One of the most challenging parts of designing any kind of products is thinking about what materials to use. There are just so many options out there. You need to consider the properties and performance. It is also important to think about finishing and whether they allow things like the application of foil. There is no point considering things like foiling services if you want to use a material that won’t allow it.
Two interesting materials that you can apply foil to are ASA and ABS. Both are synthetic plastics, made by combining monomers to create a polymer. We want to take a closer look at them today to explore the differences. Then, if you need a service to add foil to them, we can provide it.
ABS
To start, let’s look at Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene. These are actually the names of the three monomers that make up the polymer. They are combined using heat and pressure.
ABS is an interesting material. It has impressive hardness, rigidity, waterproofing, chemical resistance, and electrical insulation. In addition, it is easy to work with. You can even choose it for modern processes like 3D printing.
ASA
Now we’ll look at Acrylonitrile Styrene Acrylate. Again those are the names of the monomers that create the polymer. As you can see, two are the same as ABS. The difference is the inclusion of acrylic instead of butadiene.
The interesting thing here is ASA was created specifically as an alternative to ABS. As a result, it has a number of advantages. Most notably, it is more flexible, harder, and has more impressive weather resistance. It also resists ageing and yellowing, so it can last longer.
What to think about?
As we said, the great thing is you can choose foiling services for both ASA and ABS. But, how do you decide which plastic to select?
What you need to do here is look closely at what you need from the material. If you need superior water and UV resistance, a higher melting temperature, and a material with more impact and compressive resistance, you should choose ASA.
It is also a good idea to choose ASA if you are thinking about 3D printing. While ABS can work for it, there is a higher risk of warping and shrinkage. So, using the alternative can produce more precise printed products.
ABS can be a great choice for a number of products, including automotive parts, building materials, and electronics. ASA is usually chosen for outdoor products and specialist industrial goods that need higher chemical resistance.
Do you want to arrange foiling services?
Whether you choose ABS or ASA, if you want to add decorative elements you can opt for foiling. We have plenty of experience with it, ensuring we can deliver the perfect results for clients. Crucially, you can choose from a massive selection of foils to get the look you want. We can even offer suggestions to help you get the perfect design.
So, if you need foiling services, speak to us. We’d love to arrange something for you.