PC/ABS supplier: grades for automotive interiors and electronics housings
The usual alloy for automotive interiors and electronics housings. PC/ABS combines polycarbonate toughness and heat resistance with ABS processability. We source standard, FR and plating grades.
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
- Very good
- Heat (HDT @ 1.8 MPa)
- ~85–110°C (FR grades at the low end)
- Clarity
- Opaque
At a glance
- Form
- Pellets
- Order size
- One gaylord to a truckload
- Grades
- General-purpose blends · Flame-retardant grades · High-heat automotive grades · Plating and paint grades
- Paperwork
- Supplier COA on every prime lot
- Ships to
- U.S. and Canada
- Sourcing
- Matched to your spec
The short answer
PC/ABS is the go-to for opaque housings and interior trim that need more toughness and heat than ABS but easier molding than straight polycarbonate. Pick it for painted or plated parts, thin-wall electronics enclosures and FR housings. The thing that most often goes wrong is drying: PC/ABS needs polycarbonate-level dryness, and wet or overheated material shows up as splay, peeling or brittle parts.
Grades we source
Tap a grade to add it to your quote request.
About PC/ABS Blend
Blending PC and ABS gives a material tougher and more heat-resistant than ABS, but easier-flowing and more economical than straight polycarbonate. It molds thin walls cleanly, takes paint and plating well, and flame-retardant grades dominate electronics enclosures.
Common applications
- Automotive interior trim and bezels
- Electronics enclosures and housings
- Laptop and device chassis
- Appliance housings
- Power-tool bodies
Typical properties
| Impact strength | Very good |
|---|---|
| Heat (HDT @ 1.8 MPa) | ~85–110°C (FR grades at the low end) |
| Clarity | Opaque |
| Chemical resistance | Moderate |
| Relative cost | 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.
Full data sheet values: PC/ABS properties
Which grade to ask for
The PC content sets the heat and toughness; the additive package sets everything else.
| Grade type | Use it for | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|
| General-purpose blend | Device housings, bezels, consumer products | Heat deflection varies with PC content; compare data sheets, not names |
| Flame-retardant (often halogen-free) | Electronics enclosures, chargers, IT equipment | Lower heat deflection than non-FR grades; some grades leave mold deposits |
| High-heat, higher-PC grades | Automotive interior parts near sun load or heat | Needs higher melt and mold temperatures; less forgiving to mold |
| Plating grades | Chrome-plated trim, knobs and badges | Plating adhesion depends on molded-in stress and surface; moisture causes blisters |
| Low-gloss interior grades | Unpainted automotive interior trim | Gloss changes with mold temperature and texture; approve on the real tool |
| Glass-filled | Stiff frames and structural housings | Less impact and more warp than unfilled; surface finish suffers |
Typical starting points. Grades vary, so confirm on the data sheet for the exact grade.
Processing notes
- Drying. Dry at about 100–110°C / 212–230°F for 2–4 hours, or 4–6 hours for regrind and filled grades. Published targets are 0.02% and 0.04%; aim for 0.02%. See the drying chart for other resins.
- Melt temperature. About 240–280°C / 464–536°F. Running hotter risks degrading the blend. Keep residence to about 4–6 minutes.
- Mold temperature. About 49–99°C / 120–210°F. Warmer molds improve gloss and lower stress on painted and plated parts.
- Shrinkage. About 0.5–0.9% and close to the same in both directions. Glass-filled grades are about 0.15–0.35% along flow and 0.30–0.50% across.
- Regrind. Many molders run 15–25% same-grade regrind. Dry it longer than virgin and watch impact, splay and color.
- Most common defect. Splay, and peeling or delamination near the gate from high shear, overheating or contamination with an incompatible resin. See splay and delamination.
What to put on the purchase order
- Heat deflection you need at 1.8 MPa, since it tracks PC content and varies about 85–110°C across grades.
- Melt flow with the test temperature and load from the data sheet. Producers use different conditions, so compare like with like.
- Flame rating with thickness and color, and whether halogen-free is required. UL recognition is grade-specific and color-specific; check the grade’s listing on UL Product iQ.
- End use: plating, painting or molded-in color, so the right grade family is quoted.
- Color and gloss level, with the texture if it is an interior part.
- Customer specs (automotive material specs, low-emission or odor requirements) by number, so a polymer chemist can match the approved grade.
- COA values to check: melt flow, and impact where reported. Ask for moisture-barrier packaging.
When to consider something else
- If you need a clear part or more heat, look at PC vs. PC/ABS.
- If the part runs cool and cost matters most, look at ABS.
- If the part lives outdoors in sunlight unpainted, look at ASA or ASA/PC on the ASA / SAN page.
- If the part sees aggressive cleaners or disinfectants, look at plastics for medical device housings.
Common questions
What is PC/ABS used for?
Mostly automotive interior trim, electronics and IT enclosures, laptop and device housings, appliance housings and power-tool bodies. It is chosen when ABS is not tough or heat resistant enough but straight polycarbonate is harder to mold or costs more than the part needs.
Does PC/ABS need to be dried?
Yes. Dry at about 100–110°C / 212–230°F for 2–4 hours, or 4–6 hours for regrind and filled grades, and aim for 0.02% moisture. The polycarbonate phase breaks down if molded wet, so parts can lose impact without looking different.
Why is my PC/ABS part peeling near the gate?
Peeling or flaking usually comes from very high shear at the gate, overheated melt, or contamination with another resin that does not mix with the blend. Check melt temperature, gate size and purge practice, and make sure no other material is getting into the hopper or regrind.
Is PC/ABS flame retardant?
Standard PC/ABS grades are typically HB. Flame-retardant grades are common, often UL 94 V-0 at about 1.5 mm, and many are halogen-free. The rating is grade-, color- and thickness-specific, so check the exact grade on UL Product iQ.
Tell us the PC/ABS Blend 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
Send the PC/ABS grade on your spec
Send the grade, flame rating and color you need, and a polymer chemist returns a matched PC/ABS blend 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.