Comparison

ABS Commodity vs Polycarbonate

A side-by-side comparison of Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene Commodity Grades and Polycarbonate.

Property

ABS Commodity

Polycarbonate

Physical

Density

1.04-1.08 g/cm³

1.20 g/cm³

Water Absorption (24h)

0.2-0.6 %

0.15 %

Transparency

Opaque

Transparent (88% light transmission)

Shrinkage

0.4-0.7 %

0.5 – 0.8 %

Mechanical

Young's Modulus

2.0-2.5 GPa

2.3 – 2.4 GPa

Tensile Strength

40-50 MPa

60 – 70 MPa

Elongation at Break

5-20 %

100 – 150 %

Impact Strength (Izod)

150-250 J/m

600 – 900 J/m

Flexural Strength

—

90 – 100 MPa

Hardness (Rockwell M)

—

Thermal

Glass Transition Temperature

90-105 °C

147 °C

Melting Point

N/A (amorphous)

—

Continuous Service Temperature

70-80 °C

115 – 130 °C

Heat Deflection Temperature

80-95 °C

130 – 140 °C

Thermal Conductivity

—

0.20 W/m·K

CTE

—

65 – 70 × 10⁻⁶ /K

Electrical

Dielectric Constant

2.8-3.2

2.9 – 3.0

Volume Resistivity

10¹¹-10¹³ Ω⋅cm

10¹⁶ Ω·cm

Dielectric Strength

15-25 kV/mm

15 kV/mm

Chemical resistance

Acids

Good resistance

—

Bases

Good resistance

Poor

Solvents

Attacked by aromatic and chlorinated hydrocarbons, ketones, esters

—

UV Resistance

Poor (requires stabilization)

Poor (unless coated)

Acids (dilute)

—

Good

Alcohols

—

Fair

Oils

—

Good

Gasoline

—

Fair

Acetone

—

Poor (attacks)

Sustainability

Recyclability

Recyclable

Recycling Code

7 (Other)

Carbon Footprint

Moderate to High

~5 kg CO₂e / kg

Bio-based Content

—

0 – 50 % (bio grades)