Polycarbonate VS transparent ABS

2026-01-05

1. Summary Comparison of PC and Transparent ABS Materials

Polycarbonate resin pellets, also known as "PC plastic," and methyl methacrylate-acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (MABS) are both highly transparent plastic raw materials, but they differ in properties and applications. This article will compare the two materials from multiple perspectives.
PC resin: Highly transparent engineering plastic with excellent impact strength and heat resistance.
Resina transparente ABS (MABS): ABS modified material, through the incorporation of methyl methacrylate, is a highly transparent plastic raw material characterized by its ease of processing and low cost.

2. Comparison of Key Performance Characteristics

Polycarbonate (PC) Transparent ABS (MABS) 
Light transmittance 88–90% (close to glass) 85–88%（slightly lower）
Impact strength ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Extremely high (bulletproof grade) ⭐⭐⭐ Moderate
Heat Deflection Temperature (HDT)  125–135°C 85–95°C
Dimensional Stability Very good General
Rigidity High  Moderate
Processing difficulty More difficult (requires high temperatures) Easy
Surface Appearance Tending toward a "hard texture" More "soft and decorative"
Chemical resistance General (sensitive to alcohol and solvents) Good
Cost High Relatively low

3. PC vs. Transparent ABS: Differences in Visual Effects

Although polycarbonate (PC resin) and transparent ABS material (MABS) are both highly transparent plastics, the visual effects of the two materials still differ.
polycarbonate sheet

Transparent polycarbonate exhibits a glass-like finish in finished products, maintaining excellent transparency even in thick-walled items with low haze levels. The resulting color tends toward a cool, luminous appearance.

transparent abs sheet

Transparent ABS, owing to its superior tinting properties, is predominantly used in colored products. It yields a softer visual appearance in finished goods and is well-suited for manufacturing everyday consumer items.

The image on the left clearly shows that transparent ABS material maintains transparency comparable to PC plastic in thinner products. However, as thickness increases, the haze of transparent ABS sheets becomes significantly higher, resulting in reduced transparency compared to the transparent PC plastic shown in the previous image.

4. Processing and Production Differences (Key Factors)

Polycarbonate (PC) and transparent ABS (ABS) are both suitable for injection molding processes, but they exhibit significant differences in processing characteristics.
· Polycarbonate resin pellets (PC raw material) have a relatively high melting temperature (280-320°C), requiring heating to this temperature range for proper processing. During processing, PC material is prone to defects such as silver streaks and internal stress, and demands high standards for molds and manufacturing techniques.
· Transparent ABS resin pellets (MABS material) feature a lower processing temperature (refer to general-purpose grade ABS), a wider processing temperature window, and lower technical and process requirements. They are suitable for producing complex, precision, thin-walled products, with a significantly higher yield rate compared to polycarbonate materials.
⚠️ Secondary processing difficulty: When semi-finished products require secondary processing such as spraying, coating, or screen printing, transparent ABS material demonstrates significantly superior processing performance compared to polycarbonate.

5. Typical Applications of PC and Transparent ABS

· Polycarbonate (PC)
  • Transparent Protective Cover
  • Industrial Equipment Viewing Window
  • Automotive Lamp Cover
  • Medical Device Transparent Components
  • High-Strength Transparent Structural Parts
· Transparent ABS (MABS)
  • Cosmetic Packaging
  • Electronic Product Enclosures
  • Decorative Transparent Cases
  • Lampshades

6. Selection of Transparent Plastics

  • Operating temperature >90°C → PC
  • Requires impact resistance and drop protection → PC
  • Requires color matching → Transparent ABS (MABS)
  • Complex structure, thin product walls → Transparent ABS (MABS)
  • Cost-sensitive → Transparent ABS (MABS)

7. Recommended Transparent ABS Material

 

TR 557 MABS produced by LG Chem of South Korea and 920 555 U MABS produced by Toray Chemical of Japan are currently the mainstream transparent ABS materials, widely used in production. However, there are certain differences in their applications.

LG TR557 MABS exhibits strong impact resistance, achieving an Izod impact strength of 170 J/m at 3.2 mm thickness in a 23°C test environment. It maintains a strength of 55 J/m even at extreme temperatures of -30°C. This material is commonly used in applications requiring high impact resistance, such as appliance housings and components.

Toray Toylac 920 555 U Transparent ABS offers high rigidity and dimensional stability, making it ideal for manufacturing precision components.

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