ASA / SAN supplier: weatherable and clear styrenics
Styrenics with a specialty: ASA is the weatherable ABS alternative that keeps color and gloss outdoors; SAN offers clarity, stiffness and chemical resistance at low cost.
One gaylord to a truckload · A polymer chemist reviews every quote · Every prime lot from our suppliers ships with a COA
Updated October 2026
Request a Quote- Impact strength
- ASA: good · SAN: low
- Heat (HDT)
- ~85-100°C
- Clarity
- SAN: transparent · ASA: opaque
At a glance
- Form
- Pellets
- Order size
- One gaylord to a truckload; bulk by arrangement
- Grades
- ASA general-purpose and FR · ASA/PC blends for higher heat · SAN clear grades
- Paperwork
- Supplier COA on every prime lot
- Ships to
- U.S. and Canada
- Sourcing
- Matched to your spec
The short answer
ASA is the pick for unpainted outdoor parts that need to keep color and gloss for years, such as exterior trim, siding and marine parts. SAN is a clear, stiff, low-cost resin for indoor parts that need better chemical resistance than polystyrene. The thing that most often goes wrong with ASA is color: dark parts run hot in the sun, and color can shift from lot to lot. SAN is brittle, so it cracks if treated like a tough plastic.
Grades we source
Tap a grade to add it to your quote request.
About ASA / SAN
ASA swaps ABS’s weather-sensitive rubber for acrylate rubber, giving years of outdoor UV stability without painting, ideal for exterior parts. SAN is rigid, transparent and more chemical-resistant than PS, filling the gap between commodity clarity and acrylic.
Common applications
- Exterior automotive trim and mirrors
- Siding, fencing and outdoor building products
- Marine and RV components
- Small appliance parts (SAN)
- Cosmetic packaging (SAN)
Typical properties
| Impact strength | ASA: good · SAN: low |
|---|---|
| Heat (HDT) | ~85-100°C |
| Clarity | SAN: transparent · ASA: opaque |
| Chemical resistance | Good |
| Relative cost | Low-moderate |
Property ranges are general guidance and vary by grade and supplier; a polymer chemist confirms the exact spec against the data sheet and certificate of analysis for your application.
Which grade to ask for
First decide whether the part is outdoors (ASA) or clear and indoors (SAN), then match the grade to the process.
| Grade type | Use it for | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|
| ASA general-purpose injection | Exterior trim, mirror housings, outdoor equipment parts | Dark colors in sun run hot; check heat deflection against real surface temperature |
| ASA capstock / coextrusion | Thin weathering cap layer over ABS or PVC sheet and profile | Cap thickness and adhesion to the substrate decide service life |
| ASA/PC blends | Outdoor parts that need more heat and impact | Higher melt temperature and drying needs than straight ASA |
| ASA flame-retardant | Outdoor electrical enclosures | Fewer grades; rating is thickness- and color-specific |
| SAN clear general-purpose | Appliance parts, housewares, cosmetic packaging, tumblers | Brittle; sharp corners and stressed bosses crack |
| SAN glass-filled | Stiff, dimensionally stable parts | Opaque; impact stays low |
Typical starting points. Grades vary, so confirm on the data sheet for the exact grade.
Processing notes
- Drying. ASA: about 80–90°C / 176–194°F for 2–6 hours, to about 0.04–0.1% depending on the producer, with a cumulative maximum of about 12 hours. SAN: about 80°C / 176°F for 2–4 hours, to about 0.04–0.08%. See the drying chart for other resins.
- Melt temperature. ASA about 240–280°C / 464–536°F. SAN about 220–260°C / 428–500°F.
- Mold temperature. Both about 40–80°C / 104–176°F. Warmer molds help gloss on ASA and reduce stress in SAN.
- Shrinkage. ASA is about 0.5% along flow and 0.9% across, so it is not as even as it looks on a range chart. SAN is about 0.3–0.7%; 35% glass SAN is about 0.1%.
- Regrind. Many molders start at about 15–25% same-grade regrind. With ASA, watch color and gloss; with clear SAN, watch specks and tint.
- Most common defect. ASA: color and gloss variation between lots or with process changes. SAN: cracking at stressed features. See color inconsistency and brittle parts.
What to put on the purchase order
- Resin: ASA, ASA/PC or SAN, and injection, sheet or capstock grade.
- Color by code or plaque, with gloss level and the color tolerance you accept between lots.
- Weathering data your customer requires, by test method and exposure hours, and ask what the producer can document for that grade.
- Melt flow with the test temperature and load printed on the data sheet.
- Heat deflection, especially for dark colors in direct sun.
- SAN tint and clarity: natural SAN can have a slight tint, so state if it must match an existing part.
- Food contact for SAN housewares: ask for the producer’s FDA letter for the exact grade.
When to consider something else
- If the part is indoors and cost matters, look at ABS vs. ASA.
- If a clear part needs better optics and weathering than SAN, look at acrylic.
- If a clear part must survive impact, look at clear polycarbonate.
- To compare outdoor options, see plastics for outdoor use.
Common questions
What is the difference between ASA and SAN?
SAN is a clear, stiff, brittle copolymer of styrene and acrylonitrile. ASA is SAN toughened with acrylate rubber, which makes it opaque, tougher and very good outdoors. Use SAN for clear indoor parts and ASA for colored outdoor parts.
Is ASA UV resistant?
Yes. ASA keeps its color, gloss and impact outdoors far better than ABS because its acrylate rubber does not break down in sunlight the way butadiene does. Results still depend on color and grade, so ask for weathering data on the grade you plan to use.
Can ASA be painted or plated?
ASA can be painted, though it usually does not need paint outdoors. Electroplating is common on ABS but not typical on ASA, because standard plating processes are built around ABS's butadiene rubber.
Is SAN the same as acrylic?
No. SAN is a styrene copolymer; acrylic is PMMA. Both are clear and rigid. Acrylic is clearer and weathers much better. SAN usually costs less and resists some household chemicals better than polystyrene, so it is common in housewares and appliance parts.
Tell us the ASA / SAN grade you run now
A polymer chemist reviews every request, then matches your grade or finds a qualified equivalent and prices it.
What to send for an accurate quote
- The grade name, from any supplier, or a data sheet
- Color (natural, black or a custom match)
- Fill type and percentage, if any
- Melt flow, if you know it
- Quantity for this order and what you use in a year
- Ship-to city and state or province
Tell us if the part lives outdoors
Send the ASA or SAN grade, color and volume, and a polymer chemist returns a matched grade and a quote.
Request a QuoteNot sure which grade to ask for?
Send the grade you run now, or describe the part. A polymer chemist reviews every request.