The letters ABS stand for acrylontitrile-butadiene styrene. Acrylonitrile provides chemical resistance, tensile strength, and durability. Butadiene contributes impact resistance, low temperature ductility, and overall toughness. Styrene imparts ease of processing, surface hardness, and gloss.
ABS provides good impact strength with a relatively low cost.
As its heat resistance is only fair, polycarbonate is generally recommended instead of ABS for high heat applications. For applications requiring higher impact strength or better engineering properties than those of ABS, polycarbonate or a polycarbonate alloy is generally recommended.