Acrylonitrile Polymers, ABS Resins

Abstract

Acrylonitrile–butadiene–styrene (ABS) polymers are composed of elastomer dispersed as a grafted particulate phase in a thermoplastic matrix of styrene and acrylonitrile copolymer (SAN). The presence of SAN grafted onto the elastomeric component, usually polybutadiene or a butadiene copolymer, compatabilizes the rubber with the SAN component. Property advantages provided by this graft terpolymer include excellent toughness, good dimensional stability, good processibility, and chemical resistance. The system is structurally complex. This allows considerable versatility in the tailoring of properties to meet specific product requirements. Consequently, research and development in ABS systems is active. Numerous grades of ABS are available, including new alloys and specialty grades for high heat, flaming‐retardant, or static dissipative product requirements. Good chemical resistance combined with the relatively low water absorptivity \documentclass{article}\usepackage{amssymb}\pagestyle{empty}\begin{document}${{(}{\rm{<}}1{\%}{)}}$\end{document} results in high resistance to staining agents. Antioxidants substantially improve oxidative stability. Applications involving extended outdoor exposure require the use of stabilizing additives, pigments, and protective coatings. In manufacturing, grafting is achieved by the free‐radical copolymerization of styrene and acrylonitrile monomers. The three commercial processes for manufacturing ABS are emulsion, mass, and mass‐suspension. ABS is sold as an unpigmented product for on‐line coloring using color concentrates during molding, or as precolored pellets. ABS can be processed by compression and injection molding, extrusion, calendering, and blow‐molding. Post‐processing operations include cold forming, painting, and adhesive bonding. As a “bridge” polymer between commodity plastics and higher performance engineering thermoplastics, ABS has become the largest selling engineering thermoplastic.

Coordination−Insertion Copolymerization of Fundamental Polar Monomers

“…Introduction of acrylonitrile (AN) into polymers can cause drastic change in their physical and chemical properties, as exemplified by unique features of various acrylonitrile (AN) polymers such as polyacrylonitrile (PAN), acrylic fibers, and nitrile rubbers. , For example, hydrogenated nitrile butadiene rubbers (HNBRs), which have analogous structures to ethylene/AN copolymers with branched structures, exhibit excellent oil, heat, and chemical resistance. Polyacrylonitrile (PAN) is currently prepared by anionic or radical polymerization, and ethylene/AN branched copolymers and HNBRs are produced by the radical processes.…”

ABS Polymer Electroless Plating through a One-Step Poly(acrylic acid) Covalent Grafting

“…Several routes have been proposed in the literature for this purpose depending on the polymer and the targeted properties ,− . Indeed, various types of plastics can be plated, including acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (ABS) polymers, which are among the most widely used polymers in industry because of their excellent toughness, good dimensional stability, good processability, chemical resistance, and low cost − . Plating ABS with an adherent metal layer is only possible if an appropriate etchant system is previously employed for surface conditioning in order to improve the adhesion and the surface seeding of the electroless catalyst.…”

Role of Ultraviolet Absorbers (UVA) and Hindered Amine Light Stabilizers (HALS) in ABS Stabilization

“…ABS is an amorphous copolymer with a high importance from a technological point of view due to its outstanding properties, namely attractive mechanical properties, gloss, easy processing, effortless self-coloring, high quality surface finish and low cost for an engineering polymer [2,3]. This copolymer is broadly used in toys, refrigerators, vacuum cleaners, drilling machines and in vehicle interiors.…”