ASA, Acrylonitrile Styrene Acrylate or acrylic styrene acrylonitrile, is an amorphous plastic that, like SAN and ABS, is categorised as a styrene polymer. ASA is excellent for use as a thermoplastic copolymer and for ASA injection moulding of large plastic products.
What is ASA?
ASA is produced by introducing a grafted acrylic ester elastomer during the copolymerisation of styrene and acrylonitrile. The polymer is anti-static, lightweight, hard and impact-resistant. ASA is also resistant to chemicals, heat, UV radiation and weathering. And the extremely high-gloss surface of this thermoplastic requires almost no post-processing.
When can ASA be used?
ASA resembles ABS, but offers more weathering resistance. Due to this property, ASA is widely used in applications that require weatherability, e.g. building cladding, external vehicle panels, or garden furniture. Since ASA is antistatic, the material is extremely suitable for use in housings for electronic devices.
The advantages of ASA
There are many advantages to using ASA. During the production process, additives can easily be introduced to optimise the properties of the finished product. This creates options for producing flame-retardant products, for example. ASA can be welded, including mirror welding or ultrasonic welding, and can also be solvent-welded and glued. This thermoplastic is also excellent for bonding with other thermoplastics. ASA advantages at a glance:
- Excellent weather resistance
- High heat resistance
- Good impact resistance
- Good UV resistance
- Antistatic properties
- Chemical resistance
- High-gloss surface
- Good processability
The uses of ASA include plastic injection moulding of:
- Ventilation systems
- Components for machinery
- Housings for electrical appliances and electronic devices
- Garden furniture and exterior panels
- Suitcases
- Vehicle parts
A few disadvantages of ASA
Beside the many advantages, ASA also has a few disadvantages. ASA has poor tensile strength. Although the material has good resistance to diluted acids, alkalis, petrol, greases, mineral oils and water, it has poor resistance to concentrated mineral acids, aromatic solvents and chlorinated hydrocarbons.
Finishing and assembly
ASA can be delivered in any colour, and you can have your products finished in various ways. See the assembly page for information on finishing and assembly at HSV Technical Moulded Parts, including paintwork, embossing, galvanising, prints and metallising, etc.
What does ASA injection moulding cost?
Would you like to request a cost estimate for ASA injection moulding? Our plastic experts will be happy to quote you an itemised price for the ASA injection moulding of your plastic product, shaped component, housing or parts. Request a plastic QuickScan now. The results of the QuickScan are used to assess the feasibility of your product design and offer you an initial estimate of the costs.
Sustainable production
We need to take good care of the environment. At the HSV Technical Moulded Parts injection moulding company, we consider sustainable production of plastic products to be a matter of course, just like recycling and reusing plastics. ABS is ideal for recycling and reuse. It is perfectly aligned with the circular economy and our organisation’s environmental vision. Read more about our sustainable initiatives.
Injection moulding of large plastic products
HSV Technical Moulded Parts is a specialist in plastic injection moulding for large plastic products. Various thermoplastic polymers are used in injection moulding; one of these is acrylonitrile styrene acrylate (ASA). Would you like advice and information on which thermoplastic is best for the realisation of your plastic product? Request the Plastic QuickScan and receive advice without any obligations.
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