PC-ABS
also ABS-PC, Bayblend
PC-ABS is an alloy of polycarbonate and ABS that keeps PC's heat resistance, stiffness and high impact strength while adding ABS flow, lower cost and easier processing; unfilled grades run 1.15 g/cm³, 56 MPa tensile strength and 90% elongation.
PC-ABS grades and fills
PC-ABS is supplied in 5 conditions, soft to hard.
Compare all 5 grades and fillsHide
| Grade · open for datasheet | Best for | Yield MPa | Tensile MPa | Elong. % | Hardness |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Antistatic / conductive | Choose for electronics trays, carriers and housings requiring static dissipation of 10^4–10^9 Ω/sq. | 52 | 52 | 20 | 80 Shore D |
Flame-retardant (non-halogen or halogenated), typically V-1/V-0 | Pick for electrical enclosures, chargers and appliance parts needing UL 94 V-1/V-0 with only modest loss of toughness. | — | 57 | 65 | — |
UL 94 V-0 rated at thin wall | Use when a V-0 listing at thin wall (1.5 mm or less) plus 5VB/glow-wire performance is mandatory. | 58 | 58 | 50 | 80 Shore D |
15% glass-fiber reinforced | Middle ground when extra stiffness and lower creep/CTE are needed but some notched impact must be kept. | — | 90 | 3.5 | 78 HRM |
30% glass-fiber reinforced | Choose for maximum stiffness, strength and dimensional stability in structural brackets and frames; accept brittle, anisotropic behaviour and visible fiber on the surface. | — | 115 | 2.5 | 85 HRM |
Supply forms, finishes and certifications
Ways PC-ABS is supplied — form, process route, surface or paperwork — without a datasheet of their own. The property values above apply.
| Option | What it is | Type |
|---|---|---|
PLATE | Plating / metallization grade | Supply form |
FDM | 3D printing filament | Printing process |
MED | Healthcare / biocompatible-tested grade | Certification |
UV | UV-stabilized / weatherable grade | Grade option |
UnfilledDefault | Standard injection-molding PC/ABS | Standard supply |
What is PC-ABS?
PC-ABS is an alloy of polycarbonate and ABS that keeps PC's heat resistance, stiffness and high impact strength while adding ABS flow, lower cost and easier processing; unfilled grades run 1.15 g/cm³, 56 MPa tensile strength and 90% elongation. It is used for automotive interiors, electrical enclosures, IT and appliance housings and power tools, and is available as FDM filament as well as moulding pellets in FR, glass-filled, UV, ESD, plating and medical variants. Limits are poor weatherability without UV stabilisation or paint, sensitivity to aromatic, ketone and chlorinated solvents with stress-cracking risk, and long-term heat resistance below unfilled PC. PC-ABS has a density of 1.15 g/cm³ (0.0415 lb/in³), lighter than 57% of polymer grades. Its glass-transition temperature is 125°C (257 °F). PC-ABS has a yield strength of 55 MPa (7.98 ksi) and a tensile strength of 56 MPa (8.12 ksi) — stronger than 62% of polymer grades. Elongation at break is 90% and the elastic modulus is 2.4 GPa (0.348 Msi).
What is PC-ABS used for?
- Automotive interior trim and consoles
- Electrical enclosures
- IT and appliance housings
- Power tool housings
- Plated decorative trim
- Medical device housings
- FDM printed jigs and fixtures
Advantages
- Tough — resists crack growth — 3.5 MPa·√m (3.19 ksi·√in), better than 81% of polymer grades
- Readily welded — 72/100, better than 80% of polymer grades
PC-ABS properties
Typical room-temperature values in the Unfilled condition; bars are the position among polymer grades.
Physical4
PC-ABS has a density of 1.15 g/cm³ (0.0415 lb/in³), lighter than 57% of polymer grades. Its glass-transition temperature is 125°C (257 °F).
Mechanical17
PC-ABS has a yield strength of 55 MPa (7.98 ksi) and a tensile strength of 56 MPa (8.12 ksi) — stronger than 62% of polymer grades. Elongation at break is 90% and the elastic modulus is 2.4 GPa (0.348 Msi).
Thermal11
PC-ABS is rated for continuous service to 100°C (212 °F). It conducts heat at 0.2 W/m·K (0.116 BTU/hr·ft·°F), worse than 56% of polymer grades. Thermal expansion is 75 µm/m·K (41.7 µin/in·°F).
Electrical7
PC-ABS is an electrical insulator with a dielectric strength of 25 kV/mm (635 V/mil) and a resistivity of 1×10¹⁴ Ω·m.
Chemical & Environmental3
Corrosion resistance is very good (78/100), worse than 61% of polymer grades. UV resistance is poor.
Sustainability4
Producing a kilogram of PC-ABS takes about 100 MJ of energy and emits 4.6 kg of CO₂ — less than 61% of polymer grades. Typical recycled content is 15%.
Manufacturability8
PC-ABS's machinability is good (65/100, better than 66% of polymer grades); weldability very good (72/100); formability good (60/100).
Common Calculations5
Values are nominal handbook figures for design screening. Certified mill or lot data ships with every FabDigit order on request.
Strength versus weight in the polymer family
Yield strength against density for every polymer grade FabDigit runs. PC-ABS is highlighted; hover a dot for its name, or open the interactive family chart.
Working with PC-ABS
Is PC-ABS easy to machine?
Machines and drills easily with sharp, high-rake tools and air/mist cooling; avoid heat build-up and use light finishing passes to prevent stress crazing at edges.
Can PC-ABS be welded?
Ultrasonic, hot-plate, spin and laser welding all work well; solvent bonding with methylene-chloride/MEK cements and cyanoacrylate/epoxy adhesives is common.
Can PC-ABS be formed, bent or molded?
Dry 2–4 h at 80–100 °C before moulding; melt 240–285 °C, mould 60–95 °C, shrinkage 0.4–0.7 %; keep gates/wall transitions generous to limit moulded-in stress and use ≥0.5° draft.
Manufacturability
The process limits FabDigit's quote engine applies to PC-ABS. Design inside these and the part quotes instantly; outside them it routes to an engineer.
CNC machining
| Machinability | Excellent65 / 100 |
|---|---|
| ISO material group | N.8 |
| Cutting speed (rough / finish) | 400 / 500 m/min |
| Minimum wall | 0.5 mm |
| Minimum internal radius | 1 mm |
| Drill depth limit | 10× diameter |
| Best surface (machined / polished) | Ra 0.8 / — |
| Hardenable after machining | No |
Sheet metal
| Formability | Excellent60 / 100 |
|---|---|
| Weldability | Excellent72 / 100 |
Injection molding
| Mold shrinkage | 0.3 – 0.7 % |
|---|---|
| Wall thickness | 0.8 – 4 mm |
| Recommended draft | 1 ° |
| Pre-drying | 80 °C for 4 h |
| UV resistance | Fair |
PC-ABS chemical composition (wt %)
Limits by weight percent from the governing specification, written the way the spec states them — a single maximum for impurities, a range for alloying elements, and the base element as balance. Nominal is the typical mid-range value.
| Element | Spec limit (wt %) | Nominal |
|---|---|---|
| polycarbonate (PC)bisphenol-A polycarbonate phase — sets heat resistance and stiffness | 45 – 75 | 60 |
| stabilizers/processing additivesantioxidant, hydrolysis stabilizer, mould release, pigment | 0.3 – 2 | 1 |
| glass fiber0 in default grade; 15–30 wt% in GF variants | 0 – 30 | 0 |
| flame retardant (phosphate ester / halogFR variants only | 0 – 15 | 0 |
| ABS (acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene)provides flow, impact modification and platability | ≥ 25 (balance) | — |
What surface finishes work on PC-ABS?
Excellent paint, pad-print and vacuum-metallizing substrate; ABS phase allows electroless-nickel/chrome plating — anneal or use plating grades to prevent solvent-induced cracking.
Surface treatments FabDigit runs on polymer parts — pick them in the quote configurator or call them out on the drawing. Each links to its datasheet in the surface-finish library (thickness, specs, call-out, material verdicts).
Injection Molding Coating
Organic Coating
Metallization / Functional
Equivalent designations
Standards and trade names that resolve to PC-ABS in FabDigit's catalog. Equivalence is nominal — check the exact specification when certification matters.
- Trade names
- ABS-PCBayblendCycoloyStratasys ABS-PCBayblend T65Bayblend T85Cycoloy C1200Cycoloy C2950WonderloyThermoplastic PC-ABS Blend
How much does PC-ABS cost?
PC-ABS is a standard-cost polymer ($$), cheaper than about 81% of the materials FabDigit quotes. Part price depends far more on geometry, tolerance and quantity than on the raw stock — upload a CAD file for a live quote.
PC-ABS — frequently asked
What is PC-ABS used for?
PC-ABS is typically used for automotive interior trim and consoles, electrical enclosures, IT and appliance housings, power tool housings, plated decorative trim and medical device housings. In short: impact resistant blend.
What is the yield strength of PC-ABS?
PC-ABS has a typical yield strength of 55 MPa (7.98 ksi) and a tensile strength of 56 MPa (8.12 ksi) — stronger than 62% of polymer grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 5 listed tempers.
Is PC-ABS easy to machine?
Reasonably — machinability is rated good (65/100, better than 66% of polymer grades). Machines and drills easily with sharp, high-rake tools and air/mist cooling; avoid heat build-up and use light finishing passes to prevent stress crazing at edges.
Can PC-ABS be welded?
Yes — weldability is rated very good (72/100). Ultrasonic, hot-plate, spin and laser welding all work well; solvent bonding with methylene-chloride/MEK cements and cyanoacrylate/epoxy adhesives is common.
What surface finishes work on PC-ABS?
Excellent paint, pad-print and vacuum-metallizing substrate; ABS phase allows electroless-nickel/chrome plating — anneal or use plating grades to prevent solvent-induced cracking.
Can PC-ABS be formed, bent or molded?
Dry 2–4 h at 80–100 °C before moulding; melt 240–285 °C, mould 60–95 °C, shrinkage 0.4–0.7 %; keep gates/wall transitions generous to limit moulded-in stress and use ≥0.5° draft.
What is the maximum service temperature of PC-ABS?
PC-ABS is rated for continuous use to about 100°C (212 °F), and briefly to 125°C. Strength falls off well before that limit — check the elevated-temperature data for load-bearing parts.
How much does PC-ABS cost?
PC-ABS is a standard-cost polymer ($$), cheaper than about 81% of the materials FabDigit quotes. Part price depends far more on geometry, tolerance and quantity than on the raw stock — upload a CAD file for a live quote.
Can FabDigit make parts in PC-ABS?
Yes — PC-ABS is available for CNC machining, sheet metal and injection molding with instant online pricing. Upload a STEP file to get a price and a DFM check.
Sources
- Bayblend PC+ABS grade datasheets (T65, T85, FR series) — Covestro (2023)
- Cycoloy PC/ABS resin datasheets (C1200, C2950) — SABIC (2023)
- CAMPUS plastics database — PC+ABS entries — CWFG/CAMPUS (2024)
- PC-ABS FDM material datasheet — Stratasys (2022)
- Engineered Materials Handbook Vol. 2: Engineering Plastics — ASM International (1988)
- UL 94 Tests for Flammability of Plastic Materials — UL Solutions (2021)
- ISO 527 / ISO 178 / ISO 75 / ISO 306 test methods — ISO (2019)
Property data is compiled from published supplier and standards handbooks and normalised for comparison; hardness values on non-Brinell scales are converted approximately for charting only. Manufacturability limits are FabDigit quote-engine defaults and may be relaxed by engineering review. Nothing on this page is a certification — request mill certs, CoC or material test reports with your order.