When comparing the merits of ABS vs polycarbonate as suitcase materials, who comes out on top?
From a purely functional perspective, polycarbonate luggage is the best option. While ABS is undoubtedly a tough plastic, polycarbonate has over twice the impact strength. Considering the rough treatment a suitcase experiences throughout a holiday (thrown onto conveyor belts, stacked on luggage carts, dragged up hotel stairs), durability is an invaluable trait. The longevity of polycarbonate suitcases will also save you money over time, as you will be required to replace them less frequently.
Structurally, the elasticity of polycarbonate makes it easy to fix the shell indentations that can naturally form over time. But ABS a rigid material is more likely to crack under pressure. Its also worth noting that ABS is also susceptible to UV radiation, meaning that direct sunlight will cause it to degrade and even take on a yellow hue over time. In contrast, polycarbonate has a high resistance to UV rays.
Weight is another factor where polycarbonate has the edge. You can broadly expect a polycarbonate carry-on case to weigh around 1kg less than an ABS alternative. Thats the equivalent of 5-6 cotton T-shirts certainly not a negligible amount.
If affordability is a key consideration, ABS luggage has the advantage. ABS is relatively easy to manufacture and accordingly cheap: it costs around half the price of polycarbonate. Many brands opt to work with ABS due to the lower cost of production. However, this advantage has to be set against the (often) inferior shelf life of ABS suitcases.
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Having a good and reliable travel suitcase is very important whether you are going on a business trip, vacation, or home to visit your parents. You could be carrying fragile and sensitive items that youd like to arrive in one piece.
For some peace of mind, youll need to compare polypropylene vs polycarbonate vs ABS luggage to find the right one that will best fit your needs. Make it the one that not only fits all your items but also one that will ensure their safety even under rigorous conditions.
Whether you are traveling domestically or internationally, there are several guidelines that you always have to adhere to at the airport. The size and weight of your luggage are the top two that you should pay close attention to unless you dont mind paying a huge additional fee.
Having the right polycarbonate, polypropylene, or ABS luggage for your needs will go a long way in ensuring your checked suitcase is of the right weight.
Polypropylene vs Polycarbonate vs ABS Luggage
Lets take a more detailed look at the differences between these hard-side luggage materials used in making travel suitcases.
ABS stands for Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene, a petroleum byproduct. ABS is a popular luggage material that accounts for almost 30% of hard-side suitcases. ABS is suggested for infrequent travel, as the material is durable but can suffer damage when exposed to high temperatures or rough handling.
ABS LUGGAGE PROS
· Attractive price
· Lightweight
· Rigid
· Water resistant
But be kindly note: it must be raw ABS material, not recycled! Because recycled ABS has bad antioxidant, and easy to break. So PP Luggage vs PC Luggage: Which is right for you?
When comparing polypropylene vs. polycarbonate bags, its important to remember that while polypropylene is lighter, polycarbonate is the sturdier choice. A polycarbonate suitcase may cost more but will offer more rigid protection.
Hardside: Polycarbonate (PC)
Polycarbonate is an extremely tough polyester compound used to make over 40% of hard-side luggage. While heavier than polypropylene and ABS suitcases, polycarbonate bags are flexible and highly resistant to cracks.
POLYCARBONATE PROS
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· Moderately priced
· Strong and durable
· Water resistant
· Flexible
· Crack, scratch, and impact resistant
· Lightweight
POLYCARBONATE CONS
· Not as flexible as soft-side luggage
· Higher price than polypropylene luggage
· More difficult to repair if damaged
· Heavier than polypropylene and ABS bags
Hard Side: Polypropylene (PP)
Polypropylene (PP) is a hard hydrocarbon resin made from propylene, a petroleum byproduct. Polypropylene is a little less rigidity as other hard-side luggage materials, but it does have some advantages:
POLYPROPYLENE LUGGAGE PROS
· Budget-friendly
· Lightest hard-side luggage material
· Well-suited for frequent use
· Chemical and temperature resistant
· Waterproof
· Crack-resistant
POLYPROPYLENE LUGGAGE CONS
· Not as rigid as polycarbonate bags
· The color can degrade when exposed to UV light
At last, after 20 years experiences in manufacturing luggage, I want to say, no matter ABS or PC or PP, the most important is they are virgin material if you want to use them 10 years. But it has too much plastic in our earth, we should not make more plastic. So, will you accept if we use recycled plastic to make them, even the luggage lifetime is only 3 years?
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