ABS vs PI (Polyimide): 0% composition overlap. Significantly different materials serving different application areas.
ABS vs PI (Polyimide)
Side-by-side chemical composition and mechanical property comparison.
Overview
ABS
Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene — the most widely used amorphous engineering/commodity thermoplastic. Excellent balance of toughness, rigidity, and processability. Good surface finish and paintability. Not UV-stable without additives. Trade names include Novodur (INEOS Styrolution), Terluran (INEOS), Cycolac (SABIC). Used for automotive interior trim, appliance housings (vacuum cleaners, monitors), LEGO bricks, 3D printing filament, and pipe fittings.
PI (Polyimide)
Polyimide — THE extreme-temperature polymer. Continuous use 250-300°C (short-term to 400°C+). Outstanding thermal stability, low outgassing, excellent radiation resistance, and self-lubricating. Available as film (Kapton, DuPont), parts (Vespel, DuPont), and moldable resin. Expensive but irreplaceable where no other polymer survives. Used for aerospace bearings/seals, semiconductor processing, flexible circuit boards (Kapton), jet engine components, and space applications.
| ABS | PI (Polyimide) | |
|---|---|---|
| Material Number | — | — |
| Category | Polymers | Polymers |
| Standard | ISO 10350 | ASTM D638 |
Chemical composition (wt%) — Pro
| Element | ABS | PI (Polyimide) | Overlap |
|---|---|---|---|
| Acrylonitrile | 15–35% | — | — |
| Butadiene | 5–30% | — | — |
| Styrene | 40–60% | — | — |
| Base Polymer (Polyimide) | — | 99–99.9% | — |
Mechanical properties — Pro
| Property | ABS | PI (Polyimide) | Unit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tensile Strength | 38–50 | 72–120 | MPa |
| Yield Strength | 40–48 | — | MPa |
| Elongation | 10–30 | 7–30 | % |
| Elastic Modulus | |||
| Density | |||
| Glass Transition Temp (Tg) | |||
| Water Absorption (24h) | |||
| Tensile Strength | |||
| Tensile Modulus | |||
| Elongation at Break | |||
| Charpy Impact (notched) | |||
| Density | |||
| HDT/B (0.45 MPa) | |||
| Vicat Softening Temp | |||
| Water Absorption (24h) | |||
| continuous_service_temp |
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ABS and PI (Polyimide) have significantly different compositions (0% overlap). These materials are not interchangeable and serve different application areas.
Automated assessment based on composition analysis
Frequently Asked Questions
Is ABS the same as PI (Polyimide)?
ABS and PI (Polyimide) have a 0% composition overlap. They are generally not directly interchangeable.
Can I replace ABS with PI (Polyimide)?
Generally not recommended. The compositions differ significantly (0% overlap). These materials have different alloying concepts and are intended for different applications.
What is the difference between ABS and PI (Polyimide)?
The main differences are in the following elements: overall alloying content. ABS is a Polymers grade, while PI (Polyimide) is a Polymers grade.
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Data provided for reference only. Always verify against the applicable specification for critical applications.
All data is for reference only. Equivalents indicate similarity, not identity. Always verify against the applicable specification for safety-critical applications. materialref.com accepts no liability for decisions based on this data.