LG Chem ABS HI-150 is a high-impact acrylonitrile–butadiene–styrene injection-moulding grade supplied as cylindrical pellets. The material consists of a polybutadiene rubber phase dispersed in a styrene–acrylonitrile matrix; the rubber-phase particle-size distribution is controlled to provide room-temperature notched impact absorption while retaining sufficient melt flow for long-flow injection moulding. It is specified for medium-to-large housings and structural covers where a balance of flow length, surface quality and notched toughness is required, including vacuum-cleaner housings, floor-care components, small-appliance casings and office-equipment covers. Representative datasheet values include a melt mass-flow rate of 21 g/10 min at 220 °C/10 kg per ISO 1133-1:2022, a density of 1.04 g/cm³ per ISO 1183-1, and a Rockwell hardness of 105 R per ISO 2039-2. The grade is not a heat-resistant formulation; use above its HDT/A must be validated by end-use thermal testing.

What do ISO 527-2 and ISO 179-1 results indicate about the mechanical envelope?

Tensile testing on ISO 527-2/1A specimens conditioned at 23 °C and 50% RH gives a typical yield stress of 42 MPa and an elongation at break of 20 %. Flexural modulus obtained by ISO 178 is approximately 2250 MPa, and flexural strength at conventional deflection is 65 MPa. Notched Charpy impact at 23 °C determined by ISO 179-1/1eA is reported at 25 kJ/m². The value reflects energy absorption through shear yielding and cavitation within the polybutadiene phase rather than brittle crack propagation. The HDT/A under 1.8 MPa by ISO 75-2/A is 85 °C, and the Vicat softening temperature by ISO 306/B50 is 95 °C. These results place HI-150 in conventional high-impact ABS territory; the impact-to-heat balance is the primary grade-selection variable.

Specimen preparation for the properties in the table follows ISO 294-1 and ISO 20753 for multipurpose test bars. Laboratories should condition bars at 23±2 °C and 50±10 % RH for at least 40 h before destructive testing. Because ABS is notch-sensitive, a poorly machined impact notch can reduce the reported notched Charpy value by 20–40%; the ISO 179-1/1eA notch must have a residual radius of 0.25 mm, verified by optical comparator. Moulders comparing incoming lots should test at a fixed conditioning protocol to avoid hygroscopic and orientation variables masking actual lot-to-lot drift.

Rheological response is shear thinning. At a melt temperature of 220 °C and shear rate near 1000 s⁻¹, the apparent viscosity of high-impact ABS grades with a melt mass-flow rate close to 20–25 g/10 min typically lies between 80 and 120 Pa·s; at 100 s⁻¹ the apparent viscosity may fall between 200 and 300 Pa·s. Published capillary rheometry data for this exact LG Chem grade is limited, so injection-moulding simulation users should request Moldflow or Moldex3D characterisation datasets from LG Chem instead of relying on a generic ABS viscosity model. Flow length is also influenced by tool geometry and gate design; spiral-flow data generated on a 2 mm spiral mould at 220 °C and 70 MPa injection pressure is the most direct production-scale comparison.

Drying, residence time and barrel set points on production-scale reciprocating presses.

Moisture control is the first constraint. ABS pellets are hygroscopic enough to cause splay and silver streaking if residual moisture exceeds approximately 0.02–0.05 wt%. Bulk drying in a desiccant-bed or rotary-wheel dryer is specified at 80–90 °C for 2–4 h when the supply air has a dew point at or below −30 °C. Airflow should be at least 0.15 m³/h per kg/h of pellet consumption. At RH above 60%, hopper residence time should be minimised because surface moisture can approach equilibrium within 48 h; pre-drying is then non-negotiable. Barrel set points from rear to nozzle are typically 190 °C, 200 °C, 210 °C, 220 °C, and 220 °C, giving a melt temperature of 200–230 °C. Melt temperature must not exceed 250 °C; thermal-oxidative degradation of the polybutadiene phase begins to generate yellowing and a burnt-rubber odour above 260 °C, particularly in hot-runner hold-up or with long residence time. Shot size should be 30–70% of barrel capacity, and screw recovery should be set so that the cushion is 3–6 mm. A general-purpose screw with L/D of 20:1 to 24:1 and compression ratio 2.0:1–2.5:1 is adequate; high-shear barrier screws can raise melt temperature by 5–10 °C at high screw speed. Projected-area clamping force requirements are normally 0.5–0.8 ton/cm² depending on wall thickness and flow-length ratio; thin-wall tools with flow-length ratios above 200:1 may require the upper end or an accumulator-assisted injection machine.

When surface gloss and weld-line strength are constrained by tool temperature.

Mould temperature is the principal lever for surface gloss and weld-line strength. A cavity surface temperature of 40–60 °C is sufficient for dimensional stability, but glossy cosmetic surfaces on vacuum-cleaner housings usually require 60–80 °C. Below 40 °C, the rapidly frozen skin can reduce gloss and make knit lines visible at multi-gate locations; above 80 °C, cycle time increases and hot-tip or valve-gate temperature control becomes more critical. Injection speed should be moderate to high; excessive velocity at small gates can cause jetting. When jetting occurs, the injection velocity should be reduced or the gate relocated to impinge on a core pin. Weld-line strength in high-impact ABS depends on local rubber-phase orientation and is typically 30–60% of the bulk tensile strength; for structural ribs or bosses, a lower melt temperature and higher mould temperature can improve knit-line healing. Published weld-line property data for this exact grade is limited and should be generated using a multipurpose ISO 527-2/1A mould with a film or insert gate.

Linear mould shrinkage is anisotropic and depends on wall thickness, gate position and mould temperature. Typical linear mould shrinkage for HI-150 is 0.4–0.7%, with the higher end applying to sections above 3 mm. The coefficient of linear thermal expansion is approximately 80–100 × 10⁻⁶ K⁻¹, higher than unfilled polycarbonate; this must be considered in snap-fit and press-fit design. If the tool is expected to run with regrind, cavity dimensions should be validated after the regrind fraction is fixed because the small MFR drift changes packing behaviour.

Regrind use is permissible with controlled thermal history. Clean sprues, runners and non-degraded rejected parts may be re-introduced at 20–30 wt% with virgin pellets without significant loss of ambient impact, provided the regrind is not heat-aged or contaminated with moisture. Dried regrind should be blended at the machine hopper rather than pre-compounded to limit a second thermal pass. At high regrind ratios, melt flow may drift upward by 10–15% because of SAN molecular-weight reduction, and notched impact may decrease by 5–10%; structural components should be tested on a production-representative tool.

Hot-runner tools for HI-150 should be designed with valve-gated or open systems having manifold setpoints below 240 °C and nozzle-tip setpoints below 250 °C. Dead spots in externally heated manifolds can produce brown streaking and free butadiene degradation products; the runner system should be fully purgeable and avoid sharp right-angle turns. Colour changes from dark to light may require 10–20 barrel capacities of a general-purpose ABS or acrylic-based purging compound because residual rubber-rich material can retain carbon black and colourant.

Comparative positioning against high-heat ABS and standard injection grades.

Compared with heat-resistant ABS grades such as LG Chem HI-121H, HI-150 is specified where room-temperature impact and flow are more important than deflection temperature under load. HI-121H typically exhibits a higher HDT/A by several degrees and a lower melt mass-flow rate, making it less suitable for thin-wall, long-flow components but more suitable for service near 90 °C. General-purpose ABS grades with lower butadiene content may offer higher tensile strength and surface hardness but lower notched impact. HI-150 should not be substituted for PC/ABS in applications requiring notched Izod values above approximately 50 kJ/m² or for parts exposed to hot mineral oil; chemical resistance to ketones, esters, aromatic hydrocarbons and strong acids is limited. Environmental stress cracking has been observed on production parts exposed to certain unsaturated fatty acids or machining oils while under residual moulded-in stress. Annealing at 85–95 °C for 1–2 h can reduce residual stress but adds a post-moulding operation.

Typical applications are injection-moulded housings and structural covers: vacuum-cleaner bodies, floor-tool components, toy shells, home-appliance bezels, and office-equipment covers. The grade is usually supplied with a UL 94 HB rating at thicknesses above 1.5 mm; burn-test performance must be confirmed on the final part because wall thickness and colorants influence flaming behaviour. Food-contact status is not automatic: compliance with FDA 21 CFR 177.1020 or EU Regulation 10/2011 must be obtained from LG Chem for the specific grade, colorant and extraction conditions. The material is not an outdoor weathering grade; prolonged UV exposure oxidises the polybutadiene phase and causes gloss loss unless a weatherable capstock or UV-stabilised variant is selected. REACH and RoHS compliance should be requested for the specific production lot because stabiliser packages can differ by colour concentrate addition. Dry-colour formulations containing amine-based additives or incompatible lubricants can shift melt viscosity and heat stability; production validation is required before bulk substitution.

Operational boundaries include a maximum melt residence time at temperature of approximately 10 min in the barrel and hot runner; beyond this, yellowing and impact loss are progressive. Shut-down with material in the barrel should be avoided: purge with a general-purpose ABS or acrylic-based purging compound before stopping. Do not blend with polyoxymethylene residues because formaldehyde and formic acid decomposition products can degrade the polybutadiene phase. These constraints define the practical production window for HI-150 and should be integrated into start-up and colour-change procedures.