Not every industrial electronic enclosure has to be manufactured from diecast aluminum: plastic enclosures are becoming increasingly popular because they’re lighter, more cost-effective and they’re insulated.
The evolution from grimy 20th century workshops to the futuristic smart factories of today has transformed what is required from an industrial electronic enclosure. Yes, these housings still have to be tough. And yes, they still have to offer the right ingress protection – but no, they don’t always have to be metal.
Welcome to the world of ABS, ASA and ASA+PC electronic enclosures…
ABS (Acrylonitrile butadiene styrene) is a two-phase polymer that was for a long time the top choice for plastic enclosures. It’s a good all-rounder – strong, with good scratch resistance, and capable of withstanding low temperatures (-20°C). ABS provides good resistance against impact and also against chemicals. But it is less resilient when exposed to sunlight for prolonged periods. For superior UV-stability, specify ASA instead – or better still, an ASA blend.
PC (Polycarbonate) is a tough thermoplastic polymer used for riot shields, greenhouses, eyewear lenses, Blu-ray disks, DVDs and CDs. It withstands impact but has a low resistance to scratches. Furthermore, it is not recommended for applications involving strong alkalis. Polycarbonate can be used indoors and outdoors (-20°C to 140°C). It has a good resistance to sunlight but an ASA+PC blend is better in this respect.
ASA (Acrylonitrile styrene acrylate, also called Acrylic styrene acrylonitrile) is an amorphous thermoplastic developed as a UV-stable alternative to ABS. Blending ASA with PC adds further strength and resilience. This is the plastic to specify if your enclosures are to be used outdoors. It’s also excellent for indoor use; you’d be surprised how damaging the sun’s rays can be, even inside a building.
Plastic enclosures are generally not as resistant to water ingress as their diecast aluminium counterparts. But they still have good IP ratings, making them a sound, dependable choice for most applications:
Most plastic enclosures are not rated to IP 69K (protection against high pressure steam cleaning) – though our technoPLUS enclosures for outdoor electronics are. Read our guide to IP ratings to find out more about ingress protection: view this page and click on the tab ‘IP Ratings Explained’.
There are five models in our plastic enclosures range – each with their own benefits – to suit a wide range of industrial electronics applications…
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