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.
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.
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.
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.
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 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.
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.
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.
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:
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.
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.
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.
Outstanding recycled ABS plastic thanks to its reasonable price.
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
• 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.
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• Not easy to maintain: Recycled ABS plastic is easily damaged under the influence of sunlight, requiring manufacturers to invest in the preservation period.
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.
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.
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.
We produce and use re-processed plastic material in our products with the higher application which tends to utilize plastic in the products rather than ending of in landfills to pollute the environment. Contact us to sell ABS plastic regrind.
Recycled plastic pellets are produced from the repeated recycling of virgin plastic pellets or from the same material stream. For example: Plastic waste will be classified and go through the process of crushing, cleaning, heating and pressing into fibers to produce recycled plastic. Currently, recycled plastic pellets are divided into 5 common types, namely: HDPE recycled plastic pellets, PP, PE, PVC and ABS recycled plastic pellets.
The physical properties of recycled plastic will be stable and quite tough. In addition, recycled plastic from HDPE material can resist the impact of strong acids or salts, has a long service life and does not rust in humid environments. Because of the production stage and origin, recycled plastic is cheaper than virgin plastic.
In the opposite direction, virgin plastic beads are produced from long-term petroleum distillation. In particular, the original virgin plastic will be white. Therefore, manufacturers can combine additional color additives without affecting their chemical composition or physical structure. Basically, primary plastic beads have quite high elasticity combined with flexibility and the ability to adapt well to environmental temperatures.
That is why they are widely used in the medical field, food packaging production or other health-related fields. This proves that the price of virgin plastic beads is definitely higher than recycled plastic and may be slightly higher than bioplastic. Just like recycled plastic beads, primary plastics are also divided into many common types such as: PET, PP or ABS.
In addition, although the two plastic materials are different in physical and chemical properties, they can both combine well with plastic additives to improve characteristics and develop specialized features in each field.
Recycled plastic resins play a role in the strategy of green economic development as well as environmental protection of the global plastic industry. Therefore, the advantages of this material line are many and diverse. As follows:
In general, recycled plastic pellets can be recycled many times, but the quality will also be slightly affected and the impurity content will likely gradually increase.
First, durability is the strong point of recycled plastic beads. Because they go through many stages in the production process from grinding, cleaning, melting to shaping.
Besides, price is also a decisive factor in the consumption and popularity of recycled plastic particles. Input materials for recycled plastic can be plastic waste, virgin plastic or other types of plastic. Therefore, they not only meet economic and profit criteria but also ensure environmental sustainability and stability.
In addition, recycled plastic pellets also have very good plasticity, typically like PE recycled plastic pellets. Therefore, they also possess quite stable tensile strength if subjected to force for a short period of time. PE recycled plastic pellets are often used in the field of food packaging and water blowing pipes production.
The next advantage of recycled plastic pellets is the ability to conduct electricity stably, such as PVC recycled plastic pellets. The resistivity coefficient of this material is greater than Ω.cm. Not only that, recycled plastic pellets are produced in many colors and sizes, and their flexibility in many fields is higher than virgin plastic pellets.
Recycled plastic resins not only have sustainable plasticity but also heat resistance. They are also highly appreciated for this advantage when they can withstand up to about 200 degrees Celsius. Therefore, this is also a suitable choice for heavy industries.
In the opposite direction, recycled plastic beads also have some weaknesses as follows:
Although it can be recycled many times, the yield and quality of the material will certainly be reduced and severely affected by impurities from the input fuel. Recycled plastic pellets have not very good durability, products made from this material will easily have surface scratches if they encounter strong impacts during use.
Depending on the different types of input plastic, specific weaknesses of recycled plastic granules in general will form. For example, PVC recycled plastic beads will be hard and quite brittle, they are not flexible like PE or PP plastic. Besides, ensuring the quality of input materials as well as the production process of recycled plastic pellets will take longer and more complicated than virgin plastic.
Unlike recycled plastic, primary plastic is distilled from petroleum fractions and undergoes a thorough filtering process. Virgin plastic pellets also bring many advantages to businesses and customers. As follows:
In general, virgin plastic beads have flexible properties, can withstand large curvatures and pressure if subjected to strong force for a long time. In addition, elasticity is also a perfect plus point for virgin plastic beads.
In particular, virgin plastic is only white immediately after production, but this has helped it increase its aesthetic value when it has a glossy, smooth surface and bright colors. To change the color according to market needs, manufacturers will combine color additives.
In addition, virgin plastic beads also have good durability and are easy to shape during the long-term production process. Therefore, their flexibility will also be higher than recycled plastic beads. For each different type of plastic, virgin plastic will also possess different advantages. Specific examples are:
PP virgin plastic beads are heat resistant between and degrees Celsius. In addition, virgin plastic will be odorless, colorless and extremely safe for consumers' health.
PA virgin plastic beads are capable of withstanding strong impacts for a long time. Not only stable heat resistance, this type of virgin plastic also has good chemical durability as well as stable electrical insulation. In particular, PA plastic in general and PA virgin plastic beads in particular can resist the intrusion of chemicals from the outside environment and are safe for food. Therefore, virgin plastic beads from PA plastic are commonly used in the field.
Or virgin plastic beads from ABS are commonly used in the electrical field because they are waterproof, have stable heat resistance and electrical insulating properties. In particular, virgin plastic is licensed to be used to create children's toys because they do not have a plastic smell or become deformed or discolored when exposed to high temperatures.
Besides the advantages, virgin plastic beads also have some disadvantages. First, virgin plastic beads are considered quite difficult to decompose after being discharged into the environment. Besides, if you use it incorrectly during production or use, it can lead to poisoning. Like other plastic materials, virgin plastic beads are also recommended not to be sucked or swallowed.
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