Acrylonitrile butadiene styrene has excellent mechanical properties. It’s naturally strong and rigid but flexible enough to be highly machinable, and it stays mechanically strong and stable over time. It offers good impact resistance even at low temperatures, good insulating properties, and good abrasion and strain resistance. Additionally, it holds up well in the presence of diluted acids and alkalis. From a design standpoint, parts made with acrylonitrile butadiene styrene plastic are easy to paint and glue and have excellent surface finishes.

The mechanical specifications for generic acrylonitrile butadiene styrene include:

Ultimate tensile strength: 22.1 – 57.0 MPa
Elongation at break: 3.00 – 150 %
Flexural modulus: 0.200 – 5.50 GPa
Izod impact, notched: 8.00 – 48.0 kJ/m²
Hardness, Rockwell R: 68.0 – 118
ABS does have its drawbacks. Even though it has high abrasion and impact resistance, ABS has poor weathering and solvent resistance. Also, acrylonitrile butadiene styrene plastic is prone to stress cracking when it comes into contact with certain greases.

American Lobsters are solitary. Individuals stay among the rocks during the day to avoid predators (mainly cod) and venture out at night in search for food.

Lobsters rarely interact with each other. Studies show that when introduced into a community, lobsters have a social hierarchy. This social system plays a role when mating season comes along. A male who has a higher status among its neighbors will have a secured shelter and will be able to mate with multiple females. A theory as to the mechanisms that maintain this social hierarchy is that the lobsters recognize each other by the chemicals they excrete. A lobster has been show to recognize another lobster with which it has met before for up to two weeks. (Grzimek, 1972; Gulf of Maine Aquarium, 1999; Karavanich and Atema, 1998)