This classification system covers only acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (ABS) materials and ABS alloys suitable for injection molding and extrusion. Some of these compositions may also be suitable for compression molding. Recycle ABS and alloys will be addressed in a separate standard. ABS materials, based on three or more monomers, are grouped rather than rigidly classified. These groups are then subdivided by class and then grades. Reinforced and lubricated versions of the ABS materials are classified. When the grade of the basic material is not known, or is not important, the use of "0" grade classification shall be used for reinforced materials in this system. The material composition shall be uniform and shall conform to the requirements specified. Test specimens and testing parameters for the materials shall conform to the requirements prescribed. The tensile strength at yield, modulus, Charpy impact, vicat softening point, heat deflection temperature, and glass content of glass-reinforced materials shall be tested to meet the requirements prescribed.

1.1 This classification system covers only ABS materials and ABS alloys suitable for injection molding and extrusion. Some of these compositions are also suitable for compression molding. Recycle ABS and alloys will be addressed in a separate standard.

1.2 This classification system and subsequent line callout (specification) are intended to provide a means of calling out plastic materials used in the fabrication of end items or parts. It is not intended for the selection of materials. Materials are to be selected by personnel with expertise in the plastics field where the economics, the environment to be encountered, the inherent properties of the materials, the part design, the part performance required, and the manufacturing process to be employed all enter into the selection.

1.3 The properties included in this classification system are those required to identify the compositions covered. Other requirements necessary to identify particular characteristics important to specialized applications are addressed by using the suffixes given in Section 5.

1.4 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as the standard. The values given in parentheses are for information only.

1.5 The following precautionary caveat pertains only to the test methods portion, Section 12, of this classification system: This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety and health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.

Note 1: This standard and ISO 2580 address the same subject matter, but differ in technical content.