How to glue Acrylonitrile-Butadiene-Styrene (ABS plastic)
Gluing Acrylonitrile-Butadiene-Styrene (ABS Plastic)
Acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene is a versatile type of plastic used in countless different productions. Many associate ABS with Lego bricks, but it is also used in household utensils, pipes for construction, housings for major appliances, and in the automotive industry for components and panels, among other things. It is a tough material that is easy to process and has a high surface quality. The major limitation of the material is its weather resistance. Caution should be taken when using ABS outdoors, as it degrades under sunlight.
Gluing ABS Plastic
For optimal adhesion, the parts should always be cleaned before gluing.
It should be noted that ABS can come in slightly varying forms. You might encounter a part with such low surface tension that the glue may have difficulty adhering. In such cases, it is optimal to use a primer before applying the glue, after which the choice of glue depends on the desired final properties of the finished product. For example, you can use a 2-component epoxy glue (best if at least one part is metal) or a 2-component methyl methacrylate glue.
Often, the correct type of super glue (cyanoacrylate) can handle most tasks with ABS. This gives high strength and easy dosing—manually or automatically.
You can also choose to use a polyurethane-based glue. This type of glue comes in all hardnesses and viscosities. However, be aware that polyurethane-based glues have a relatively low heat resistance of max 125°C.
For production lines with many parts and short cycle times, UV/light-curing glue can be advantageous. This ensures easy and rapid curing, especially if an automated process is desired. The glue cures extremely quickly when exposed to light, allowing parts to be further processed or assembled on the production line.
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