Lotte Chemical Starex ABS VE-1060 is an extrusion-grade acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene copolymer supplied as stabilized cylindrical pellets for thick-gauge sheet, coextrusion substrates, and post-formed technical parts. The product is characterized by a controlled rubber particle size distribution in a styrene-acrylonitrile continuous phase, providing a balance between low-temperature impact resistance and melt extensional viscosity. The grade is specified in appliance interior liners, cabinet surrounds, sanitaryware shells, and automotive interior paneling where deep-draw thermoforming after extrusion demands consistent gauge retention, low gel formation, and reproducible surface gloss. The material is not a flame-retardant ABS and carries no UL 94 V-0 claim.

How Does VE-1060 Fit Within the Starex ABS Extrusion-Grade Range?

VE-1060 occupies a mid-flow, high-toughness position within the VE series. The melt mass-flow rate measured under ISO 1133-1:2022 at 220 °C and 10 kg is lower than that of general-purpose injection molding grades such as HI-121H, a consequence of higher molecular mass and broader molecular weight distribution. This lower flow is deliberately offset by improved drawdown behaviour in sheet forming: at identical sheet thickness, VE-1060 can be heated to a forming temperature 10 °C to 15 °C above the sag threshold of typical injection-grade ABS without catastrophic sheet collapse. The product therefore differs from HI-series materials in its longer chain relaxation time and lower tendency to edge thinning. In comparison to VE-0860, VE-1060 is specified where deeper draw ratios and sub-zero impact after forming are required. Published quantitative sag measurements for this specific configuration are limited; processor trials should establish the maximum allowable sheet temperature for a given tool geometry.

Capillary rheometry of VE-1060 reveals pseudo-plastic response with a shear viscosity that decays across the shear-rate window typical of sheet extrusion. A rising barrel temperature profile from 180 °C at the feed section to 220 °C at the metering section is commonly used in single-screw extruders with L/D 24:1 to L/D 36:1. Screw designs with barrier flights and low-shear distributive mixing are preferred; dispersive mixing elements can generate local viscous heating above 240 °C, causing polybutadiene phase agglomeration and surface gel particles. The melt pressure at the sheet die is normally maintained above 6 MPa to flatten flow non-uniformities, but the actual target depends on die lip length, sheet width, and throughput. Extruders with grooved feed zones may require reduced screw speeds because the higher mass flow can raise melt temperature beyond the recommended maximum.

Drying Is the Principal Processing Boundary for VE-1060

Pre-drying is mandatory when the pellet bag has been exposed to relative humidity greater than 60% or opened for more than 2 h. A closed-loop desiccant dryer set to 80 °C for 2 h to 4 h reduces residual moisture below 0.02 wt%; the dryer dew point should remain at or below -30 °C. Moisture above this threshold hydrolyzes the acrylonitrile component during processing and manifests as silver streaks, surface splay, and loss of melt strength at the die. Hopper residence time at drying temperature should not exceed 30 min after the drying cycle, because prolonged hot storage can cause pellet sintering and subsequent feed blockage. Static desiccant trays or hot-air ovens are not substitutes for a forced dehumidified-air dryer when ambient conditions exceed this threshold.

In sheet extrusion, VE-1060 is typically processed at a melt temperature of 200 °C to 230 °C and a die temperature of 210 °C to 230 °C. Calender stack roll temperatures are maintained between 70 °C and 90 °C for surface finish and to minimize orientation. Rapid quenching below 50 °C can freeze surface stresses that later produce warpage during thermoforming. Sheet thickness from 0.8 mm to 6.0 mm is within the normal extrusion window for this grade. Thicker sections above 6.0 mm can trap volatiles and require reduced throughput or vacuum-vented barrels; published guidelines for extrusion above this thickness are limited.

Thermoforming Window and Wall-Thickness Distribution

VE-1060 sheet is formed after uniform heating to a surface temperature of 140 °C to 190 °C. For deep-draw parts, plug-assisted forming with a heated syntactic foam or PTFE-coated plug is recommended when the draw ratio exceeds 1.5:1. Mold temperatures of 70 °C to 90 °C allow the material to conform to texture and reduce frozen-in stress. The grade’s higher extensional viscosity, relative to injection ABS, reduces the rate of corner thinning but does not eliminate it; part design should maintain a minimum formed wall thickness of 0.5 mm for service loads. Overheating above 200 °C produces gloss variation and can advance rubber-phase crosslinking. Conversely, forming below 140 °C induces stress whitening and increased post-mold shrinkage.

When VE-1060 Replaces a General-Purpose Injection Molding ABS in Deep-Draw Components

Conversion from a general-purpose injection grade to VE-1060 is justified when the part is not injection molded but is instead cut from extruded sheet and post-formed. The key processing difference is not simply melt flow: VE-1060 exhibits higher melt elasticity, lower gel content, and greater extensional viscosity than HI-series injection grades. These properties produce more uniform wall thickness in draw ratios above 1.5:1. However, VE-1060 is not optimized for thin-wall injection molding; its lower melt flow increases fill pressure and raises minimum feasible wall thickness. A processor replacing a general-purpose injection grade in a cold-runner injection mold should expect longer fill times and higher in-cavity pressure. The comparative table below summarizes representative property ranges extracted from published product data sheets; a lot-specific certificate of analysis governs.

Relative to Lotte Chemical HI-series injection molding grades, VE-1060 has a higher molecular mass and lower melt flow, which limits its use in thin-wall injection molding but improves sheet sag resistance. Relative to lower-toughness extrusion grades, VE-1060 shows higher notched impact at low temperature, a property relevant for refrigerator liner corners and automotive interior parts exposed to winter conditions. Unlike flame-retardant ABS formulations, VE-1060 does not provide UL 94 V-0 at 1.5 mm; applications requiring ignition resistance should evaluate a dedicated flame-retardant grade. These differences are material-selection factors, not direct substitutions.

Assessing Chemical Resistance, Thermal Aging, and Incompatibilities

VE-1060 shares the known chemical resistance of ABS: it withstands aqueous acids, alkalis, and polar solvents at ambient temperature but is attacked by ketones, esters, aromatic hydrocarbons, and chlorinated solvents. Stress cracking can occur under simultaneous chemical contact and molded-in strain; compatibility should be tested under ISO 22088-3:2006 or ASTM D543-21 using the actual thermoformed geometry. The grade is not intended for continuous use above 80 °C under load; prolonged heating above this threshold accelerates oxidative degradation of the polybutadiene phase. For outdoor exposure, UV stabilization is required, or replacement of ABS with ASA or a capstock layer should be evaluated. Contact with PVC plasticizers, aldehyde-based mold releases, and unsaturated oils should be avoided because these agents can migrate into the styrene-acrylonitrile matrix and reduce interfacial adhesion.

Regulatory compliance must be confirmed against the supplier’s current declaration. Typical unfilled ABS grades of this type are assessed under REACH Article 33 SVHC disclosure and RoHS 3 (EU) 2015/863 for restricted substances; however, automatic food-contact compliance is not claimed. If the formed part is intended for food contact, the end user must obtain a grade-specific statement under FDA 21 CFR 177.1020 or EU 10/2011 with the relevant migration limits. Because VE-1060 is supplied as an extrusion-grade resin rather than a compounded flame-retardant or mineral-filled material, its additive package is limited to stabilizers and processing aids; lot-to-lot variance in these additives must still be monitored when gloss and plate-out are critical.