ABS Outdoor Application
ABS Outdoor Application
(OP)
Hi , First time post but have frequently browsed for help !. I need some advise regarding a suitable material for an outdoor application , which can also be overmoulded with a soft touch TPE material.The soft touch element must be "fused" to the base material as a safety requirment. Customer wants ABS + TPE -I think this is unsuitable and was thinking SAN + TPE but I know little about twin shot moulding or SAN. I know ABS can have problems with brittle faliure due to UV degradation and as part the will subject to tensile loading (circa 50kg) , I am worried about long term performace if they insist on ABS .
Any comments tips suggestions or background information greatly appreciated.
Any comments tips suggestions or background information greatly appreciated.





RE: ABS Outdoor Application
PVC is very good outdoors. An alternative is ASA but that is double the price of ABS. Same mechanical properties and molding as ABS but the impact modifier is stable so it doesn't discolor and go brittle.
If it is an extruded part then you can add the ASA as a thin cap layer on ABS or PVC to save money. ASA as a cap on PVC is how they make high quality plastic siding in the USA.
Other polymers will work too but I have less experience with those and will let Pat and Harry suggest those. Also check the recent thread "Outdoor enclosure".
Chris DeArmitt
"Knowledge has no value except that which can be gained from its application toward some worthwhile end."
Think and Grow Rich - Napoleon Hill
RE: ABS Outdoor Application
Regards
Pat
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RE: ABS Outdoor Application
Their additional comment is that although the pipes are lined, the fittings (bends, Flanges Tee pieces etc) are not lined due to impossibility of lining them.
I trust this is interesting info.
Corrosionman
RE: ABS Outdoor Application
As Demon3 said, ASA is good outdoors but expensive and difficult to masterbatch as well due to high melt viscosity.
If PVC (uPVC and pPVC) is not possible to to processing considerations (i.e. stainless steel tooling and same for screw/barrel assemblies), then have a look at "Orgalloy" as a combination. It's a PP/PA alloy which is available in rigid and elastomeric versions. Good UV package in as well.
As a styrenic based material "Styrosun" is an impact modified PS but the impact modifier is EPDM which has very good UV stability and it has a very good UV package in as well. No idea what to overmould with though! Nice to mould though...
Cheers
Harry
www.tynevalleyplastics.co.uk
RE: ABS Outdoor Application
Regards
Pat
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