Alexei Volkov
LEGO bricks are made from Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene, or ABS plastic. This is a thermoplastic consisting of a styrene monomer with the addition of an acrylonitrile monomer and a butadiene monomer. The butediene component is responsible for the plastic's strength and impact resistance. While ABS is the most well-known plastic used by LEGO, the company actually uses a wide variety of plastics, including Polyamide, MABS, Polypropylene, and Thermoplastic Polyurethane.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Full Form | Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene |
| Chemical Formula | (C8H8)x·(C4H6)y·(C3H3N)z |
| Melting Point | 105 °C |
| Type | Thermoplastic |
| Consistency | Consists of a styrene monomer with the addition of an acrylonitrile monomer and a butadiene monomer |
| Introduced by Lego | 1963 |
| Other Plastics Used by Lego | MABS, PA, Polyoxymethylene, Polypropylene, Thermoplastic Polyurethane, Styrene-Ethylene-Butylene-Styrene, Thermoplastic Polyester, HIPS, Polyamide, etc. |
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What You'll Learn
- Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene (ABS) is the plastic used in most modern Lego elements
- ABS is a thermoplastic consisting of a styrene monomer with the addition of an acrylonitrile monomer and a butadiene monomer
- Lego introduced ABS in 1963 and fully phased out cellulose acetate (CA) by 1970
- CA is a moderately hard thermoplastic that softens when heated and hardens when cooled
- Lego uses a wide variety of plastics, including Polyamide, Polypropylene, and Thermoplastic Polyurethane
Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene (ABS) is the plastic used in most modern Lego elements
Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene, commonly abbreviated as ABS, is the plastic used in most modern Lego elements. ABS is a thermoplastic that consists of a styrene monomer with the addition of an acrylonitrile monomer and a butadiene monomer. The butadiene component, a synthetic rubber used mainly in tyres, is largely responsible for the strength and impact resistance of the plastic.
The first Lego bricks, which were created in 1949, were made from cellulose acetate (CA), a moderately hard thermoplastic. CA has a very glossy, vibrant colour and good transparency, but it doesn't hold its colour over time and tends to warp. Lego switched to ABS in 1963, citing the need for a plastic that was more stable, more impact-resistant, and more colourfast. During the transition period, some sets contained both CA and ABS elements. By 1966 in Europe and 1970 in North America, Lego had fully phased out CA.
Over the years, Lego has continued to experiment with different types of plastics, using the most suitable material for each type of element. For example, base plates are designed with a plastic called HIPS (High Impact Polystyrene), which is impact-resistant and can serve as a support for ABS. Gears and some connectors are made with polyamide (nylon), a strong plastic that holds up against high impact. Transparent parts, such as windshields and lightsaber blades, are made with MABS (Methylmethacrylate Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene), a cousin of ABS that allows for transparency.
While ABS is the most well-known plastic used by Lego, the company utilises a wide variety of plastics to create their products, each chosen for its specific mechanical and aesthetic advantages.
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ABS is a thermoplastic consisting of a styrene monomer with the addition of an acrylonitrile monomer and a butadiene monomer
Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene (ABS) is a thermoplastic polymer. It is a terpolymer, which means it is made up of three monomers: acrylonitrile, butadiene, and styrene. These monomers are combined through a process called polymerization, where styrene and acrylonitrile are polymerized in the presence of polybutadiene. The proportions of these ingredients can vary, but typically range from 15-35% acrylonitrile, 5-30% butadiene, and 40-60% styrene.
ABS is derived from natural gas and petroleum. Acrylonitrile is a synthetic monomer produced from propylene and ammonia, butadiene is a petroleum hydrocarbon obtained from steam cracking, and styrene monomer is made by dehydrogenation of ethylbenzene, a product of the reaction between ethylene and benzene. ABS is lightweight yet strong, with excellent impact resistance and rigidity. It is also easy to process and can be injection-molded, making it suitable for a wide range of applications.
ABS has a glass transition temperature of approximately 105 °C (221 °F) and does not have a true melting point. It is stable under normal use and polymer processing conditions, but if exposed to temperatures of 400 °C (750 °F), it can decompose into its constituents: butadiene, acrylonitrile, and styrene. These constituents have been linked to adverse health effects, including carcinogenicity in humans.
ABS is commonly used in the automotive industry for parts such as wheel covers, enclosures, and interior car parts. It is also used in the construction industry for plastic tubing and corrugated structures, as well as in the manufacture of protective gear such as hard hats and helmets. ABS is perhaps most recognizable as the plastic used in LEGO bricks, providing the necessary characteristics for the interlocking of these elements, known as Clutch Power.
While ABS has many advantages, it also has some disadvantages, such as a low melting point, poor solvent and fatigue resistance, and high smoke generation when burned. Despite these limitations, ABS remains a popular and cost-effective choice for many applications due to its versatility, strength, and ease of processing.
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Lego introduced ABS in 1963 and fully phased out cellulose acetate (CA) by 1970
Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene, or ABS, is the plastic used in most modern Lego elements. Lego introduced ABS in 1963, switching from cellulose acetate (CA). CA is a moderately hard thermoplastic that softens when heated and hardens when cooled. It has vibrant colours and good transparency, but it doesn't hold its colour over time and tends to warp. Lego bricks made from CA have older logos and are made using older moulds.
ABS, on the other hand, is a thermoplastic that offers high strength and impact resistance. It was developed as part of the war effort in the mid-1940s. As part of the Lego Group's R&D expansion in the late 1950s to early 1960s, a process development lab was started in Billund under the Swiss engineer Hans Schiess. The lab's first major contribution was the switch from CA to ABS.
ABS provided Lego with a plastic that was more stable, more impact-resistant, and more colourfast than CA. It could also be easily injection-moulded to more exacting tolerances. While ABS was introduced in 1963, Lego continued to distribute CA pieces in sets until their existing supply was exhausted. During the transition period, both types of pieces were sold in sets. By 1966 in Europe or 1970 in North America, all CA stockpiles had been depleted, and all sets since have been made exclusively with ABS.
Despite ABS being the most well-known plastic used by Lego, they actually use a wide variety of plastics depending on the use case. For example, base plates are designed with a plastic called HIPS (High Impact Polystyrene), while gears and some connectors are made with Polyamide (nylon).
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CA is a moderately hard thermoplastic that softens when heated and hardens when cooled
Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene (ABS) is the plastic used in most modern Lego elements. Its chemical formula is (C8H8)x·(C4H6)y·(C3H3N)z, and it has a melting point of about 105 °C. ABS is a thermoplastic consisting of a styrene monomer with the addition of an acrylonitrile monomer and a butadiene monomer. The butadiene component, a synthetic rubber used in tires, is responsible for the strength and impact resistance of the plastic.
Prior to the adoption of ABS, Lego used cellulose acetate (CA), a moderately hard thermoplastic that softens when heated and hardens when cooled. CA can have very glossy, vibrant coloration and good transparency, but it doesn't hold its colour over time as well as other plastics. It also has a tendency to warp, which can cause issues with compatibility with modern bricks. Lego introduced ABS in 1963 and slowly phased out CA over the next several years. Many sets from the 1960s contain both CA and ABS elements. By 1966 in Europe and 1970 in North America, Lego had fully depleted its CA stockpiles and all sets since have exclusively featured ABS.
The switch from CA to ABS was made as part of Lego's R&D expansion in the late 1950s to early 1960s, when a process development lab was started in Billund under the Swiss engineer Hans Schiess. ABS provided a more stable, impact-resistant, and colourfast plastic that could be easily injection-moulded to more exacting tolerances than CA.
In addition to ABS, Lego uses a variety of other plastics depending on the specific application, including HIPS (High Impact Polystyrene) for base plates, PA (Polyamide) for gears and connectors in the Lego Technic range, MABS (Methylmethacrylate Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene) for transparent parts, and MPO (Metallocene Thermoplastic Polyolefin) for flexible elements.
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Lego uses a wide variety of plastics, including Polyamide, Polypropylene, and Thermoplastic Polyurethane
Lego bricks are made from a variety of plastics, with the most common being ABS (acrylonitrile butadiene styrene). This plastic is extremely customizable and is used for most regular bricks. However, Lego uses a range of other plastics for different purposes.
One example is Polyamide, or nylon, which is a strong plastic that can withstand high-impact forces. It is often used for connectors and gears, even in non-Lego machinery, where durability is more important than perfect coloration. Lego has used nylon since the 1960s for flexible vehicle couplings. Modern Technic bricks with pins are dual-molded, with the brick made from ABS and the pin made from Polyamide.
Another type of plastic used by Lego is Polypropylene, which is a moderately hard thermoplastic that softens when heated and hardens when cooled. It can have a very glossy and vibrant colour, as well as good transparency, but it doesn't hold its colour over time as well as other plastics. The very first Lego bricks in 1949 were made from Polypropylene, but over time, it has a tendency to warp and deform.
Lego also uses Thermoplastic Polyurethane (TPU) to make certain parts. This type of plastic is known for its durability and flexibility, making it suitable for applications that require both strength and pliability.
In addition to these plastics, Lego uses polycarbonate for transparent elements and Makrolon polycarbonate for transparent bricks, as ABS cannot be made transparent. Lego designers are forbidden from combining polycarbonate parts in models because they have too much friction when in contact with each other, making them extremely hard to disassemble.
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Frequently asked questions
Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene.
It is a thermoplastic consisting of a styrene monomer with the addition of an acrylonitrile monomer and a butadiene monomer.
ABS plastic is more stable, impact-resistant and colourfast than CA (cellulose acetate).
Lego introduced ABS in 1963 and fully phased out CA by 1970.
CA has a tendency to warp over time, which can cause issues with compatibility with modern bricks. ABS is less prone to warping and offers better clutch power (stickiness to other bricks).
