ABS Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene — Sheet, Rod & Tube

ABS plastic — acrylonitrile butadiene styrene — is a versatile amorphous engineering thermoplastic that combines the toughness of butadiene rubber with the rigidity of styrene and the chemical resilience of acrylonitrile. The result is an ABS material prized for its balanced combination of impact resistance, stiffness, and straightforward fabrication across a broad range of commercial and industrial components.

Ready Plastics ABS delivers 4,600 psi tensile strength, 7,100 psi flexural strength, and a Shore D hardness of 75 with a density of only 1.04 g/cm³ — making it one of the most weight-efficient structural thermoplastics available. Service temperature reaches 100 °C (210 °F) short-term, and a glass transition temperature of 104 °C ensures dimensional stability in ambient industrial environments. Low water absorption (0.07% at 24 h) keeps tolerances consistent even in humid conditions.

Fabrication. ABS machines cleanly on conventional shop equipment — routing, sawing, drilling, and milling all produce sharp edges and smooth surfaces without the gummy behavior seen in polyolefins. It bonds readily with solvent cements and structural adhesives, and accepts paint or plating finishes that are not practical on most other thermoplastics. Flammability rating is UL 94 HB for general-purpose grades.

Typical applications include electrical enclosures, instrument housings, jig and fixture components, prototype parts, signage, and aesthetic trim panels where surface quality matters as much as strength. Ready Plastics stocks ABS in sheet and rod forms — see the ABS product page for available sizes and to request a quote.