Nanjing Lihan PC/ABS CS9000 is a pelletised polycarbonate/acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene alloy supplied for injection-moulded structural components. The grade designation follows the manufacturer’s internal nomenclature, and the seller’s technical data sheet plus certificate of analysis remain the controlling documents for purchasing specifications. Published third-party data for this exact formulation is limited, so numerical values in this document are presented as the class-typical envelope for unfilled PC/ABS compounds and must be verified against lot-specific documentation before use.

What separates CS9000 from a general-purpose PC/ABS alloy?

The principal separation is asserted in the manufacturer’s commercial literature as a combination of medium-high melt fluidity with retention of sub-ambient impact strength. For unfilled PC/ABS alloys, melt volume rate measured at 260 °C with a 5 kg load according to ISO 1133-1:2022 commonly falls between 12 cm³/10 min and 25 cm³/10 min. A general-purpose grade at the upper end of that flow range can lose 25% to 40% of its notched Charpy energy when the test temperature is reduced from 23 °C to -30 °C. If the CS9000 certificate reports a -30 °C notched Charpy value above 20 kJ/m², the grade occupies an intermediate position among general-purpose, chemically unmodified polycarbonate/ABS alloys. This distinction should be confirmed against ISO 179-1/1eA data for the production lot.

Class-typical property envelope for unfilled PC/ABS alloys; CS9000 lot certificates may differ and take precedence

Property	Method	Reference envelope
Density	ISO 1183-1:2019	1.12–1.16 g/cm³
Melt volume rate	ISO 1133-1:2022, 260 °C, 5 kg	12–25 cm³/10 min
Tensile yield stress	ISO 527-2:2012, 50 mm/min	50–60 MPa
Tensile elongation at yield	ISO 527-2:2012	3.5%–5.0%
Flexural modulus	ISO 178:2019	2100–2500 MPa
Charpy notched impact, 23 °C	ISO 179-1/1eA	40–60 kJ/m²
Charpy notched impact, -30 °C	ISO 179-1/1eA	15–30 kJ/m²
Vicat softening temperature, B50	ISO 306:2022	120–135 °C
Heat deflection temperature, 1.80 MPa	ISO 75-2/A:2013	100–115 °C
Mould shrinkage, parallel	ISO 294-4:2018	0.4%–0.7%

Moisture management is the primary process risk for CS9000. Polycarbonate segments hydrolyse at melt temperatures above 260 °C when pellet moisture exceeds 0.05% by Karl Fischer titration. In production environments where ambient relative humidity is greater than 60%, a desiccant dryer operating at a dew point of -30 °C to -40 °C is required. The class-typical drying band is 80 °C to 100 °C for 3 h to 4 h; material held in an open or unheated machine hopper for more than 30 min can reabsorb surface moisture. Extended drying beyond 6 h can yellow pellets and reduce low-temperature impact performance. Feed-throat temperature should remain below 60 °C to prevent bridging.

When shear heating in a 40:1 L/D machine becomes controlling

Injection moulding of CS9000 should be conducted with a measured melt temperature of 240 °C to 270 °C using an aspirated pyrometer rather than relying solely on barrel setpoints. A typical barrel profile is rear 220 °C to 240 °C, centre 250 °C to 260 °C, front 260 °C to 270 °C, and nozzle 255 °C to 265 °C. Back pressure should be maintained between 0.3 MPa and 0.7 MPa. Screw surface speed for a 25:1 L/D general-purpose screw should be 60 rpm to 100 rpm; higher shear rates can increase melt temperature beyond setpoint and generate gate blush. The shot volume should occupy 40% to 60% of the barrel capacity. At melt temperatures above 280 °C, polycarbonate degradation produces carbon dioxide and gel particles; residence time at 270 °C should not exceed 8 min to 10 min. In hot-runner systems, manifold temperatures should be held at 230 °C to 250 °C, with nozzle tips not exceeding 260 °C. On production-scale toggle and hydraulic machines, clamp force requirements for 0.8 mm to 1.2 mm wall stock typically fall between 1200 kN and 1600 kN depending on projected area and flow length.

Impact retention in 0.8 mm thin-wall flow paths

For thin-wall electronic enclosures and automotive interior brackets, the limiting property is often not room-temperature toughness but the loss of notched Charpy energy at sub-ambient temperature when weld lines are formed after long flow paths. Mould-filling simulation should be used to position weld lines away from snap-fit features. Gate freeze-off time is shortened when melt volume rate is above 18 cm³/10 min, allowing packing to decline before the gate seals; this produces sink marks and reduced dimensional stability. In 0.8 mm flow paths, a melt temperature near 260 °C and an injection speed of 100 mm/s to 180 mm/s at the screw are class-typical starting values. Tool temperature should be 60 °C to 90 °C; lower mould temperatures improve cycle time but reduce knit-line strength and increase moulded-in stress. For automotive knee bolster carriers and centre console brackets, published application requirements sometimes specify a notched Charpy value at -30 °C above 15 kJ/m² and a heat deflection temperature above 100 °C at 1.80 MPa. CS9000 should be evaluated against the actual certificate before these load cases are accepted.

Flame-retardant enclosure substitution creates different failure modes

CS9000 must not be assumed to replace a flame-retardant PC/ABS in enclosures that require UL 94 V-0 at 1.5 mm or 0.8 mm. An unfilled PC/ABS without a documented yellow card may fail glow-wire flammability testing under IEC 60695-2-12:2021 or needle-flame testing under IEC 60695-11-5:2016. Conversely, replacing a mineral-filled PC/ABS with CS9000 in load-bearing brackets introduces a flexural modulus reduction from the filled range of approximately 3000 MPa to 4000 MPa to the unfilled range of 2100 MPa to 2500 MPa. In that substitution, wall thickness must increase or rib geometry must be redesigned to compensate. Compared with a pure polycarbonate grade, CS9000 is expected to show lower melt viscosity but also lower Vicat softening and lower tensile modulus. Compared with an ABS-only resin, CS9000 is expected to show higher heat resistance and improved notched impact at sub-ambient temperature, but its processing requires more disciplined drying. Against a PC/ASA alloy, CS9000 is expected to exhibit less colour retention under accelerated weathering; ISO 4892-2:2013 or SAE J2527 exposure data should be reviewed before exterior use. For selective electroplating or adhesive bonding, surface polarity of CS9000 mouldings is commonly raised by plasma treatment or chromic acid etching. Cross-cut adhesion should be assessed according to ISO 2409:2013 after conditioning for 24 h at 23 °C and 50% relative humidity. Painted parts require a solvent wipe with isopropanol followed by forced-air drying before a two-component polyurethane topcoat is applied; annealing at 80 °C for 30 min before aggressive coating or electroplating steps can reduce solvent-induced stress cracking.