🧩 ABS+PC – Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene + Polycarbonate
(High-performance technical material, combining the hardness and gloss of ABS with the thermal and impact resistance of polycarbonate. Used in consoles, housings, sensor covers, interior parts, and structural automotive elements.)
🔹 What is ABS+PC
ABS+PC (Polycarbonate-ABS blend) is a high-strength thermoplastic alloy that combines ABS (acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene) with PC (polycarbonate). The result is an extremely tough, thermally and mechanically stable material, widely used in premium automotive components and parts requiring high gloss, rigidity, and impact resistance, even at low temperatures. ABS provides processability and gloss, while PC brings toughness, heat resistance (up to 120 °C), and dimensional stability.
🔧 Composition
- Acrylonitrile – 10–20 %
- Butadiene – 10–15 %
- Styrene – 30–40 %
- Polycarbonate (PC) – 30–50 %
- Density: 1.10–1.20 g/cm³
- Melting Point: ≈ 250–270 °C
- Impact Resistance: very high (15–30 kJ/m²)
🚗 Where ABS+PC is used in the automotive industry
| Component | Example parts | Observations |
| Car Interior | Dashboard, center console, decorative trims | Deep gloss, excellent stability |
| Exterior | Mirror caps, guards, headlight frames | Shock and UV resistance |
| Electrical Equip. | Sensor housings, control units | Electrical insulation, high rigidity |
| Technical / Structural | Brackets, frames, intermediate parts | High thermal resistance |
🔧 Welding Temperature and Methods
| Method | Optimal Temperature | Observations |
| Hot Air | 260 – 280 °C | Common method, uniform weld |
| Heat Plate (Mirror) | 250 – 270 °C | Clean joint, no discoloration |
| Manual Extrusion | 240 – 260 °C | For long cracks and thick parts |
🔩 What to Weld ABS+PC With (Material Compatibility)
Being a styrenic-carbonic hybrid material, ABS+PC has excellent compatibility with ABS, PC, and ASA/PC blends.
✅ Compatible with:
- ABS+PC ↔ ABS+PC / PC/ABS / ABS / PC – ideal combination.
- ABS+PC ↔ ASA / SAN / PMMA-ABS – good compatibility.
- ABS+PC ↔ ABS-HI / ABS-GF – good, with thermal control.
❌ Incompatible with:
- PP, PE, PA, PVC – completely different melting points.
💡 ReplastMD Recommendation: Use ABS+PC or standard ABS rods at a temperature of 270–280 °C. Heat uniformly; avoid local overheating (PC can yellow). For a glossy finish, apply a quick pass of hot air at the end.
🏭 Manufacturers and Trade Names
- Covestro: Bayblend®
- SABIC: Cycoloy®
- LG Chem: LUPOY® PC/ABS
- Chi Mei: Wonderloy®
- INEOS Styrolution: Terblend®
🧠 How to Identify ABS+PC
- Engraved marking: >PC+ABS<, >ABS/PC<, >PC-ABS<, >CYCOLOY<.
- Glossy, hard surface, with fine or matte texture.
- Yellow-blue flame, faint sweet-chemical scent.
- Softens at ≈ 270 °C without bubbling.
- Resists scratches and heat better than simple ABS.
🛠️ ABS+PC Welding at ReplastMD: At our service center in Chisinau (Ciocana sector), ReplastMD performs professional ABS+PC welding for dashboards, consoles, frames, and technical housings, providing a solid, heat-resistant, and aesthetically perfect finish.