Polycarbonate/Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene (PC/ABS) is a high-performance polymer blend that combines the strength of polycarbonate (PC) with the flexibility and impact resistance of acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS). This hybrid material offers exceptional mechanical properties, making it an ideal choice for automotive, electronics, and industrial applications.
This article explores:
- What PC/ABS is and its key properties
- Common industrial and consumer applications
- Advantages and limitations of PC/ABS
- How AI-powered tools like Eureka accelerate PC/ABS research and innovation
What is PC/ABS?
PC/ABS is a polycarbonate (PC) and acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (ABS) blend, combining the high strength and heat resistance of PC with the excellent processing flowability of ABS. This material offers a unique balance of mechanical performance, thermal stability, and ease of processing, making it widely used in automotive, electronics, and industrial applications.
Key Characteristics of PC/ABS
- High strength and impact resistance due to the polycarbonate component.
- Good heat resistance, with a heat deflection temperature (HDT) exceeding 120°C, making it suitable for high-temperature applications.
- Enhanced processability, with an optimized melt flow index (MFI) of 15-30 g/10 min, improving injection molding efficiency.
Microstructure and Compatibility
- The rubber phase of ABS is dispersed within the continuous PC matrix, providing impact resistance and toughness.
- Interfacial compatibility is enhanced using compatibilizers such as MBS (methyl methacrylate-butadiene-styrene) or ABS-g-MAH (maleic anhydride-grafted ABS), improving overall blend stability and mechanical properties.
PC/ABS is a high-performance engineering plastic, offering a combination of durability, heat resistance, and ease of manufacturing, making it ideal for demanding application
Curious about PC/ABS? Eureka Technical Q&A provides expert insights into this thermoplastic blend, explaining its advantages in impact resistance, heat stability, and durability, helping you understand why it’s widely used in automotive, electronics, and industrial applications.
Generate Ideas with Eureka AI
Get instant, smart ideas, solutions and spark creativity with Eureka AI. Generate professional answers in a few seconds.
Key Performance Advantages of PC/ABS
PC/ABS is widely used in engineering applications due to its high mechanical strength, flame resistance, and thermal stability. The material’s properties can be further enhanced by adding reinforcements, impact modifiers, and flame retardants, making it suitable for demanding environments.
1. Mechanical Strength
- With 20% glass fiber reinforcement, the tensile strength increases to 75 MPa, while the flexural modulus reaches 3.2 GPa, significantly improving rigidity and load-bearing capacity.
- Adding impact modifiers, such as ethylene/acrylate copolymers, enhances the notched impact strength to 60 kJ/m², improving durability and resistance to sudden impacts.
2. Flame Resistance
- When incorporating 20% phosphorus-based flame retardants (e.g., HPCTP), the limiting oxygen index (LOI) reaches 25.7%, achieving UL 94 V-0 flammability certification.
- A phosphorus-silicon-sulfur synergistic system further optimizes flame retardancy, enhancing fire resistance while maintaining mechanical integrity.
3. Thermal Stability
- In 90°C and 95% humidity conditions, after 1000 hours of aging, the performance retention rate exceeds 80%, demonstrating excellent resistance to heat and moisture degradation.
- Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) shows that the char residue increases to 2.72%, indicating improved thermal degradation resistance.
Applications of PC/ABS
Automotive Industry
- Structural components: PC/ABS composites with glass/metal fibers (e.g., 15–30% filler content) enhance EMI shielding (40–60 dB attenuation) and reduce part weight by 20–30% .
- Interior trim: Low-odor formulations (e.g., Covestro’s patent ) address consumer demand for cabin air quality.
- Impact-resistant parts: Ethylene/acrylate-modified blends (e.g., LG Chem’s patent ) improve low-temperature toughness (-30°C impact resistance).
Electronics and Appliances
- Housings and casings: Flame-retardant grades (e.g., 8 wt% TPPSi in ) meet IEC 60695 standards for consumer electronics.
- 3D-printed components: Blends with 20–30 wt% PC increase flexural strength (70–85 MPa) and hardness (Rockwell R 110–120) .
Sustainability-Driven Innovations
- Recycled PC/ABS: Challenges include 15–30% reduction in notched impact strength due to rubber phase degradation . Solutions:
- Compatibilizers (e.g., SEBS ) restore 80–90% of virgin material properties.
- Solvent recycling preserves molecular weight integrity .
- Bio-based alternatives: Bio-PC/ASA blends (paper ) show comparable tensile strength (~55 MPa) but require optimization for hydrolytic stability.
PC/ABS Suppliers and Grades
Several global manufacturers provide high-performance PC/ABS grades tailored for automotive, electronics, appliances, and medical applications. Below are key suppliers and their representative PC/ABS products, highlighting their properties and common applications.
TEIJIN
Multilon® MK-2055
- Properties:
- High density (1.12 g/cm³)
- High flowability for efficient molding
- High impact resistance (60 kJ/m² at -30°C)
- Electroplatable surface
- Heat resistance (HDT 125°C)
- Tensile strength: 50 MPa (MD) / 45 MPa (TD)
- Elongation at break: 110%
- Flexural modulus: 1950 MPa
- Low water absorption (0.2%)
- Applications:
- Automotive instrument panels and handles
- General injection-molded components
- Electroplated electronic housings
- High-toughness structural parts
Multilon® MK-1000A
- Properties:
- Density: 1.12 g/cm³
- Electroplatable
- Tensile strength: 50 MPa (MD) / 42 MPa (TD)
- Elongation at break: 110%
- Flexural modulus: 2100 MPa
- Impact resistance (60 kJ/m² at 23°C)
- Heat resistance (HDT 121°C)
- Low water absorption (0.2%)
- Shrinkage rate: 0.5-0.7%
- Applications:
- Automotive dashboards and handles
- Decorative electroplated parts
- Appliance housings
- Non-flame-retardant structural components
Covestro (Bayer/Covestro)
Bayblend® T85 HG
- Properties:
- High density (1.14 g/cm³)
- High flowability (MVR 17 cm³/10min)
- High-gloss surface finish
- Heat resistance (Vicat softening point 130°C)
- Impact resistance (-30°C Izod: 34 kJ/m²)
- Tensile strength: 56 MPa (MD) / 54 MPa (TD)
- Elongation at break: 50%
- Flexural modulus: 2250 MPa
- Low water absorption (0.2%)
- Easy to color for aesthetic applications
- Applications:
- Automotive interior components
- Household appliance housings
- Electronic device enclosures
- High-gloss consumer products
- Thin-wall injection-molded parts
- Structural parts requiring a balance of stiffness and toughness
Bayblend® M850 XF
- Properties:
- High density (1.14 g/cm³)
- Medical-grade material (compliant with ISO 10993-1)
- High flowability (MVR 25 cm³/10min)
- Heat resistance (Vicat softening point 131°C)
- Tensile strength: 62 MPa (MD) / 53 MPa (TD)
- Elongation at break: 50%
- Tensile modulus: 2500 MPa
- Impact resistance (23°C Izod: 48 kJ/m²)
- Low water absorption (0.2%)
- Optimized for easy processing
- Applications:
- Medical device components (e.g., surgical instruments, diagnostic equipment)
- High-flow injection-molded medical parts
- Thin-wall disposable medical supplies
- Biocompatible medical-grade structural components compliant with ISO standards
These PC/ABS grades offer high mechanical strength, excellent heat resistance, impact durability, and processing versatility, making them ideal for demanding automotive, electronics, and medical applications.
Patented PC/ABS Technologies
- Conductive Thermoplastic PC/ABS Polymer: A patent describes an electrically conductive thermoplastic composition made from PC/ABS, carbon nanostructures, and an ethylene/alkyl(meth)acrylate copolymer. This composition can be injection molded and is suitable for additive manufacturing, offering good electrical conductivity.
- Aging-Resistant PC-ABS Plastic Alloy: This invention provides a PC-ABS alloy with excellent aging resistance, combining the mechanical properties of PC and the processability of ABS. It is suitable for extreme high-temperature environments.
- Ultralow-Gloss PC/ABS Resin Composition: A patent describes a PC/ABS resin composition with improved low-temperature impact resistance and reduced material gloss. The composition includes specific components and a method for preparing it by mixing and extruding these components.
- Flame-Retardant and Impact-Resistant PC/ABS Composite Material: This patent focuses on a PC/ABS composite material that balances flame-retardancy and impact resistance. It includes a formulation of PC, ABS, and various additives for enhancing these properties.
- Polycarbonate Blends with Improved Electroplate Adhesion: This technology involves PC/ABS blends with improved electroplate adhesion, making them suitable for decorative finishing and protection in automotive applications.
Innovations in PC/ABS Research with Eureka
🔍 What is Eureka?
Eureka by PatSnap is an AI-powered research intelligence tool that helps manufacturers and engineers:
- Analyze material properties and performance
- Discover patents and new PC/ABS applications
- Optimize production processes with real-time data insights
🔍 How Eureka Enhances PC/ABS Research
- Material Performance Optimization – Eureka identifies novel polymer blends that improve impact strength and heat resistance.
- Sustainability Innovations – AI-driven insights suggest recyclable alternatives for PC/ABS.
- Patent Intelligence – Eureka tracks global advancements in PC/ABS material applications.
📌 Example of Eureka in Action:
A plastic manufacturer using Eureka can:
- Find new eco-friendly additives to improve PC/ABS recycling
- Analyze patents on flame-retardant PC/ABS for safer electrical applications
- Optimize formulations for lightweight yet durable automotive parts
Conclusion
PC/ABS is a versatile, high-performance polymer blend used in automotive, electronics, medical, and consumer industries. Its strength, impact resistance, and processability make it a preferred material for durable, lightweight applications.
1️⃣ What makes PC/ABS different from pure PC or ABS?
✅ PC/ABS blends impact resistance from ABS with heat resistance from PC, making it more durable and processable.
2️⃣ Is PC/ABS environmentally friendly?
✅ While not biodegradable, new recycling innovations are improving PC–ABS sustainability.
3️⃣ How does Eureka help in PC/ABS research?
✅ Eureka analyzes material properties, tracks new patents, and suggests innovative recycling methods for PC/ABS applications.
4️⃣ Can PC–ABS be used for outdoor applications?
✅ Yes, but UV stabilizers are required to prevent material degradation from sunlight exposure.
5️⃣ What are the future trends in PC/ABS technology?
✅ Innovations like recyclable PC–ABS, flame-retardant formulations, and smart composite materials are shaping the future of PC-ABS applications.
To get detailed scientific explanations of PC/ABS, try Patsnap Eureka.
