What Is an ABS Figurine?
ABS figurines are plastic toy figurines made from ABS plastic. ABS material, as another widely used type of plastic, is a synthetic resin material and is a ternary copolymer of acrylonitrile (A), butadiene (B), and styrene (S), just like merging the superpowers of three materials: acrylonitrile provides hardness, butadiene increases toughness, and styrene brings glossiness. This golden combination makes ABS a favorite in the toy world—impact-resistant LEGO bricks, Transformers that don’t deform no matter how many times they fall, and the popular toy figure Bearbrick are all made from ABS. ABS has high hardness and toughness, making the figurines produced with it have good dimensional stability, maintaining a high degree of size consistency, and being able to withstand high temperatures, low temperatures, impact, and abrasion, combined with being non-toxic, this essentially determines its position in high-end plastic toy brands.
Common materials for collectible action figure mainly include PVC and ABS. PVC is soft and delicate, suitable for expressing skin texture and detailed painting, has high color restoration, and is less likely to yellow when placed for a long time; while ABS is harder and is often used for parts requiring structural strength, such as movable joints or weapon accessories. The combination of the two can balance aesthetics and durability, which is a commonly used method for high-end figurines.
Why do toys love using ABS?
1. It does not contain harmful substances such as bisphenol A and meets safety requirements for toy products.
2. In drop tests, ABS figures can withstand free falls from a height of 1.5 meters over 50 times.
3. The surface is dense and non-porous, easily cleaned of stains, preventing bacterial hiding.
4. It is naturally suitable for dyeing, able to produce various effects from macaron colors to fluorescent colors.
How to tell if a figurine is ABS:
• Listen to the sound: The sound produced is crisp with a metallic feel, unlike the dull sound of ordinary plastic.
• Look at the details: The edges are smooth with no burrs, and the seams are tight with no overflowed material.
• Test the feel: The surface has a slight waxy feel; it will turn white if bent forcefully but does not crack.
• Check the label: Genuine products will label 'ABS' material, and some may have a triangular recycling logo.