INTRODUCTION
Polymer blends are capable of providing materials which extend the useful properties beyond the range that can be obtained from single polymer equivalents. In PC/ABS the Polycarbonate can contribute towards improvements in strength, dimensional stability, heat distortion temperature and impact performance, whilst the ABS provides processing and cost advantages.
4LOY® is the registered trade name for Polycarbonate/ABS alloy compounds produced by 4PLAS.
This alloy provides a combination of mechanical, thermal and rheological properties. Of particular note is the high impact strength combined with dimensional stability and stiffness.
PROPERTIES
4LOY® compounds offer the following key properties:
- Excellent flammability resistance
- Good electrical properties
- High wear resistance
- Very good surface finish
- Low moisture absorption
- Good mechanical strength
- High tensile modulus
- High dimensional stability - low warpage
- Excellent impact properties, even at low temperature
- Heat resistance - can be used within temperature range -40°C to 120°C
- Good flow and processing properties
PRODUCTS
The 4LOY® Polycarbonate/ABS standard range includes the following products:
- 45% PC : 55% ABS Blend
- 65% PC : 35% ABS Blend
- 85% PC : 15% ABS Blend
- UV/ light stabilised
- Flame retardant including UL listed grades
With the addition of a wide range of modifiers, stabilisers, speciality additives and customised colours, 4LOY® can be compounded as:
- Unreinforced
- Custom solid colours
- Custom ratio blends
- Impact modified
- Glass fibre reinforced
- Flame retardant including UL listed grades
- Heat stabilised
- Lubricated
- Surface modified
- UV/ light stabilised
- Laser markable
- 4TECH®
For individual grades or to search using a wide range of criteria please use our interactive material selector.
Our standard range is comprehensive, however should you not find what you are looking for within the data available on this website, we offer Custom Compounds to suit the requirements of specific applications.
If you would like advice on selecting suitable materials, or you cannot find what you are looking for, please contact us and one of our team will be pleased to assist you.
PACKAGING
4LOY® grades are supplied in pellet form and packed in moisture proof 25kg bags. Other forms of packaging such as octabins and big-bags are also available.
DRYING
For PC/ABS compounds, moisture content should be less than 0.02% before processing. Moisture causes immediate hydrolytic degradation during processing, therefore 4LOY® grades should be dried at 110°C for 2 to 4 hours.
It is highly recommended that drying is conducted using desiccant driers. The performance of the desiccant drier depends on the dew point that indicates air moisture content. In order to obtain sufficient drying dew point values should be set below -20°C.
As the atmospheric humidity levels cannot be controlled the use of air circulating ovens or driers are not recommended.
PROCESSING
4LOY® compounds can be processed on all commercial injection moulding machinery.
It is necessary to have precise temperature control for processing PC/ABS compounds. The temperature of the nozzle is also very important in order to avoid thermal loss or overheating.
Short open nozzles are recommended to reduce shear. In general nozzle diameters should be 3 to 6mm.
For more information on this product, see our processing guides, troubleshooting guides and chemical resistance charts.
RECYCLING
Regrind levels up to 25% can be used depending on the application and requirements. However, for flame retardant grades a maximum 10% addition rate is recommended. Regrind should be free of contamination, should not be thermally degraded and must be dry as moulded, or be dried prior to reuse.
SAFETY
Under normal conditions 4LOY® is not a toxic or hazardous material. During processing preventative action should be taken to avoid direct contact with the polymer melt or inhalation of any gases produced. Processing temperatures above 320°C should be avoided. Detailed safety information can be found in our material safety data sheets (MSDS).