ABS Plastic
ABS plastic is a thermoplastic widely used in engineering applications thanks to its high impact resistance, rigid structure and processability. At Hür Plastik, we manage ABS recycling processes with a focus on quality and sustainability, providing solutions suitable for different industries.
ABS plastic, with its durability, impact resistance and versatile performance, is an important plastic material preferred across many industries. ABS material can be recovered through recycling processes, providing advantages in terms of both environmental sustainability and production efficiency.
What Is ABS Plastic?
ABS (Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene) is a thermoplastic polymer formed from three different monomers. This structure combines properties such as rigidity and impact resistance. ABS is widely used especially in products that require durability and good surface quality.
Thanks to its high processability, ABS is frequently used in manufacturing methods such as injection moulding and can be produced in different colours and forms. This makes it an important material for both industrial and consumer products.
What Are the Properties of ABS Plastic?
High Impact Resistance
ABS plastic offers strong resistance to impact and is used in the production of durable products.
Rigid and Stiff Structure
Its robust structure makes it suitable for applications that require long service life.
Good Processability
With the appropriate grade and process conditions, it can be used in various thermoplastic processing methods, particularly injection moulding.
Surface Quality
Its ability to achieve smooth, glossy surfaces increases its use in products where appearance is important.
Where Is ABS Plastic Used?
ABS plastic is widely used across many industries thanks to its durability and versatility. It is particularly preferred for products that require both aesthetic quality and mechanical strength:
ABS has a broad range of applications, particularly in the automotive, electronics and consumer products sectors.
Why Is ABS Plastic Recycling Important?
ABS plastic recycling is an important process for returning durable plastic waste to the economy. With appropriate sorting and processing methods, ABS can be made suitable for reuse. This helps reduce environmental pollution and supports more efficient use of resources.
At Hür Plastik, we follow an approach that protects quality and supports sustainable production throughout our recycling processes. We view ABS recycling not only as a technical process, but also as part of environmental responsibility.
Why Choose Hür Plastik for ABS Plastic?
With its experience in the plastics recycling industry and its production infrastructure, Hür Plastik provides reliable solutions for ABS recycling processes. Through a quality-focused approach and planned production, we aim to provide our business partners with sustainable and dependable service.
Contact us for detailed information about ABS plastic products and recycling processes.
What Should Be Checked When Purchasing ABS Plastic Raw Material?
When purchasing ABS plastic, describing the material simply as “recycled ABS” is not sufficient. Different grades within the same polymer family may be formulated for different flow, impact, heat-resistance, colour and surface requirements. The purchasing team should therefore first define the intended manufacturing process and the critical requirements of the final part.
One of the international classification systems used for ABS, ISO 19062-1:2015, includes properties such as Vicat softening temperature, melt mass-flow rate, notched Charpy impact strength and tensile modulus, as well as composition, intended use, processing method, additives, colorants, fillers and reinforcing materials within its designation framework. Therefore, two ABS granules should not be assumed to deliver the same performance based only on their names.
Why Is ABS Grade Selection as Important as the Material Itself?
The ABS family may include general-purpose, high-impact, high-flow or surface-focused product types. Therefore, saying “we need ABS” is an incomplete technical purchasing specification. Part geometry, wall thickness, visual expectations, mechanical loading and the intended process all directly influence grade selection.
Hür Plastik’s current ABS page does not publish MFR/MVR, Vicat, impact strength or tensile modulus values for a specific grade. For that reason, this page does not create unverified product specifications. If you require a specific technical value, the more appropriate approach is to share your target application and acceptance criteria during the enquiry and request the current product information.
How Should Flow, Impact Resistance and Stiffness Be Evaluated Together?
In an injection-moulding application, high flow may help with easier cavity filling, but material selection should not be based on flow alone. Impact resistance, stiffness, thermal behaviour and surface expectations should be evaluated together. Especially for thin-walled or geometrically complex parts, the aim is to achieve the right balance between processing ease and final-part performance.
ISO 19062-1 treats melt flow, impact strength and tensile modulus as separate designation properties, which is important for this reason. The test method and measurement conditions used should also be reviewed during purchasing; values obtained under different conditions may be misleading if compared directly.
| Control Item | Why Does It Matter in Purchasing? |
|---|---|
| Grade / product type | To distinguish between product characteristics such as general-purpose, high-impact and high-flow grades |
| Flow value | To evaluate mould filling and processing behaviour together with the specified test method |
| Impact resistance | To verify expectations for the final part under impact loading |
| Stiffness / modulus | To evaluate structural behaviour and deformation expectations of the part |
| Colour and appearance | To check batch consistency for decorative or visible parts |
| Source and batch information | To evaluate traceability and consistency in recycled raw material |
Why Is Contamination Critical in Recycled ABS Granules?
The performance of recycled ABS granules depends on more than the properties of the base polymer. Uncontrolled mixing of other polymers, foreign matter, unwanted fillers or residues from previous use can affect processing stability and final-product behaviour. Material source and sorting quality are therefore important parts of the purchasing discussion.
INEOS Styrolution’s official Terluran ABS processing information, states that ABS in the melt can be incompatible with many thermoplastics and that mixing can lead to issues such as delamination and reduced strength. This is not a Hür Plastik product specification; it is a manufacturer’s technical reference explaining why foreign-polymer contamination should be controlled.
For a broader overview of the production and quality-control approach for recycled granules, see our recycled plastic granules guide .
How Should Colour and Surface Quality Be Managed in ABS Granules?
Because ABS can be used on visible surfaces in electronic housings, home-appliance parts, automotive components and various consumer products, colour and surface expectations may be as important as mechanical values in some projects. With recycled raw materials, batch-to-batch colour variation, black specks, surface defects or foreign matter can affect acceptance of the final part.
Therefore, rather than relying only on general colour descriptions such as “black”, “grey” or “natural” during quotation, it may be necessary to define how reference samples, masterbatch use, surface appearance and batch tolerances will be assessed. For projects with demanding visual requirements, a sample trial before serial production can provide a more reliable basis for decision-making.
How Should Drying and Processing Conditions Be Determined Before Processing ABS Plastic?
Storage and transport conditions can create moisture-related issues that may affect surface quality in some ABS grades. Drying requirements should therefore be evaluated according to the technical documentation for the grade, the material’s storage history and the processing conditions. It is not appropriate to present a single temperature and time as a universal rule for every ABS product.
ISO 19062-2:2019, defines methods for preparing test specimens, processing test material and conditioning before testing ABS moulding and extrusion materials. INEOS Styrolution also publishes pre-drying recommendations for its Terluran grades depending on storage and moisture conditions. Because such processing values are grade-specific, they should not be copied to Hür Plastik materials without verification against a dedicated TDS.
Why Should ABS Granule Quotations Not Be Compared Only by Price per Kilogram?
ABS granules offered under the same name by two suppliers may not be technically equivalent. Grade, source, colour, flow behaviour, mechanical requirements, filler or additive content, packaging, minimum order quantity and logistics terms can create the real differences behind the quoted price. The lowest unit price is therefore not always the most economical option for the target process.
The purchasing team should first define the critical technical acceptance criteria and then request quotations against the same specification. For general information about plastic raw material types, see our plastic raw materials guide. For current ABS product and supply information, use the Hür Plastik contact page .
Frequently Asked Questions About ABS Plastic
What is ABS plastic?
ABS is a thermoplastic material family based on acrylonitrile, butadiene and styrene. It can offer a balanced combination of impact resistance, stiffness, surface quality and processability, making it suitable for technical and consumer products. Actual performance varies according to the selected grade.
Are recycled ABS and virgin ABS the same?
No. Even though they belong to the same polymer family, the source history, previous thermal processing, additive content and contamination status of recycled material can affect performance. Equivalence should therefore not be assumed for a specific application; it should be verified through technical data and, where necessary, processing trials.
Why are MFR or MVR important when selecting ABS granules?
Melt-flow data indicates the material’s flow behaviour under specified test conditions and can be used for process comparisons. However, it is not sufficient on its own. Impact resistance, stiffness, thermal behaviour, colour and the target application should be evaluated together.
Does the colour of ABS granules indicate quality on its own?
No. Colour and visual cleanliness may be important acceptance criteria, but they do not by themselves indicate mechanical or processing performance. Technical quality should be evaluated together with criteria such as material type, flow, impact performance, additive/filler content, foreign-polymer risk and batch consistency.
Can ABS plastic be used in automotive and electronics applications?
The ABS family is used in automotive components, electronic-device housings and similar applications. However, the suitability of a specific recycled grade for a specific part cannot be confirmed from general application examples alone; it must be verified against the technical requirements of the part.
What are the technical values of Hür Plastik’s ABS product?
The current product page does not publish a verified table of MFR/MVR, Vicat, impact or tensile modulus values for a specific ABS grade. For that reason, no figures are being invented on this page. Contact Hür Plastik directly for current product types and technical information.
Share your technical criteria for your ABS raw material requirements.
Share your target application, manufacturing method, colour expectations and critical quality criteria to receive information about current product options.