The Main Reason for the Aging of ABS Plastic

2026-03-26

ABS plastic is comprehensively affected by various environmental factors when exposed to natural conditions. Among these, oxygen is the primary factor responsible for initiating the aging process in ABS plastic. Light and heat serve as accelerating factors that significantly speed up the degradation process, with light demonstrating a slightly stronger accelerating effect than heat. ABS plastic exhibits a marked tendency toward yellowing when exposed to the natural atmosphere over time. This yellowing phenomenon is primarily attributed to the isolated double bonds present in the polybutadiene component within the ABS molecular structure. These unsaturated bonds react with oxygen to form hydroperoxides, which subsequently trigger the degradation of the styrene-acrylonitrile (SAN) phase. This degradation pathway leads to the formation of chromophoric groups, such as carbonyl compounds, along the molecular chain.

The energy of light is inversely proportional to its wavelength—the shorter the wavelength, the greater the energy content. When comparing the dissociation energies of various organic compound bonds with the ultraviolet light energy present in sunlight, it becomes evident that ultraviolet radiation possesses sufficient energy to initiate and propagate the aging and degradation of polymer materials. In summary, within the natural environment, oxygen acts as the principal causative factor in the aging of ABS plastics, while light and heat function as accelerants that intensify the degradation process. The yellowing characteristic of ABS plastic results directly from these internal compositional changes occurring under the influence of oxidative conditions.

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+8618002579887

mk1@samtion.com

The Main Reason for the Aging of ABS Plastic

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