SAN
ASTM D4203 · GB GB/T 12670 · ISO 4894 SAN · also Luran, Tyril
A rigid, transparent copolymer of styrene and acrylonitrile offering better chemical/heat resistance and stiffness than plain PS, used where clarity plus improved toughness is needed without full ABS opacity.
Reference datasheet — SAN is not in the instant-quote catalog. Upload your part and an engineer will quote it in this grade or suggest the closest stocked equivalent.
SAN grades and fills
SAN is supplied in 7 conditions, soft to hard.
Compare all 7 grades and fillsHide
| Grade · open for datasheet | Best for | Yield MPa | Tensile MPa | Elong. % | Hardness |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Impact-modified / transparent toughened SAN | Rubber-modified transparent styrenic (MABS/SAN blend) when drop impact is needed while keeping see-through clarity. | 44 | 48 | 20 | 76 Shore D |
Flame-retardant SAN | Compounded FR grade for electrical enclosures; opaque or translucent only, with reduced impact and heat performance. | 58 | 60 | 2 | 82 Shore D |
Easy-flow / high-MFR injection grade | For thin-wall, long-flow transparent parts and multi-cavity tools; slightly lower toughness and heat resistance. | 64 | 66 | 2.5 | 82 Shore D |
High-heat / high-acrylonitrile SAN | Higher AN content (~30%) for extra heat, stiffness and chemical/ESC resistance in lighting and hot-fill applications; slight yellow tint. | 76 | 78 | 2.5 | 85 Shore D |
20% Glass Fiber reinforced SAN | Entry stiffness upgrade with moderate warpage; used for pump housings and structural covers where opacity is acceptable. | 95 | 2.2 | 88 HRM | |
30% Glass Fiber reinforced SAN | Common structural SAN grade balancing stiffness, dimensional stability and cost for appliance and pump parts. | 115 | 1.8 | 92 HRM | |
40% Glass Fiber reinforced SAN | Maximum-stiffness SAN for load-bearing housings and pump impellers; brittle, abrasive to tooling and highly anisotropic. | 130 | 1.5 | 95 HRM |
Supply forms, finishes and certifications
Ways SAN is supplied — form, process route, surface or paperwork — without a datasheet of their own. The property values above apply.
| Option | What it is | Type |
|---|---|---|
EXT | Extrusion / sheet grade SAN | Supply form |
FDA | Food-contact / FDA & LFGB compliant grade | Certification |
UV | UV-stabilized / weatherable SAN | Grade option |
NATDefault | Unfilled / Natural | Standard supply |
What is SAN?
A rigid, transparent copolymer of styrene and acrylonitrile offering better chemical/heat resistance and stiffness than plain PS, used where clarity plus improved toughness is needed without full ABS opacity. SAN has a density of 1.07 g/cm³ (0.0387 lb/in³), lighter than 68% of polymer grades. Its glass-transition temperature is 106°C (223 °F). SAN has a yield strength of 70 MPa (10.2 ksi) and a tensile strength of 72 MPa (10.4 ksi) — stronger than 79% of polymer grades. Elongation at break is 3% and the elastic modulus is 3.6 GPa (0.522 Msi).
What is SAN used for?
- Kitchenware and food containers
- Battery cases
- Cosmetic packaging
- Instrument lenses/covers
- Medical device housings
Advantages
- Polishes to a fine finish — 88/100, better than 95% of polymer grades
- Stiff — 3.6 GPa (0.522 Msi), better than 84% of polymer grades
- High strength — 70 MPa (10.2 ksi), better than 79% of polymer grades
Limitations
- Limited ductility — 3%, worse than 83% of polymer grades
- Poor heat conductor — 0.17 W/m·K (0.0982 BTU/hr·ft·°F), worse than 75% of polymer grades
SAN properties
Typical room-temperature values; bars are the position among polymer grades.
Physical6
SAN has a density of 1.07 g/cm³ (0.0387 lb/in³), lighter than 68% of polymer grades. Its glass-transition temperature is 106°C (223 °F).
Mechanical17
SAN has a yield strength of 70 MPa (10.2 ksi) and a tensile strength of 72 MPa (10.4 ksi) — stronger than 79% of polymer grades. Elongation at break is 3% and the elastic modulus is 3.6 GPa (0.522 Msi).
Thermal11
SAN is rated for continuous service to 80°C (176 °F). It conducts heat at 0.17 W/m·K (0.0982 BTU/hr·ft·°F), worse than 75% of polymer grades. Thermal expansion is 70 µm/m·K (38.9 µin/in·°F).
Electrical7
SAN is an electrical insulator with a dielectric strength of 22 kV/mm (558.8 V/mil) and a resistivity of 1×10¹⁴ Ω·m.
Chemical & Environmental3
Corrosion resistance is very good (72/100), worse than 70% of polymer grades. UV resistance is poor.
Sustainability4
Producing a kilogram of SAN takes about 96 MJ of energy and emits 3.5 kg of CO₂ — less than 67% of polymer grades. Typical recycled content is 0%.
Manufacturability8
SAN's machinability is good (60/100, better than 51% of polymer grades); weldability very good (70/100); formability fair (45/100).
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. SAN is highlighted; hover a dot for its name, or open the interactive family chart.
Working with SAN
Is SAN easy to machine?
Machines like acrylic — sharp, polished, high-rake tools, high speed, low feed, air or mist cooling; avoid solvent coolants which cause crazing, and anneal at ~75 °C to relieve stress before machining.
Can SAN be welded?
Ultrasonic, vibration, hot-plate and solvent bonding (MEK/methylene-chloride blends) all work well; solvent joints must be stress-free or the part will craze.
Can SAN be formed, bent or molded?
Dry 2–4 h at 80 °C, inject at 220–260 °C melt / 50–80 °C mold with moderate speed and generous gates; sheet thermoforms at 140–170 °C. Shrinkage 0.4–0.7 % (0.1–0.3 % for GF).
SAN 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 |
|---|---|---|
| styrenemonomer unit | 70 – 80 | 75 |
| acrylonitrilehigher AN = higher heat/chemical resistance, more yellow tint | 20 – 30 | 25 |
| additives (stabilizers, lubricants, colo | 0.2 – 2 | 0.8 |
| glass fiber0 for unfilled; 20/30/40 wt% in GF variants | ≈ 0 | 0 |
What surface finishes work on SAN?
Takes mirror finish directly from polished tooling; vacuum metallizing, hard coating and pad/screen printing are standard, but check ink and cleaner solvents against ESC risk.
Equivalent designations
Standards and trade names that resolve to SAN in FabDigit's catalog. Equivalence is nominal — check the exact specification when certification matters.
- ASTM
- D4203
- ISO
- 4894 SAN
- GB (China)
- GB/T 12670
- Trade names
- LuranTyril
How much does SAN cost?
SAN is a standard-cost polymer ($$), cheaper than about 71% of the materials FabDigit quotes. Part price depends far more on geometry, tolerance and quantity than on the raw stock — upload a CAD file for a live quote.
SAN — frequently asked
What is SAN used for?
SAN is typically used for kitchenware and food containers, battery cases, cosmetic packaging, instrument lenses/covers and medical device housings. In short: transparent styrenic copolymer; stiffer than ABS; low elongation, notch-sensitive.
What is the yield strength of SAN?
SAN has a typical yield strength of 70 MPa (10.2 ksi) and a tensile strength of 72 MPa (10.4 ksi) — stronger than 79% of polymer grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 7 listed tempers.
Is SAN easy to machine?
Reasonably — machinability is rated good (60/100, better than 51% of polymer grades). Machines like acrylic — sharp, polished, high-rake tools, high speed, low feed, air or mist cooling; avoid solvent coolants which cause crazing, and anneal at ~75 °C to relieve stress before machining.
Can SAN be welded?
Yes — weldability is rated very good (70/100). Ultrasonic, vibration, hot-plate and solvent bonding (MEK/methylene-chloride blends) all work well; solvent joints must be stress-free or the part will craze.
What surface finishes work on SAN?
Takes mirror finish directly from polished tooling; vacuum metallizing, hard coating and pad/screen printing are standard, but check ink and cleaner solvents against ESC risk.
Can SAN be formed, bent or molded?
Dry 2–4 h at 80 °C, inject at 220–260 °C melt / 50–80 °C mold with moderate speed and generous gates; sheet thermoforms at 140–170 °C. Shrinkage 0.4–0.7 % (0.1–0.3 % for GF).
What is the maximum service temperature of SAN?
SAN is rated for continuous use to about 80°C (176 °F), and briefly to 95°C. Strength falls off well before that limit — check the elevated-temperature data for load-bearing parts.
How much does SAN cost?
SAN is a standard-cost polymer ($$), cheaper than about 71% 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.
Sources
- ISO 4894-1/-2 Plastics — Styrene/acrylonitrile (SAN) moulding and extrusion materials — ISO (1997)
- ASTM D4203 Standard Specification for Styrene-Acrylonitrile (SAN) Injection and Extrusion Materials — ASTM International (2018)
- Luran SAN product range and processing guide — INEOS Styrolution (2022)
- Tyril SAN resin datasheets — Trinseo (2021)
- CAMPUS plastics database — SAN ISO 10350 datasets — CWFG / CAMPUS consortium (2023)
- Engineered Materials Handbook Vol. 2: Engineering Plastics — ASM International (1988)
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.