ABS Resin
The tough, impact-resistant engineering plastic that balances rigidity, toughness and ease of processing — a workhorse across consumer electronics, automotive trim and appliances.
Chelora Chemicals supplies ABS resin to moulders worldwide, with full documentation and consistent pellet quality on every consignment.
Product identity
- CAS (commonly cited)
- 9003-56-9
- Polymer family
- Amorphous engineering terpolymer
- Monomer composition
- Acrylonitrile / Butadiene / Styrene
- Heat-deflection temp (HDT)
- ~81 °C
- Glass transition (Tg)
- ~105 °C
- Density
- 0.9-1.53 g/cm³ (median ~1.07)
- HS Code
- 3903 30*
* No single CAS number is universally assigned to this polymer class. Confirm the correct identifier for your specific grade, HS classification and import regulatory status with your own regulatory affairs team.
What ABS resin is used for
ABS (acrylonitrile butadiene styrene) is an amorphous engineering terpolymer supplied to moulders as opaque pellet in natural or pre-coloured form. Its three monomers each contribute a property: acrylonitrile gives chemical resistance and hardness, butadiene gives toughness and impact resistance, and styrene gives rigidity and processability — together producing a plastic that is tough, dimensionally stable and easy to mould, machine, paint and electroplate.
That balance of properties makes ABS a workhorse across consumer electronics housings (keyboards, computer and appliance casings), automotive interior and exterior trim, household appliance components, toys — most famously as the resin used for interlocking building bricks — and luggage shells. It is also commonly blended with polycarbonate (PC/ABS) to combine ABS's processability with PC's impact strength and heat resistance.
Grades and processing routes
- General-purpose injection grade for housings, components and general moulded parts.
- High-impact grade for parts needing greater toughness at lower temperatures.
- Flame-retardant grade for electronics and electrical enclosure applications.
- Electroplating grade optimised surface chemistry for chrome-plated automotive and appliance trim.
Handling character
ABS resin pellet is not classified as hazardous under GHS for normal handling and use. As with any engineering thermoplastic, fine dust from machining and molten polymer during processing present handling considerations addressed through standard practice — see the Safety section below.
| Parameter | Typical value |
|---|---|
| Appearance | Opaque natural or pre-coloured pellet |
| Melt flow index | Per grade (general-purpose to high-flow) |
| Impact strength | Grade-dependent (general-purpose to high-impact) |
| Monomer ratio | Per producer specification |
Important: the figures above are indicative of commercial material and are offered for planning only. The batch certificate of analysis / technical data sheet is the governing document.
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Physical state | Amorphous thermoplastic pellet — no defined melting point |
| Heat-deflection temperature | ~81 °C |
| Glass transition (Tg) | ~105 °C |
| Density | 0.9-1.53 g/cm³ (median ~1.07) |
| Surface finish | Excellent — readily painted, printed and electroplated |
| Water absorption | Low; drying recommended before melt processing |
Physical constants compiled from public reference data for ABS resin and rounded for readability; density range reflects variation across filled, unfilled and specialty ABS grades. Treat them as orientation, not as a specification.
Where our customers put this resin to work
A tough, easy-to-finish engineering plastic used across consumer, automotive and industrial markets.
Consumer electronics housings
Injection moulded into keyboards, computer and appliance housings needing toughness and a clean finish.
- General-purpose & flame-retardant grades
- Bulk & bag supply
- Technical desk review on request
Automotive trim
Moulded into interior and exterior trim panels, dashboards and electroplated chrome-look components.
- Electroplating-grade specification
- Documented batch traceability
- Contract & spot supply
Household appliance components
Moulded into appliance panels, housings and functional components needing impact resistance.
- Full analytical documentation available
- Retained sample held against the lot
- Technical desk review on request
Toys & building bricks
Moulded into toys and interlocking building bricks valued for dimensional precision and durability.
- Toy-safety compliant grades
- Documented batch traceability
- Technical desk review on request
Luggage & structural shells
Moulded into luggage shells and structural housings requiring impact resistance and a clean painted finish.
- High-impact grade available
- Full documentation supplied
- Technical desk review on request
Contract & scheduled supply
Moulders running continuous consumption are supported with scheduled bulk delivery.
- Annual contracts with scheduled call-off
- Price held across the contract period
- Second source held in reserve
How we supply ABS resin
Chelora Chemicals is a supplier and sourcing partner, not a manufacturer. Consistent impact performance and surface finish are critical to moulding quality — that shapes how we manage this line.
We place your order with whichever qualified producer best matches your required grade, your price point and your delivery window, and confirm your jurisdiction's import and application-specific requirements before booking.
We keep a second qualified source on this line, so a single-plant disruption never becomes your production problem.
- Melt flow and impact performance confirmed before we quote. Consistency matters to downstream moulding quality.
- Toy-safety and automotive compliance managed end to end. Documentation confirmed before booking.
- Colour-matched & electroplating grades available. Specified against your finishing process.
- Scheduled call-off scheduling. We hold contracted tonnage and release it against your consumption calendar.
- Batch traceability to the producing plant. Full chain of custody documentation on request.
- Export machinery handled in-house. Classification, approved packing, labelling, freight booking and customs paperwork are ours to manage.
Packed the way your plant receives it
Bag, octabin or bulk — tell us your preferred format and we will quote and classify to it.
25 kg bags
Standard multi-wall or woven bags sized for moulder order volumes and manual handling.
Bulk octabin (~1 tonne)
Lined octabins for high-volume injection-moulding lines, reducing bag-handling labour.
Large-volume bulk shipment
Hopper-truck or flexible container-liner bulk shipment for continuous-consumption plants.
Incoterms to suit you
Quoted on the Incoterm your purchasing team works to, with documentation filed before booking.
Trial / sample quantities
Small packs dispatched for process trials before a commercial order is placed.
Contracted call-off supply
We hold contracted tonnage and release it against your consumption calendar.
Not classified as hazardous — standard housekeeping applies
ABS resin pellet does not carry GHS hazard classification for normal handling and use. The summary below is orientation only — the safety data sheet and technical data sheet supplied with your specific batch are the authoritative documents.
Handling considerations
DUSTFine dust generated during machining or regrind can present a combustible-dust hazard.THERMMolten polymer during processing presents a thermal burn hazard; standard PPE applies at extrusion/moulding equipment.FUMESThermal decomposition at excessive processing temperatures can release irritating fumes; process within recommended temperature ranges with adequate ventilation.
No GHS pictogram or signal word applies to this product in pellet form. Always read the SDS/TDS issued with your specific batch and follow standard combustible-dust housekeeping practice where fines are generated.
Storage
Store in sealed packaging in a cool, dry area away from direct sunlight and ignition sources.
Handling
Use standard dust-extraction and housekeeping practice where regrind or fines are generated. Process within the recommended temperature range specified for your grade to avoid thermal decomposition and fume generation.
Transport
Not regulated as dangerous goods for transport. Standard commercial packing and documentation apply; we confirm exact requirements for your specific shipment and destination.
Every batch, documented
We verify documentation before dispatch so there are no surprises at your incoming-goods bench.
Specification agreed
Melt flow, impact grade and colour confirmed against your process requirement before order placement.
Producer batch testing
The producing plant tests each batch against the agreed specification before release.
Documentation review
COA, TDS and transport paperwork checked by our desk before the shipment is booked.
Traceable dispatch
Each shipment is traceable to its producing batch, with full chain-of-custody records on request.
How ABS is made
ABS is produced industrially by copolymerising acrylonitrile and styrene monomers in the presence of polybutadiene rubber, a long-established route in engineering-polymer chemistry, followed by compounding and pelletising to the required processing grade.
We do not publish operating process parameters here; this is background only. Full technical documentation accompanies every shipment, and any process-specific detail you need is best confirmed directly with our technical desk.
| Polymer family | Amorphous engineering terpolymer |
|---|---|
| Monomer inputs | Acrylonitrile, Butadiene, Styrene |
| Processing routes | Injection moulding, extrusion, thermoforming |
| Related materials | Polycarbonate (often blended as PC/ABS), PET resin, Nylon 6 (PA6) |
Explore the wider resin range
ABS Resin, answered
What is ABS resin used for?
Does ABS resin have a single CAS number?
Is ABS resin hazardous?
What grade do you supply?
What packing do you offer?
Do you manufacture this yourself?
- Need a related resin? See our Polycarbonate and Nylon 6 (PA6) pages.
Get a quote on ABS Resin today
Send us your required grade, pack size and delivery window. We will come back with a firm quote, lead time and full documentation.