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ABS (Acrylonitrile butadiene Styrene) | engineered plastic that can be customized to desired levels of stiffness, hardness, heat deflection, and many other characteristics | UV sensitive – requires a UV protective cap layer for extended exposure
| UV sensitive – requires a UV protective cap layer for extended exposure
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| clear plastic, very moldable, inexpensive, recyclable, high chemical resistance, high electrical resistance, heat distortion ~200°F | | disposable cups, disposable applications, decorative applications, electrical applications |
hips (High impact Polystyrene) | very moldable, relatively inexpensive | very moldable, relatively inexpensive | picture frames, shower walls, food containers |
| very high chemical resistance, stain resistant, stiffer than ABS, high room temp. impact strength, natural flame retardant qualities | | shower surrounds, moldings, kick panels, display cases |
| extremely high impact resistance, high clarity – good for transparent parts, precision molding, good insulator, high heat distortion point ~270°F | Low chemical resistance to certain substances (oil, gasoline, harsh chemicals), can be difficult to process, higher material and processing cost | visors, plastic guards, transportation components (headlights, taillights, instrument panels), appliance drawers, skylights |
| when compared to true polycarbonate – less expensive, lower heat distortion ~240°F, much easier to process, higher chemical resistance | when compared to true polycarbonate – reduced clarity, lower heat distortion ~240°F | when compared to true polycarbonate – reduced clarity, lower heat distortion ~240°F |
petg (polyethylene- terephthalate) | very easy to process, high clarity – good for transparent parts | Not UV stable – unsuitable for extended exposure | structural automotive parts, hand tools, industrial components |