What is ABS 3D printing filament? Get our comprehensive guide on ABS 3D printing filament to understand its physical characteristics, chemical behavior, molding attributes, as well as its benefits and drawbacks. This guide offers a deep dive into everything you need to know about ABS, making it the perfect resource for mastering this versatile material.
What is ABS 3D Printing Filament?
Abbreviated as ABS, where A stands for acrylonitrile, B for butadiene, and S for styrene.
ABS Physical Characteristics
ABS (Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene) copolymers are commonly used engineering plastics, known for their high strength-to-weight ratio. Opaque with a light ivory color, ABS is non-toxic, odorless, and possesses a combination of toughness, hardness, and rigidity.
With a slow burning rate, ABS produces a yellow flame, emits black smoke, softens, chars, and emits a distinctive cinnamon odor upon combustion, with no melting drip phenomenon. Its density is 1.05 g/cm³ with a molding shrinkage rate of 0.4-0.7%. The molding temperature ranges between 200-240°C, while drying conditions necessitate 80-90°C for 2 hours.
ABS Chemical Behavior
ABS exhibits good comprehensive properties, high impact strength, excellent chemical stability, and good electrical performance. It welds well with 372 organic glass, can be made into two-color plastic parts, surface plated with chrome, and undergoes painting treatment. It has slightly poorer flowability than HIPS but superior to PMMA, PC, etc. ABS can be categorized into levels such as high impact resistance, high heat resistance, flame retardant, reinforced, and transparent.
ABS Molding Attributes
Printing ABS requires higher temperatures than PLA, typically around 230 degrees Celsius. Toxic odors may be emitted during printing, thus ensuring adequate ventilation is essential.
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Being amorphous, ABS has moderate flowability and is prone to moisture absorption, requiring thorough drying. For glossy surfaces, prolonged preheating and drying are necessary.
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It is advised to maintain optimal material temperatures to prevent decomposition (temperature > 270°C). For high-precision parts, mold temperatures of 50-60°C are advisable, while for high-gloss, heat-resistant parts, mold temperatures of 60-80°C are preferred.
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To mitigate water marks, enhancing material flowability through higher material and mold temperatures or adjusting inlet water levels is necessary.
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For heat-resistant or flame-retardant materials, residual plastic decomposition may accumulate on mold surfaces after 3-7 days of production, resulting in a glossy appearance. Timely cleaning of the mold surface and adding ventilation positions are required.
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Acetone is commonly used in the 3D printing industry for surface post-processing.
ABS Benifits
Advantages of ABS include its wide-ranging applications, excellent mechanical properties balancing toughness, hardness, and rigidity. It exhibits good dimensional stability, electrical properties, wear resistance, chemical resistance, dyeability, and favorable molding and machining properties.
ABS is resistant to water, inorganic salts, alkalis, and acids, insoluble in most alcohols and hydrocarbon solvents, but soluble in aldehydes, ketones, esters, and certain chlorinated hydrocarbons.
ABS Drawbacks
Disadvantages of ABS include its low heat deformation temperature, flammability, and poor weather resistance.
Creality Better Filament Plan
As the world’s leading brand of consumer 3D printers, Creality has been taking “3D printing evangelist” as its mission since its establishment in 2014, and is committed to the innovation, application and popularization of 3D printing technology around the world.