chloride (PVC): 1.16-1.45 g/ cm³
• Poly Lactide (PLA): 1.25 g/ cm³
• Polyetherimide (PEI): 1.3 g/ cm³
• Polypropylene (PP): 0.9 g/ cm³

While not the lightest plastic, PC-ABS is a lightweight polymer, which is an impressive feat compared to its other beneficial properties like its strength and resistances.

The transmittance of a material is the ratio of the light that passes through vs. the light that is incident to a particular material. In other words, it is a measure of how effective a material is at transmitting light through itself. This parameter is typically used to measure the optical nature of a material; for example, concrete has next to no transmittance, while glass has a near-perfect transmittance.

PC is an optically clear material, while ABS is opaque, which makes PC-ABS generally opaque. It is unable to be used in the optical applications for which PC is specified. However, PC-ABS does retain the glossy surface of ABS and can reflect light well, offering a mirror-like shine if polished correctly. PC-ABS is also easily colored, pigmented, and painted.

Heat resistance is the ability of a material to withstand heat and retain its general properties across heat differentials. PC offers to PC-ABS what ABS alone does not have, namely a better heat resistance. PC-ABS exhibits a good thermal resistance, allowing the attractive ABS to function in roles in which it would typically deflect (or worse, burn). The increased heat resistance of PC-ABS also contributes to its flow characteristics, workability, and processability. Note that specific PC-ABS blends will significantly alter its heat resistance.

The toughness of a material is defined by an ability to absorb incoming energy and plastically deform without breaking apart. Another way to think about toughness is the measure of how much energy a material can absorb without cracks propagating through it. Though incredibly hard, ceramics like glass have very poor toughness despite higher bonding strengths. Impact strength is a similar measure, where it defines a material’s resistance to crack-formation through a single, sudden applied force. It is not necessary to understand the differences between these two attributes if they sound the same (as they are nearly identical to the non-material-science-obsessed eye), just note that they denote how difficult it is to fracture a material.

The most desirable properties of PC-ABS are its toughness and impact strength. PC-ABS is exceptionally good at remaining tough at low temperatures, where even metals are prone to cracking. The flexibility of ABS plus the strength and resistances of PC creates a material that bends but does not break easily. The high impact strength and toughness of PC-ABS makes it ideal for interior automotive applications and electronic appliance applications.