Using ABS Plastic Outdoors: Pros & Cons

[Averagesupernova]

How well does ABS plastic stand up to the elements? Normally I would not choose this for outdoor use but I am unable to find the type of enclosure I want in anything except ABS.

 

[berkeman]

From the wikipedia article, ABS plastic looks to be pretty tough:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ABS_plastic

They don't address outdoor use specifically, but they do talk about resistance to a number of chemicals. What's the outdoor enclosure for?

 

[Averagesupernova]

I'm mainly concerned with UV degredation. The enclosure will house some electronics.

 

[Gokul43201]

I believe ABS is good with UV. The most common style of http://www.pb.unimelb.edu.au/emergency/template-assets-custom/images/EXIT-in-hall.jpg are housed in ABS, and the UV component in the bulbs used (most of which is absorbed by the housing) is not small compared to that in sunlight.

 

[chemisttree]

Unstabilized ABS is notoriously bad with UV exposure. If the ABS has been compounded with UV stabilizers, the question becomes "How well does the UV stabilizer work?" If it is blended, it will bleed from the surface and be a problem. If a reactive monomer that has a pendant UV stabilizer is incorporated into each of the three phases (acrylonitrile, butadiene and styrene) it can be made nearly bulletproof. I don't know if anybody has incorporated UV stabilizers into the monomers. That would mean modifying the acrylonitrile, butadiene (most susceptible to degradation) and styrene to include a UV stabilizer sub structure.

Nice idea for a patent...

 

[Gokul43201]

Ah yes, I now recall something about "UV stabilized ABS"... I imagine that's what they use in the signs?

 

[chemisttree]

Very likely. This problem was responsible for the largest recall in the automotive industry. The red button in the seat belt was failing due to a manufacturing problem with the ABS. Can you guess what the manufacturing problem was?

 

[Averagesupernova]

I am looking at several products. On one of them the ABS version says that it is not recommended for outdoor use and to use the polycarbonate version instead. I have worked with ABS in the past but always with indoor applications in non-hostile environments.
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For those interested:
http://www.hammondmfg.com/1554FLA.htm
http://www.hammondmfg.com/1554FLP.htm

Since both products are water proof I would have to assume the reason ABS is not recommended for outdoor is UV. I have not gotten a rep to return my call yet.

 

[Gokul43201]

Can you guess what the manufacturing problem was?

The ABS was not UV stabilized? I don't know, but I'm curious as hell.

 

[chemisttree]

here's a hint:

http://www.sciencedirect.com/science?_ob=ArticleURL&_udi=B6V2X-3VGGS7B-2&_user=10&_coverDate=02%2F01%2F1999&_rdoc=1&_fmt=&_orig=search&_sort=d&view=c&_acct=C000050221&_version=1&_urlVersion=0&_userid=10&md5=5b96fe31a77dcdb44d102edfb3b0834c

 

[mtpi.us]

Averagesupernova,

You mention that this part you are designing is for outdoor use and is used to enclose electronics. I have made many enclosures for outdoor electrical as well as for many other outdoor applications such as for snow blowers or Ice Augers and ABS is commonly used, however there are many types of ABS and when your addressing the issue of UV
it's not only the base material that you need to be concerned about, but also the colorant of which black is very good against UV ageing. If your using another color, then you need to compound it with a UV inhibitor. If your working with a good molder of your product, they should be able to recommend the correct material for your application. Polycarbonate is also used in outdoor applications and is very good for impact resistance, but is a poor selction if there may be a chance of it coming into contact with a solvent or oil substance, as it will craze or crack over time.

Best Regards,

mtpi.us

 

[Q_Goest]

Have you considered Hoffman?
http://www.hoffmanonline.com/product_catalog/index.aspx?cat_1=34

The company I work for puts a few thousand boxes into outdoor service every year (NEMA 4 and 4X). Most are plastic. Don't know who we buy them from though, but I know we've bought some from Hoffman. I sent an email to some guys that would know who our primary source is but they probably won't get back to me till Monday.

 

[mtpi.us]

Hoffman boxes

Q Goest,

I have manufactured product for Hoffman Electric in the past and they do have a large selection of boxes using various manufacturing processes. They are located in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Regards,

mtpi.us

 

[varun22091985]

even mobile phone is made of ABS. But it is not ABS complete. It is actually a ABS-PC blend. ABS is also a good conducting polymers as compared to other well known polymers.