Acrylonitrile butadiene styrene ABS

C23H23N (smallest repeat unit as listed by NASA) · CAS 9003-56-9

Acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) is an amorphous styrenic terpolymer.

11 sources · Updated 2026-10-19 · CC BY 4.0

Evidence level

5 of 5

Flown or field-proven

Tough at room temperature

23 kJ/m2 Charpy notched

Stiff enough for housings

2200 MPa flexural modulus

Survive in orbit

1.09e-24 cm3/atom

Recipe, share of the weight

  • C8H8 not statedStyrene
  • C3H3N not statedAcrylonitrile
  • C4H6 not statedButadiene

Best for

Impact-tough moulded parts: 23 kJ/m2 Charpy notched impact at 23 °C in SABIC MG94F, with 2200 MPa flexural modulus in Chimei PA-757F

Weakest at

Heat and atomic oxygen: heat deflection of 80 °C at 1.8 MPa for SABIC MG94F, and an erosion yield of 1.09e-24 cm3/atom in low Earth orbit

Risk at a glance

  • People Low. Monomers classified; polymer not checked
  • If it fails Moderate. Atomic oxygen erosion in low Earth orbit
  • Corrosion Moderate. UV and heat make ABS yellow and become brittle.

Quick facts: ABS

Key properties of ABS
PropertyValueBasis
Density1.04 to 1.05 g/cm³2 sourced values across conditions

What is the density of Acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS)?

Acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) has a density of 1.04 to 1.05 g/cm³. The range covers 2 sourced values across the tempers, forms and test conditions the sources report; room-temperature values are used where a source states a temperature.

What is Acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) used for?

Uses recorded in the sources include Polymer sample on a space flight experiment; Enclosures for electrical and electronic assemblies, computer cases, pen housings and small kitchen appliances; LEGO bricks.

Why it exists

ABS is an amorphous styrenic terpolymer that is tough and easy to mould. The SABIC MG94F grade has a density of 1.04 g/cm3, a notched Charpy impact strength of 23 kJ/m2 at 23 °C, and a Vicat softening point of 99 °C. The Chimei PA-757F grade has a density of 1.05 g/cm3 and a flexural modulus of 2200 MPa.

Where it's used

Electronics and housings

Wikipedia lists enclosures for electrical and electronic assemblies, computer cases and pen housings among ABS uses.

LEGO bricks

Lego bricks have primarily been made from ABS since 1963 (Wikipedia).

3D printing (ground)

ABS is a common 3D printer filament. Wikipedia says it warps on cooling and needs an enclosure. This is ground manufacturing, not a flight use.

Recipe

C23H23N (smallest repeat unit as listed by NASA)

ABS is a terpolymer made by polymerising styrene and acrylonitrile in the presence of polybutadiene (Wikipedia). The polybutadiene forms a long rubbery chain, crisscrossed with shorter chains of poly(styrene-co-acrylonitrile). The emulsion or mass route is not stated in the page read.

What ABS is made of
IngredientShare of the weightWhat it does
Styrene C8H8 not stated Gives a shiny, impervious surface, hardness, rigidity and easier processing (Wikipedia).
Acrylonitrile C3H3N not stated Adds chemical resistance, fatigue resistance, hardness and rigidity, and raises the heat deflection temperature (Wikipedia).
Butadiene C4H6 not stated Rubbery polybutadiene phase that gives toughness and impact resistance (Wikipedia).

Weight shares are as printed in the sources.

What it can do

Tough at room temperature

23 kJ/m2 Charpy notched

SABIC MG94F has a notched Charpy impact strength of 23 kJ/m2 at 23 °C and a notched Izod impact strength of 18 kJ/m2 at 23 °C, both as printed on the aggregator page.

Stiff enough for housings

2200 MPa flexural modulus

Chimei PA-757F has a flexural modulus of 2200 MPa at 2 mm/min and a tensile yield stress of 47 MPa at 50 mm/min.

Survive in orbit

1.09e-24 cm3/atom

measured

NASA lists an erosion yield of 1.09e-24 cm3/atom for ABS on MISSE 2, from Table I.

How it compares

The four grades are from two manufacturers and are read from aggregator pages, so the values are typical and not comparable to a specification. Read the table rows as examples of grade behaviour, not as a ranking.

The same measurements for each material, so you can compare them. Each row names the key condition under the value; the full conditions and methods are in the numbered notes under Technical details. Other materials are shown beside it; each was measured under its own conditions, so open its page before comparing closely. Compare every grade in the family.

Benchmarks
MeasurementABSPS
Thermal behavior and safety
Heat deflection temperature, 1.8 MPa, SABIC MG94FISO 75/Ae, as printed on the aggregator page80 °C486 °C
Heat deflection temperature, 0.45 MPa, SABIC MG94FISO 75/Be, as printed on the aggregator page91 °C586 °C
Deflection temperature under load, 1.8 MPa, annealed, Chimei PA-757FISO 75/A, as printed on the aggregator page98 °C686 °C
Lifetime and stability
Melt volume rate, SABIC MG94FISO 1133, as printed on the aggregator page39 cm³/10 min2no data
Physical and electrical
Density, SABIC MG94FISO 1183, as printed on the aggregator page1.04 g/cm³1048 kg/m3
Density, Chimei PA-757FISO 1183, as printed on the aggregator page1.05 g/cm³1048 kg/m3
Temperature behavior
Vicat softening point, SABIC MG94FISO 306, as printed on the aggregator page99 °Cno data
Other measurements
Melt flow rate, SABIC MG94FISO 1133, as printed on the aggregator page12 g/10 min17.5 g/10 min
Tensile modulus, SABIC MG94FISO 527, as printed on the aggregator page2400 MPano data
Tensile strength at yield, SABIC MG94FISO 527, as printed on the aggregator page45 MPano data
Charpy impact strength, notched, SABIC MG94FISO 179/1eA, as printed on the aggregator page23 kJ/m23no data
Izod impact strength, notched, SABIC MG94FISO 180/1A, as printed on the aggregator page18 kJ/m2no data
Flexural modulus, Chimei PA-757FISO 178, as printed on the aggregator page2200 MPa33000 kg/cm²
Tensile yield stress, Chimei PA-757FISO 527, as printed on the aggregator page47 MPano data
Melt flow rate, Chimei PA-737ISO 1133, as printed on the aggregator page30.2 g/10 min77.5 g/10 min
Melt flow rate, Chimei PA-727ISO 1133, as printed on the aggregator page20 g/10 min87.5 g/10 min
Atomic oxygen erosion yield, ABS (MISSE 2)1.09×10^-24 cm³/atom93.74×10^-24 cm³/atom

Why choose it, and why not

Good for

  • Impact-tough moulded parts: 23 kJ/m2 Charpy notched impact at 23 °C in SABIC MG94F.
  • Stiff moulded parts: 2200 MPa flexural modulus in Chimei PA-757F.
  • Known atomic oxygen behaviour: 1.09e-24 cm3/atom on MISSE 2, measured in low Earth orbit.

Watch out for

  • Heat: the heat deflection is 80 °C at 1.8 MPa for SABIC MG94F, so ABS softens well below 99 °C Vicat under load.
  • Atomic oxygen erodes ABS at 1.09e-24 cm3/atom, so exterior use needs protection or an erosion allowance.
  • No outgassing, UV or radiation test for ABS in space was found, so only the erosion yield is recorded.
  • The grade values come from aggregator pages, and the SABIC datasheet is gated behind login.

ABS is a tough styrenic terpolymer: 23 kJ/m2 Charpy notched impact in SABIC MG94F, density 1.04 to 1.05 g/cm3, and heat deflection of 80 to 98 °C under load. Its weak points are UV yellowing, heat and solvents. The MISSE 2 erosion yield in low Earth orbit is 1.09e-24 cm3/atom. The monomers are classified (acrylonitrile, 1,3-butadiene, styrene), but the polymer has no sourced SDS, outgassing or quantitative UV data.

Technical details

For scientists and researchers. Everything above comes from the record below: every number with its method, its conditions and its source.

Notes

The method, full conditions and any caveat for the numbered rows above.

Notes for the numbered rows
#MeasurementMethodConditionsCaveat
1Melt flow rate, SABIC MG94F—temperature 220 °Cload 5.0 kggrade MG94F—
2Melt volume rate, SABIC MG94F—temperature 220 °Cload 10.0 kggrade MG94F—
3Charpy impact strength, notched, SABIC MG94F—grade MG94Ftemperature 23 °Cnotch V-notch, ISO 179/1eA—
4Heat deflection temperature, 1.8 MPa, SABIC MG94F—grade MG94Fload 1.8 MPamethod as printed ISO 75/Ae—
5Heat deflection temperature, 0.45 MPa, SABIC MG94F—grade MG94Fload 0.45 MPamethod as printed ISO 75/Be—
6Deflection temperature under load, 1.8 MPa, annealed, Chimei PA-757F—grade PA-757Fload 1.8 MPaannealing annealed—
7Melt flow rate, Chimei PA-737—temperature 220 °Cload 10 kggrade PA-737—
8Melt flow rate, Chimei PA-727—temperature 220 °Cload 10 kggrade PA-727—
9Atomic oxygen erosion yield, ABS (MISSE 2)Measured on MISSE 2 flight samples and listed in NASA TM-2008-215490, Table Iplatform ISS, MISSE 2 PEC 2 tray 1, low Earth orbitfluence 8.43e21 atoms/cm2duration 3.95 years—

Corrosion and compatibility

What happens when it meets other materials and environments.

Corrosion and compatibility
EnvironmentConcernWhat happens
UV light and excessive heat in service moderate UV and heat make ABS yellow and become brittle.1
Heat up to 400 C moderate At 400 C ABS decomposes into its monomers.2
Chlorinated solvents, alcohols and ketones moderate ABS has poor resistance to chlorinated solvents and alcohols.3
Corrosion details
#EnvironmentDetailsTest conditions
1 UV light and excessive heat in service Wikipedia says ABS yellows on exposure to UV light or excessive heat, because photo-oxidation breaks polymer chains. Ageing depends largely on the polybutadiene content, and antioxidants and UV protection additives are normally included. basis general description; no test duration, dose or quantitative colour change was read
2 Heat up to 400 C Wikipedia says ABS is stable to decomposition under normal use and processing, but if the temperature reaches 400 C it decomposes into butadiene, acrylonitrile and styrene. The grades read have heat deflection temperatures of 80 to 98 C under load (see properties). basis decomposition temperature as printed; no exposure time given
3 Chlorinated solvents, alcohols and ketones Wikipedia says ABS has poor resistance to chlorinated solvents and alcohols, and names ketones (such as acetone), chloroform and ethylene dichloride in its solvent passage. The chemical resistance table gives concentrated acids as Good, dilute acids and alkali as Excellent, and alcohol as Poor. basis general table and text; no immersion time or test standard read

Risks and side effects

Hazards to people, what happens when a cell overheats, and how the material is handled and stored.

For people

The monomers are classified in PubChem (ECHA aggregate). No SDS for the ABS polymer was read in this run.

Classification
Acrylonitrile, 1,3-butadiene and styrene are classified (PubChem). The polymer itself has no SDS in this run.

If it fails

The failure routes in these sources are heat under load and erosion in orbit.

Heat
The SABIC MG94F heat deflection is 80 °C at 1.8 MPa, and the Chimei PA-757F is 98 °C annealed.
Atomic oxygen
On MISSE 2 the erosion yield was 1.09e-24 cm3/atom for ABS, from one flight sample.

Test details
The original wording and numbers from the sources, for readers who want them.

Failure risks

Failure risks
FailureTrigger and consequence
Atomic oxygen erosion in low Earth orbitmoderate severityExposure of an ABS part to atomic oxygen in low Earth orbit, as on the MISSE 2 flightSurface erosion at a yield of 1.09e-24 cm3/atom as measured on MISSE 2 for ABS
Softening under loadmoderate severityUse of ABS under load above its heat deflection temperatureHeat deflection of 80 °C at 1.8 MPa for SABIC MG94F, and 98 °C annealed for Chimei PA-757F
Fire and burningmoderate severityABS exposed to high temperatures, such as a wood fireABS melts, boils and burns with intense hot flames. Pure ABS has no halogens, and its most toxic combustion products are carbon monoxide and hydrogen cyanide (Wikipedia).
Yellowing and embrittlement by UV or heatmoderate severityUV light or excessive heat over the service lifePhoto-oxidation breaks polymer chains, so the part yellows and becomes brittle (Wikipedia).
Attack by chlorinated solvents and alcoholslow severityContact with chlorinated solvents or alcoholsPoor resistance to both, per Wikipedia; the chemical resistance table gives alcohol as Poor.

Handling and storage

  • ABS shrinks on cooling and warps when printed on a 3D printer. Print inside an enclosure on a heated bed, with glue stick or a brim (Wikipedia).
  • Concerns have been raised about airborne ultrafine particles from 3D printing with ABS (Wikipedia).
  • ABS can be recycled, but not every recycling facility accepts it (Wikipedia).

Mitigations

  • Use antioxidants and UV protection for parts in outdoor or hot service, as the composition normally includes them (Wikipedia).

Supply and geography

How common the raw materials are and where they come from.

Acrylonitrile (monomer)

World production capacity was estimated at 5 million tonnes per year in 2002 (Wikipedia). The figure is a 2002 estimate, not a current volume.

Styrene (monomer)

About 25 million tonnes were produced in 2010, rising to around 35 million tonnes by 2018 (Wikipedia). This is the global figure for styrene, not ABS alone.

1,3-Butadiene (monomer)

A petroleum hydrocarbon from the C4 fraction of steam cracking (Wikipedia). PubChem says about 75 % of manufactured butadiene is used for synthetic rubber.

ABS resin, European production energy

Producing 1 kg of ABS in Europe uses an average of 95.34 MJ, derived from natural gas and petroleum (PlasticsEurope, cited by Wikipedia).