Both PVC and ABS plastic sheets are widely used engineer plastics, while ABS is more expensive and has better mechanical properties.
General features of PVC sheet
PVC sheet usually come in rigid forms, the same like ABS sheets, although PVC film is usually flexible. PVC, known as Polyvinyl chloride, or simply vinyl, is the third-largest quantity of plastics which is globally used.
It is light-weight. It has good heat insulation, heat preservation, moisture resistance and flame retardant. It is also excellent in acid and alkali resistance and corrosion resistance.
PVC sheet is durable, anti-aging, and stable in chemical and physical properties. It is easy to weld and bond, and easy to operate and install. It has good dielectric properties.
PVC plastic board has strong flexural strength and impact toughness, as well as high elongation. It is excellent material for construction.
PVC has smooth surface, bright color. It is very decorative and has wide range of decorative applications
ABS sheet has good toughness and strength, good fluidity, and easy molding. However, ABS disadvantage is that it is expensive and has poor aging resistance. It begins to change color after one month.
General features of ABS sheet
ABS plastic panels has good comprehensive properties, high impact strength, chemical stability and good electrical properties.
ABS resin is currently the most widely used polymer. It organically unifies various properties of PS, SAN, and BS. It has excellent mechanical properties with balanced toughness, hardness and rigidity. ABS is a terpolymer of acrylonitrile, butadiene and styrene. “A” stands for acrylonitrile, “B” for butadiene, and “S” for styrene.
ABS engineering plastics are generally opaque, light ivory in appearance, non-toxic, tasteless. It has the characteristics of toughness, hardness and rigidity. ABS plastic sheet burns slowly. The flame is yellow, and there is black smoke. After burning, the plastic softens, burns, and emits a special cinnamon smell, but it has no melt dripping.
ABS resin is resistant to water, inorganic salts, alkalis and acids, insoluble in most alcohols and hydrocarbon solvents. However, it is easily soluble in aldehydes, ketones, esters and some chlorinated hydrocarbons.
Nowadays, many applications try alloy of ABS and PVC, which is both cost-effective and has excellent properties.