Dongguan Haohan Plastic PC/ABS 3100 is supplied as a pelletized polycarbonate/acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene alloy intended primarily for injection moulding of dimensionally stable enclosures, interior structural components, and electrical-equipment housings. The blend combines an amorphous polycarbonate phase with styrene-acrylonitrile copolymer and grafted polybutadiene rubber domains, producing a property profile positioned between neat polycarbonate and general-purpose ABS. The following technical description addresses model designation, material-selection criteria, processing constraints, comparative property benchmarks, secondary-operation behaviour, and regulatory verification. Numerical values are presented as typical reference ranges for medium-flow PC/ABS alloys of this nominal classification unless a lot-specific certificate is identified. Published data for this specific configuration is limited in the absence of the manufacturer’s latest technical datasheet and should be confirmed against the purchaser’s incoming-material specification.

Material Constitution and Rheological Behaviour

The 3100 designation represents a mid-range PC/ABS processing classification rather than a standardized international material code. For mould marking, the alloy is identified as >PC+ABS< according to ISO 1043-1:2011 and ISO 11469:2016. A general-purpose PC/ABS of this nominal type typically exhibits density between 1.13 g/cm³ and 1.15 g/cm³ when determined by ISO 1183-1:2019. Melt-volume-flow rate for a medium-flow alloy commonly falls between 15 cm³/10 min and 30 cm³/10 min at 260 °C under 5 kg load using ISO 1133-1:2022, but this is a reference band, not an intrinsic lot guarantee. Capillary rheometry data should be generated in accordance with ISO 11443:2021 using a die with an L/D ratio of 20:1; published values for this specific configuration are limited.

Short-term mechanical reference values for comparable PC/ABS grades include tensile yield stress in the range of 55 MPa to 60 MPa per ISO 527-2:2012, flexural modulus between 2300 MPa and 2600 MPa per ISO 178:2019, and notched Izod impact strength from 45 kJ/m² to 60 kJ/m² at 23 °C when evaluated under ISO 180/A:2023. Heat deflection temperature under 1.8 MPa loading generally falls between 120 °C and 128 °C when tested to ISO 75-2:2013. Mould shrinkage after 24 h conditioning is commonly reported in the 0.5% to 0.7% range using ISO 294-4:2018. These values are sensitive to moulding conditions, pigmentation, and regrind ratio, and they cannot be treated as a substitute for incoming-lot mechanical certification.

Why Does the 3100 Designation Influence Processing Window Selection?

The processing boundary is controlled by two competing degradation mechanisms: hydrolysis of the polycarbonate segment if residual moisture is elevated, and thermo-oxidative degradation of the polybutadiene phase if melt temperature or residence time is excessive. Prior to moulding, pellets should be dried in a desiccant dryer with a dew point below -30 °C at 100 °C to 110 °C for 3 h to 4 h. Residual moisture should be verified below 0.02% by ISO 15512:2019 or Karl Fischer titration. In high-humidity production environments exceeding 60% relative humidity, open hoppers are inadequate; a closed-hopper feed with dry-air blanket is required to avoid splay, melt-pressure fluctuation, and surface delamination.

On a reciprocating-screw injection-moulding machine with L/D between 20:1 and 24:1 and compression ratio of 2.0:1 to 2.5:1, a barrel profile of 240 °C to 260 °C in the rear zone, 250 °C to 270 °C in the middle zone, 260 °C to 280 °C in the front zone, and 250 °C to 270 °C at the nozzle is a typical reference window. Melt temperature should not exceed 280 °C for more than 5 min cumulative residence time because polybutadiene oxidation accelerates sharply above this threshold and produces brown streaking, odour, and impact loss. Screw rotation should be maintained between 60 rpm and 120 rpm, with back pressure of 3 bar to 7 bar, to avoid excessive shear heating and non-uniform melt temperature. Mould temperature should be controlled between 60 °C and 90 °C, with the upper portion of that range preferred for thin-wall filling and surface gloss. Injection pressure is geometry-dependent but typically falls between 80 MPa and 120 MPa; hold pressure is normally 60% to 80% of the peak first-stage pressure. Specimen preparation should follow ISO 294-1:2021 unless end-use verification demands otherwise.

For thin-wall electronic enclosures with nominal wall sections below 1.5 mm, mould temperature at 80 °C to 90 °C and moderate-to-high injection velocity reduce premature freeze-off. The gate location should avoid converging flow fronts around pin holes and bosses because weld lines in PC/ABS can retain only 40% to 70% of the un-welded impact strength, depending on melt temperature and packing. Vent depth at the parting line should be held between 0.02 mm and 0.03 mm; insufficient venting causes diesel-effect burning and gas entrapment. Projected-area clamp force requirements are commonly estimated at 0.35 kN/cm² to 0.55 kN/cm² for medium-flow PC/ABS, though long-flow conditions require hydraulic direct-clamp machines with consistent tonnage rather than toggle units operating near their upper limit.

When PC/ABS 3100 Is Substituted for Neat PC or ABS in Electrical Housings

The substitution decision is governed by failure-mode differences rather than single-point property rankings. Neat polycarbonate provides higher ductility and better craze resistance, while neat ABS offers easier fill and lower mould temperature requirements. The PC/ABS alloy occupies an intermediate position: it reduces melt viscosity and processing pressure relative to neat polycarbonate, while raising heat deflection temperature and low-temperature ductility relative to general-purpose ABS. The comparative table below contains representative literature ranges for medium-flow injection-moulding grades; it is not an incoming-lot statement for Dongguan Haohan Plastic PC/ABS 3100.

When replacing neat PC with PC/ABS 3100, the primary limitation is reduced resistance to scratching and marring because the styrene-acrylonitrile and polybutadiene phases lower surface hardness relative to unfilled polycarbonate. Dimensional stability in humid environments may also shift: PC/ABS absorbs more moisture than neat PC, and moulded parts should be conditioned to equilibrium before tight-tolerance assembly checks. When replacing ABS, the processing penalty is a higher melt temperature and a narrower regrind window. Regrind addition above 20% by weight can increase melt-flow variability and reduce impact performance; the exact limit must be established by lot-specific trial. Avoid blending with amine-containing additive concentrates because amine species can accelerate polycarbonate degradation at melt temperatures above 260 °C. Avoid long contact with ketones, esters, and aromatic hydrocarbons under load, because these solvents promote environmental stress cracking in PC-rich alloys.

Thermal ageing follows Arrhenius-type degradation kinetics when polybutadiene domains are present.

The long-term thermal boundary of PC/ABS is controlled by oxidation of the polybutadiene rubber domains, hydroperoxide accumulation, and stabilizer depletion. Hot-air ageing should be conducted under ISO 188:2019 or ASTM D3045-18 with multiple exposure intervals, but a single universal retention percentage cannot be assigned without lot-specific formulation data. In load-bearing electrical applications, relative thermal index or long-term thermal performance should not be inferred from short-term HDT/A values. Components exposed continuously above 100 °C under mechanical load require a separate thermal-endurance evaluation because short-term deflection temperature does not capture oxidative embrittlement. If the part is used near atmospheric moisture above 80 °C, hydrolysis of the polycarbonate segment can reduce molecular weight and create surface microcracking under stress. In such conditions, desiccant drying alone is insufficient; the moulded part must be protected from humid hot-air service or subjected to a dedicated hydrolysis-resistance screening protocol.

Paint adhesion to PC/ABS 3100 depends on surface preparation, the absence of mould-release residues, and the solvent families used in primer or topcoat systems. Wiping with aromatic thinner or ketone-based cleaners can initiate stress cracking and should be avoided before adhesion testing. Adhesion may be assessed by cross-cut methods such as ISO 2409:2020 or ASTM D3359-17; adhesion classifications of 0 or 1 are typical acceptance targets after conditioning at 23 °C and 50% relative humidity for 48 h. For bonded assemblies, methyl methacrylate and two-part polyurethane adhesives are generally compatible with PC/ABS substrates, while aggressive solvent-based adhesives require compatibility screening. Peel-test evidence from plated plaques should be requested if electroplating is considered; plateability can vary between PC/ABS lots because rubber-domain distribution and filler content influence etch uniformity.

What Evidence Must Accompany Lot Certification for 3100?

Incoming-lot verification should require a certificate of analysis that identifies the polymer alloy, declares melt-volume-flow rate, density, tensile properties, notched Izod impact, and heat deflection temperature, and states the test standards applied. The compliance matrix below lists verification documents commonly requested for PC/ABS components in electrical, electronic, and industrial-equipment applications. The presence of a document requirement does not imply that every production lot carries every certificate; the manufacturer’s documentation package must be reviewed against the final application’s regulatory scope.