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PC/ABS compounds

PC/ABS engineering plastic balancing heat resistance, impact and appearance.

Example grade / typical values — to be corrected by GREENPOLYMER

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Selection criteria

  • Heat resistance
  • Impact
  • Appearance
  • Flame retardancy (if required)

PC/ABS is a blend of polycarbonate and ABS. PC brings heat resistance and toughness; ABS brings flow and processability. It is more heat resistant and tougher at low temperatures than ABS, and easier to mold than pure PC.

PC/ABS is a common material for chargers, adapters, energy storage equipment, power tools and appliance housings. These parts often must be flame retardant. PC chars easily when it burns, so PC/ABS can reach V-0 even with a halogen-free flame-retardant system. Halogen-free flame-retardant PC/ABS is a key product direction for GREENPOLYMER.

GREENPOLYMER PC/ABS grades

Flame-retardant grades

GradeKey featuresSuitable parts
GRN-PCA-N510Halogen-free flame retardancy, standard wall thicknessEnergy storage housings, charger housings, electrical control compartments
GRN-PCA-N520Halogen-free flame retardancy, thin wall, high flowThin-wall housings of chargers, adapters and docking stations
GRN-PCA-S520Silicone-based flame retardancy, halogen-free, no PTFE anti-drip agentHousings and panels whose purchasing specification requires PFAS-free
GRN-PCA-E510Flame-retardant, glass-fiber-reinforcedStructural parts such as battery holders, chassis and hard-drive trays

Non-flame-retardant grades

GradeKey featuresSuitable parts
GRN-PCA-T310Heat resistanceMid-frames, body structures, handles
GRN-PCA-H320Low-temperature high impactPower tool housings, shared-vehicle body panels, robot housings
GRN-PCA-W310Weather resistanceBody panels, outdoor security housings, outdoor lighting housings

Recycled-content versions (-R) of each grade can be customized.

Key properties

Typical values. Refer to the actual TDS.

  • MFR (ISO 1133, 260 °C / 5 kg)
    • PCA-N51015–30 g/10 min
    • PCA-N52030–50 g/10 min
    • PCA-S52015–30 g/10 min
    • PCA-E5108–20 g/10 min
    • PCA-T31010–25 g/10 min
    • PCA-H32010–20 g/10 min
    • PCA-W31012–25 g/10 min
  • Notched impact (ISO 179/1eA, 23 °C)
    • PCA-N51010–30 kJ/m²
    • PCA-N5208–20 kJ/m²
    • PCA-S52015–40 kJ/m²
    • PCA-E5106–12 kJ/m²
    • PCA-T31035–55 kJ/m²
    • PCA-H32045–65 kJ/m² (−30 °C: 25–40)
    • PCA-W31035–55 kJ/m²
  • HDT (ISO 75, 1.80 MPa)
    • PCA-N51080–95 °C
    • PCA-N52075–88 °C
    • PCA-S52085–100 °C
    • PCA-E510100–120 °C
    • PCA-T31095–115 °C
    • PCA-H32095–110 °C
    • PCA-W31095–110 °C
  • Flammability (UL 94, design target)
    • PCA-N510V-0 @ 1.5 mm
    • PCA-N520V-0 @ 1.0 mm
    • PCA-S520V-0 @ 1.5 mm
    • PCA-E510V-0 @ 1.5 mm
    • PCA-T310HB @ 1.5 mm
    • PCA-H320HB @ 1.5 mm
    • PCA-W310HB @ 1.5 mm
Full table
GradeMFR (ISO 1133, 260 °C / 5 kg)Notched impact (ISO 179/1eA, 23 °C)HDT (ISO 75, 1.80 MPa)Flammability (UL 94, design target)
GRN-PCA-N51015–30 g/10 min10–30 kJ/m²80–95 °CV-0 @ 1.5 mm
GRN-PCA-N52030–50 g/10 min8–20 kJ/m²75–88 °CV-0 @ 1.0 mm
GRN-PCA-S52015–30 g/10 min15–40 kJ/m²85–100 °CV-0 @ 1.5 mm
GRN-PCA-E5108–20 g/10 min6–12 kJ/m²100–120 °CV-0 @ 1.5 mm
GRN-PCA-T31010–25 g/10 min35–55 kJ/m²95–115 °CHB @ 1.5 mm
GRN-PCA-H32010–20 g/10 min45–65 kJ/m² (−30 °C: 25–40)95–110 °CHB @ 1.5 mm
GRN-PCA-W31012–25 g/10 min35–55 kJ/m²95–110 °CHB @ 1.5 mm

For full properties, see Products.

How to choose

  1. Is flame retardancy needed? Yes → see the flame-retardant grades; no → see the non-flame-retardant grades.
  2. How thin is the thinnest wall? Around 1.0 mm, choose GRN-PCA-N520; 1.5 mm and above, GRN-PCA-N510 is possible. Confirm the flammability rating at the part's actual wall thickness.
  3. Does the purchasing specification say "fluorine-free" or "PFAS-free"? Yes → GRN-PCA-S520, with tests arranged against your substance list.
  4. Are stiffness and dimensional stability needed? Yes → GRN-PCA-E510.
  5. Non-flame-retardant parts: GRN-PCA-T310 for heat resistance, GRN-PCA-H320 for low-temperature impact, GRN-PCA-W310 for outdoor use.

Points to watch with halogen-free flame-retardant PC/ABS

  • The flammability rating depends on thickness and color

    Dark and light colors, and different pigment systems, can give different flammability results. Confirm each production color separately.

  • Do not process too hot

    Phosphorus-based flame retardants can degrade at high temperature, causing gas streaks, mold deposits and loss of flame retardancy. Process within the TDS temperature limits.

  • Watch chemical resistance

    Halogen-free flame-retardant PC/ABS is fairly sensitive to some cleaners and grease. Run stress cracking tests on loaded areas.

  • "Halogen-free" needs a clear basis

    The halogen limits of IEC 61249-2-21 or your specification are commonly used, with the third-party test report as the reference.

Processing advice

Typical values. Refer to the actual TDS. For details, see the knowledge center article on drying PC/ABS before molding.

  • Drying
    • Non-flame-retardant grades100–110 °C, 3–4 h
    • Flame-retardant grades80–100 °C, 3–4 h (per TDS)
  • Melt temperature
    • Non-flame-retardant grades250–280 °C
    • Flame-retardant grades230–260 °C
  • Mold temperature
    • Non-flame-retardant grades60–90 °C
    • Flame-retardant grades60–80 °C
Moisture content
Non-flame-retardant grades ≤ 0.02 % recommended
Flame-retardant grades ≤ 0.02 % recommended
Residence time
Non-flame-retardant grades Normal
Flame-retardant grades As short as possible; avoid long residence in the barrel
Venting
Non-flame-retardant grades Normal
Flame-retardant grades Improve venting to reduce gas streaks and mold deposits
Full table
ItemNon-flame-retardant gradesFlame-retardant grades
Drying100–110 °C, 3–4 h80–100 °C, 3–4 h (per TDS)
Moisture content≤ 0.02 % recommended≤ 0.02 % recommended
Melt temperature250–280 °C230–260 °C
Mold temperature60–90 °C60–80 °C
Residence timeNormalAs short as possible; avoid long residence in the barrel
VentingNormalImprove venting to reduce gas streaks and mold deposits

Design points

  • For thin-wall parts, evaluate the flow length first

    Use mold flow analysis to check filling before choosing the grade and the number of gates.

  • Add fillets at the roots of screw bosses and snap fits

    Stress concentration lowers chemical resistance.

  • Avoid local thin spots on flame-retardant parts

    Where a local wall is thinner than the flammability test thickness, the test result does not apply to that area.

  • Watch fiber orientation on glass-fiber-reinforced parts

    Shrinkage and warpage are directional; place gates to match the load direction.

FAQ

Do halogen-free PC/ABS and brominated flame-retardant PC/ABS perform the same?

Not entirely. Halogen-free systems usually have a slightly lower HDT and are more sensitive to processing temperature. The benefit is that they meet halogen-free requirements and do not release halogenated smoke when burning. Choose by the part's requirements.

Can PC/ABS be used outdoors?

Standard PC/ABS discolors after long outdoor exposure. For outdoor parts choose the weather-resistant grade GRN-PCA-W310 and validate with accelerated aging set to the sunlight conditions of the region of use.

Is GRN-PCA-S520 always fluorine-free?

This grade uses a silicone-based flame-retardant system without PTFE anti-drip agent. Whether it meets your definition of "fluorine-free" is shown in the test report of the batch.

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Contact us

Tell us the part name, thinnest wall thickness, flammability rating, environmental requirements (halogen-free / fluorine-free), color and expected volume. Phone +86 18822892298 | Email hello@greenpolymer.com

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