---
title: "ABS — density, melting point and properties"
description: "ABS has a density of 1,050 kg/m³ (1,030–1,080). Melting point, strength, conductivity, what it is used for, and whether it floats, rusts or is magnetic."
url: https://atoneplace.net/material/abs/
site: "At One Place"
---

# ABS

**Density of ABS: 1,050 kg/m³ (1,030–1,080)**

1.05 g/cm³ · 65.5 lb/ft³

Amorphous, so it has no melting point at all: it softens gradually from about 105 °C, which is exactly what makes it easy to injection mould and to vacuum form. It takes a solvent weld with acetone, which glues, smooths and repairs it in one step — polypropylene and polyethylene will do none of that. It yellows and goes brittle in sunlight unless pigmented or coated, which is why old white ABS console shells turn beige.

## Properties

- **Density:** 1,050 kg/m³ (1,030–1,080) — 1.05 g/cm³
- **Tensile strength:** 30–50 MPa
- **Young's modulus:** 2.3 GPa
- **Thermal conductivity:** 0.17 W/(m·K)
- **Thermal expansion:** 90 µm/(m·K)
- **Floats in water:** No
- **Magnetic:** No

## What it is used for

- Lego bricks and toys
- Car interior trim and wheel covers
- Appliance and power tool housings
- Drain and waste pipe

## How it compares

*Water is 1,000 kg/m³. Anything with a shorter bar than water floats in it.*

- air: 1.2 kg/m³
- expanded polystyrene foam: 20 kg/m³
- rigid polyurethane foam: 40 kg/m³
- Water — the float line: 1,000 kg/m³
- ABS: 1,050 kg/m³
- tungsten: 19,250 kg/m³
- gold: 19,300 kg/m³
- platinum: 21,450 kg/m³

*Water is 1,000 kg/m³. Anything below that floats.*

| Material | Density | Relative to water |
| --- | --- | --- |
| rigid polyurethane foam | 40 kg/m³ | 0.04× |
| expanded polystyrene foam | 20 kg/m³ | 0.02× |
| air | 1.2 kg/m³ | 0.00× |
| ABS ← | 1,050 kg/m³ | 1.05× |
| platinum | 21,450 kg/m³ | 21.45× |
| gold | 19,300 kg/m³ | 19.30× |
| tungsten | 19,250 kg/m³ | 19.25× |

## Does it rust?

ABS contains no iron, so it cannot rust. Whether it degrades depends on the material, not on oxidation.

## Is it magnetic?

ABS is not a metal and has no ferromagnetic response.

## Common questions

### What is the density of ABS?

1,050 kg/m³ (1,030–1,080), or 1.05 g/cm³.

### Does ABS float?

No. At 1,050 kg/m³ it is denser than water.

### Is ABS magnetic?

ABS is not a metal and has no ferromagnetic response.

## Related pages

- [Does ABS float?](https://atoneplace.net/does-it-float/abs/)
- [PLA](https://atoneplace.net/material/pla/)
- [Acrylic (PMMA)](https://atoneplace.net/material/acrylic/)
- [Polycarbonate](https://atoneplace.net/material/polycarbonate/)
- [Polypropylene](https://atoneplace.net/material/polypropylene/)
- [PTFE](https://atoneplace.net/material/ptfe/)
- [Rigid PVC](https://atoneplace.net/material/pvc-rigid/)
- [HDPE](https://atoneplace.net/material/hdpe/)
- [Epoxy resin](https://atoneplace.net/material/epoxy-resin/)

## Sources

- Typical range compiled from manufacturer specifications — At One Place (/about/)