Thermoplastic
PC/ABS
PC toughness and heat, ABS processing and finish.
Published values for unfilled grades at 23 °C unless stated. Confirm against the supplier datasheet for the grade you specify.
What it is
PC/ABS is a blend, not a copolymer: polycarbonate supplies heat resistance and impact strength, ABS supplies flow, low-temperature impact, and a surface that finishes well. The ratio is adjustable, and the property set moves with it.
It is the standard material for automotive interior parts and for equipment housings that need to pass a drop test but still look molded rather than industrial.
Where it is used
- Automotive interior trim and instrument panels
- Laptop, printer, and appliance housings
- Power tool bodies
- Telecoms and networking enclosures
- Printed prototypes intended to match a molded PC/ABS part
Processing notes
Dry 3–4 hours at 90–100 °C.
Melt 250–280 °C, mold 60–90 °C. Flow is far better than straight PC, so thinner walls and longer flow lengths are achievable.
It is more forgiving on tooling than PC and holds texture well.
Available through
Design notes
Wall 1.5–3.0 mm. It fills more easily than PC but still benefits from uniform sections.
Radius internal corners. It is less notch sensitive than PC but not immune.
Chemical resistance is closer to PC than ABS. Check cleaning agents before committing.
Grades and variants
- Standard injection grade, the interior trim default
- Flame retardant V-0 grades for mains equipment
- Low gloss grades for automotive interiors
- Glass filled for stiffness
- Plating and paint-adhesion optimized grades
Specifying this material?
Send your CAD and target volumes. We come back with a price, a lead time, and any material or design notes that would reduce either.