Haircell ABS

Haircell ABS – Textured, Impact-Resistant Sheet for Thermoforming and Fabrication

Haircell ABS (Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene) is a tough, thermoformable plastic sheet with a distinctive fine textured surface finish that hides scratches and fingerprints. Associated Plastics Tasmania supplies haircell ABS sheet for vacuum forming, equipment cases, automotive trim, and general fabrication applications.

What Is ABS?

ABS is an engineering-grade thermoplastic that combines the strength of acrylonitrile, the toughness and impact resistance of butadiene rubber, and the processing ease of styrene. It is one of the most widely used plastics in manufacturing, found in everything from car dashboards to luggage shells.

The “haircell” designation refers to the fine, leather-like textured surface finish applied during manufacturing. This texture serves both aesthetic and practical purposes.

Properties and Benefits

Excellent Impact Resistance

ABS is significantly tougher than polystyrene, offering excellent resistance to impact and mechanical stress. It maintains its toughness at temperatures well below zero, making it reliable in cold conditions.

Haircell Texture

The fine textured surface of haircell ABS provides several advantages: it hides fingerprints, resists visible scratching, provides a non-slip grip surface, and gives a professional, finished appearance without painting or coating.

Outstanding Thermoformability

ABS is one of the easiest plastics to vacuum form, producing sharp detail and consistent results. It draws down well into complex shapes, making it ideal for production vacuum forming of enclosures, trays, and covers.

Easy to Bond and Finish

ABS can be solvent-cemented, glued with various adhesives, painted, plated (chrome plating), and printed. This versatility makes it popular for products requiring a premium finished appearance.

Dimensional Stability

ABS maintains its shape and dimensions well across normal temperature ranges, with minimal warping or distortion.

Available Options

We stock haircell ABS in thicknesses from 1mm to 6mm in black and white. Other colours and smooth-surface ABS may be available on request. Standard sheet sizes are 2440 x 1220mm.

Common Applications

Vacuum Forming

ABS is the premier material for production vacuum forming. Equipment housings, appliance covers, vehicle interior panels, kiosk enclosures, and medical device housings are commonly vacuum-formed from ABS sheet.

Equipment Cases and Enclosures

Tool cases, instrument cases, flight cases, and equipment enclosures frequently use ABS for its impact resistance, rigidity, and professional appearance. The haircell texture provides a durable, scuff-resistant surface.

Automotive Trim

Dashboard components, door panels, console surrounds, and trim pieces are commonly thermoformed or fabricated from ABS. The material can be chrome-plated for decorative automotive applications.

Protective Covers

Machine covers, safety guards, and protective enclosures fabricated from ABS provide impact protection while allowing complex shapes to be achieved through thermoforming.

Luggage and Travel Cases

Hard-shell luggage, travel cases, and equipment transport cases commonly use vacuum-formed ABS shells for their combination of light weight, impact resistance, and formability.

Haircell vs Smooth ABS

• Haircell – textured surface hides scratches and fingerprints; preferred for exposed surfaces, cases, and equipment enclosures
• Smooth – flat surface suitable for painting, plating, printing, or applications where texture is not desired

Our ABS Services

• CNC Cutting – precision routing to your dimensions
• Cut-to-Size – saw cutting for simple rectangular pieces
• Drilling – precision hole drilling

Why Choose Associated Plastics Tasmania?

• Stock of haircell ABS in popular thicknesses
• Cut-to-size service with fast turnaround
• Expert advice on material selection and thermoforming
• Competitive pricing
• Delivery across Tasmania and Australia-wide

Frequently Asked Questions

Can ABS be used outdoors?

Standard ABS is not UV-stable and will degrade with prolonged outdoor UV exposure (yellowing and becoming brittle). For outdoor applications, UV-stabilised ABS or alternative materials like ASA (which is UV-stable) are recommended. Contact us to discuss your application.

Is ABS food safe?

Standard ABS is not typically certified for direct food contact. For food-related applications, we recommend food-grade HDPE, polypropylene, or specific food-grade acrylic. Contact us for material recommendations.

Can you thermoform ABS for me?

We supply ABS sheet cut to size for thermoformers. We do not offer thermoforming services directly but can recommend thermoforming companies and provide material in the sizes you require.

Need ABS sheet? Contact Associated Plastics Tasmania for supply and cutting.