9 Uses of ABS Plastic - EcoPlas

ABS plastic is of good quality. ABS is considered a general-purpose engineering material. ABS is inexpensive and plentiful and is available in many different colors and form factors (pellets, tubes, bar, filament, etc.).

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ABS is sturdy, lightweight, and ductile, being easily machined but retaining good resistance to chemicals, impacts, and abrasions. In addition, ABS is more heat-resistant than other thermoplastics in its weight class and can withstand multiple cycles of heating/cooling, making it a fully recyclable plastic. ABS can achieve a quality finish and is readily paintable. ABS has low heat conductivity and electrical conductivity.

For more information see our guide on What is ABS Plastic.

Can ABS Be Recycled?

Yes, ABS can be recycled. It is 100% recyclable. In addition, ABS has an assigned recycling code, the number that designates the material with which a plastic object is made to help streamline the recycling process. ABS&#;s recycling code is seven (7). The code can be found at the bottom of a plastic item, depicted as the number seven inside the recycling symbol with revolving arrows forming a triangle.

However, most municipalities don&#;t recycle number seven plastics. They usually only recycle numbers one and two. This restriction means that ABS waste may not be recycled automatically after the municipal or garbage truck picks it up.

Manufacturers can reuse and recycle ABS, even if local governments do not. ABS plastic is entirely recyclable and mostly biocompatible. ABS plastic can easily be merged with other materials to create different commercial products that are of high quality yet cost-effective.

Many industries use old pre-existing ABS plastic products as a starting material for creating ABS plastic. Due to its 100% recyclability, ABS products can be heated, liquified, and remolded into new products multiple times.

Is ABS Plastic Harmful?

ABS plastic is not harmful in its typical uses. It is a petroleum-based plastic that is generally safe in its solid form, releasing no known carcinogens and being used throughout food processing applications.

However, medical device manufacturers prohibit using ABS in medical implants, as its long-term health effects within the body are unknown but thought to be negative. When melted, ABS plastic has an unmistakable foul odor that can cause discomfort and, in the worst case, physical symptoms. The medical consensus is that ABS plastic fumes are dangerous to inhale or be exposed to for short and long periods.

The fact that ABS is dangerous to inhale is especially pertinent to 3D printing applications, where filament-based printers heat ABS to fabricate parts, releasing billions of particles per minute. Without proper ventilation, these fumes can accumulate and cause toxicity in users, so it is highly recommended to use a fume hood or to print in a well-ventilated area to prevent exposure. In addition, this precaution applies to injection molding applications, where large quantities of material are melted and cooled several thousands of times in a workday, posing a serious threat to personnel if not addressed by safety measures.

Process, Advantages and Disadvantages

Recycled ABS plastic - Process, Advantages and Disadvantages

In life, we humans are constantly exploiting the resources of the Earth to make useful items or objects for the world. One of those resources is plastic - a material that plays a huge role in the development of humanity. Over time, people have created many different variations of plastic, and one of them is ABS plastic.

However, their disadvantage is that it takes hundreds to thousands of years to decompose, so plastic waste will be very harmful to the environment. To solve this problem, people have continuously recycled ABS plastic. So what's so special about this material? What role does recycled ABS plastic play in life? Find out through the article below.

What is recycled ABS plastic?

First, it is necessary to understand the definition of ABS plastic. ABS stands for Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene (chemical formula (C8H8 · C4H6 · C3H3N)n), a non-transparent thermoplastic with good mechanical and thermodynamic characteristics. &#;Thermoplastic&#; here means that when plastics are heated to the melting point and then cooled again to return to a solid state, their quality does not change.

To make ABS plastic, the most common way is to mix the three main ingredients acrylonitrile, butadiene and styrene and heat them up, forming a plastic mixture. In addition, other additives such as processing aid, odor removing, or desiccant are also added to make ABS plastic. ABS plastic is a plastic that is cheap, easy to process and has a solid structure, so it is mostly used to manufacture consumer goods such as camera cases, computer keycaps, helmets, protective cases, printer and printer cartridges,...

When these items are damaged and cannot be repaired, they are collected, crushed, melted and molded to become a new form of plastic - recycled ABS plastic.

Recycled ABS plastic

ABS&#;s Properties 

Recycled ABS plastic consists of three main components:

Acrylonitrile: An organic compound with the chemical formula C3H3N, it provides the rigidity and mechanical strength of ABS plastic.

Butadiene: An organic compound with the chemical formula C4H6, it provides elasticity and impact resistance.

Styrene: Having the chemical formula C8H8, this is an organic compound that provides the gloss and thermal stability of ABS plastic.

Recycled ABS plastic is made up of three compounds: acrylonitrile, butadiene and styrene.

In addition, depending on the final product, manufacturers may add other additives to ABS plastic such as flame retardants, antistatic agents, colorants or anti-corrosion agents.

Can ABS be recycled?

As mentioned above, ABS plastic in particular and plastic materials in general have the disadvantage of being difficult to decompose, so if plastic waste is not handled properly, it will be very harmful to the environment. In order to take advantage of these types of waste, people have researched and developed recycled plastic technology from ABS, thus recycled ABS plastic is born.

ABS Recycling Code

In order to make the recycling process easier, the recycling industry has devised a system of codes to designate different types of plastic. In the case of recycled ABS plastic, this classification code is usually printed on the bottom of the plastic bottle, with the logo ABS surrounded by arrows as shown below. When a product is printed with this logo, this means the product is recyclable.

The ABS logo with three arrows around it, indicating that the product printed with this logo is recyclable.

ABS Recycling Process

Today, the 3D printing industry has flourished, with many people around the world owning 3D printers at home and recycling their own ABS waste at home to make printer materials. So ABS plastic recycling is no longer limited to professional factories. However, whether working at home or working in a factory, the ABS plastic recycling process in general does not make much difference. Basically, the ABS plastic recycling process takes place in 3 steps:

Classification

The recycling process starts with items made entirely of plastic or containing plastic parts such as helmets, cases, etc. that are damaged and cannot be repaired, which will be collected to take to the recycling plant. From here, the sorting process begins, with items made of ABS plastic being separated from other forms of plastic, while they also need to be removed from debris and other types of contaminations.

Damaged helmets will be collected and sent to an ABS plastic recycling plant.

Shredding

After the classification process, the items made of ABS plastic will be crushed into small pieces. Recycling factories often use specialized machines, such as 2-axis plastic shredders or hydraulic shredders. As for those who grind ABS at home to make raw materials for 3D printers, this is quite expensive and ineffective because household crushers are not designed for the purpose of crushing ABS plastic.

The common feature of home grinding or factory grinding is, the process is very easy but also really time consuming. If the ABS plastic has been carefully screened, it will be very easy to just put each material to be crushed into the machine, but because ABS plastic has a very solid structure, it will take a long time to grind each plastic material into small pieces. After being grinded successfully, the plastic pieces are then cleaned again before being dried.

Melting and molding

After being dried, the plastic pieces are melted into a liquid form. The plastic mixture is finally put into a press to form fibers or beads, which are then sold to other manufacturers to make new products. Compared with other recycled plastics such as PP, PVC, LDPE or HDPE, ABS recycled plastic is superior in low cost, suitable for industry.

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Advantages and Disadvantages of Recycled ABS

ABS recycled plastic is environmentally friendly: Using recycled ABS plastic can reduce waste to the environment, thereby minimizing the negative impact of plastic production.

Reduce costs: Recycled ABS plastic usually costs less than new plastic, thereby reducing processing costs and benefiting both manufacturers and consumers.

Equivalent physical properties: Even after being crushed and recycled many times, recycled ABS plastic retains the same physical properties as new ABS plastic

Disadvantages

Unequal quality: Depending on each factory, the screening and production process of recycled ABS plastic will be different, so the uniformity and overall quality of the output cannot be guaranteed.

Difficult to control purity: During the screening process, it may not be possible to remove all impurities, thereby affecting the quality of the output product.

Not easy to maintain: Recycled ABS plastic is easily damaged under the influence of sunlight, requiring manufacturers to invest in the preservation period.

Introducing additives for recycled plastics&#; production

Processing-aid additive

The processing-aid additive is materials added to the polymer to lower the friction between plastics and machines during production. It helps enhance the melting, processability, and handling of high molecular weight plastics without any technical effect on products. Polymer processing aids have a wide range of applications, including blown film, extrusion, and injection molding. Thanks to processing-aid additives, thermoplastic resins can be extruded more effectively. They can add aesthetic qualities by reducing flow traces and die lines, resulting in glossy, transparent products.

Thanks to processing-aid additives, thermoplastic resins can be extruded more effectively.

Odor removing additive

Smelly plastics (especially recycled plastics) can affect their application and competition. Therefore, eliminating bad odors is essential to enhance plastics' effectiveness and value in industrial production.

Odor-removing additive is a savior that works as an odor-neutralizer. It does not replace the original smell in products with fragrances or perfume. Instead, it will prevent the absorption of unwanted odors and irritating chemicals. Odor control additive is utilized widely in rubber plastic products or items made of regrind material such as home appliances, toys, or textile packaging.

Odor-removing additive will prevent the absorption of unwanted odors and irritating chemicals.

Desiccant

Moisture exists in everything, and polymer material is no exception. Especially in technical resins, moisture may cause fisheye and surface defects on final products. Desiccant additive is added to the formula to absorb moisture in the plastic materials, thereby limiting common errors in processing (bubbles, fisheyes, ...) and improving the quality of the end-product.

Desiccant masterbatches contain Calcium Oxide (CaO), which is a strong water absorber. In polymer processing, Calcium Oxide disperses, eliminates moisture, and prevents phenomena such as fisheye. It also solves moisture problems in extrusion (blow film, film casting, blow molding, etc.) and injection molding. Especially for recycled plastic, it helps remove moisture and cuts out the oxidizing effect that occurs during the recycling of the polymer.

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ABS plastics are composed of acrylonitrile, butadiene, and styrene in varying proportions, combined by a variety of methods including graft copolymerization and physical blending. Originally an outgrowth of polystyrene modification, the plastics long have been in a category of their own. ABS plastics provide a balanced combination of mechanical toughness, wide temperature range, good dimensional stability, chemical resistance, electrical insulating properties, and ease of fabrication.

ABS plastics are produced in a wide range of grades including medium and high-impact, heat-resistant, plateable fire-retardant, and both low and high gloss varieties. ABS plastics are available as compounds for injection molding, blow molding, extrusion, and calendaring, as sheet for thermoforming or cold forming, and in expandable grades for foam molding.Power Plastic Recycling is a pioneer trademark for producing and supplying the injection modeled parts, recyclable plastic, and customer plastic extrusions. We are dominantly capable of dealing with ABS plastic recycling as buyers of scrap ABS plastic.

We recycle ABS plastic with the advanced automation technology and highly efficient workforce, we have the proficiencies to process recycled plastic into products by revamping any thermoplastic/biodegradable/postconsumer plastic materials.We truly understand that eco-system is a sensitive component thus we solely commit to protect the eco-system. Hence you can sell scrap ABS plastic or sell ABS plastic regrind as we will ensure to ensure and keep our environmental impact to the minimum.

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Over the last few years, there has been a lot of emphasis on limiting the use of plastic and using recycled plastic for end use or make a new product or component, and rightly so. Here, we have drawn comparisons between recycled plastics and virgin resins. Considering the environmental impact, recycled plastic is certainly beneficial. However, there are pros and cons for both recycled as well as virgin plastic. So, are virgin resins more durable or do recycled plastics affect the quality of the end product? Here, in this post, we try to find the answers.

Pros and Cons of Virgin Resins

A majority of plastics are produced from high density polyethylene (HDPE) and polypropylene (PP). Plastic is produced under quite an amount of pressure and heat. The heat melts it, while pressure helps in molding plastic in the required size and shape once liquefied by heat. In this process, the molecular structure of the plastic, especially recycled one, may undergo changes or become weak. So, virgin plastics seem to have an edge in terms of a sturdier molecular structure.

Here are a few pros of virgin resins:

• They seem to perform better in terms of the right design and shape formation as there is no change in their molecular structure when heat and pressure are applied.
• Depending on your application, if you are looking for extreme precision and accuracy, using virgin plastic may be a better option than recycled.

Here are a few cons of virgin plastic:

• Piling up of garbage landfills is a major concern.
• The usage and exploitation of more and more fossil fuels is also alarming, and dangerous for the environment.

Pros and Cons of Recycled Plastics

Recycled plastic as the name suggests is made from used plastic. Resins made out this recycled plastic can be directly used by plastic parts or products manufacturers. It is also called Post-Consumer Recycled Resin (PCR). Beneficial for the environment, this process comprises collecting or buying plastic from user trash. This is an entire process which involves gathering the plastic from user trash.

Here are some pros of recycled resins:

• Since this plastic is made from used trash, new fossil fuels are not required, which prevents further pollution and piling up of garbage landfills.
• It thus reduces human-generated non-biodegradable trash, which otherwise may take years to decompose.
• It helps reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
• It saves on costs for the product as well as resin manufacturer.
• Also, a manufacturer or vendor can brand themselves as an eco-friendly player; using eco-friendly products is gaining traction by the day.
• Although there are some challenges, its quality is almost equivalent to that of a virgin resin.

Here are some cons of recycled plastic:

• Food containers and pet bottles containing juices and beverages need to undergo a thorough cleaning process. They need to be decontaminated to remove impurities, food particles, bacterial or fungal growth, dirt, label ink, additives and colors in foods, and other foreign materials if any.
• Although there are quite a few recycling centers and the related infrastructure across the US, more needs to be done in this segment. In some places, the challenges start from the gathering process.
• There are challenges and legal implications associated with recycled plastic being used for food packaging.
• There may be certain cosmetic issues such as yellow tinting, gels or black flecks in the recycled material.

Commonly Used Recyclable Forms of Resins

In a way, it is good that there are increasing number of manufacturers, researchers, and experts advocating the use of recycled plastic. The most widely used recyclable forms of resins are:

• Polyethylene terephthalate
• Polystyrene
• Polyvinyl chloride
• Low-density polyethylene
• Polypropylene
• High-density polyethylene

So, considering the pros and cons of both virgin as well as recycled resins, hopefully the number of manufacturers buying regrind plastic would increase. Admittedly, recycled plastics may not be applicable everywhere and virgin plastics will always have certain applications. To conclude, virgin plastics cannot be totally eliminated; however, the applications of recycled plastics can be increased. If you are a plastic product or component manufacturer, whichever type of plastic resins you want to buy, ensure you buy it from a reputed source. MidContinent Plastics is one of the leading suppliers of environmentally-friendly resins and has a market presence for over three decades.

For more information, please visit Post-Consumer Plastic Reuse.