The Incredible Hulk of Toys: The Mighty Strength of LEGO® Bricks and the ABS Plastic They Are Made Of…
Have you ever stepped on a LEGO® brick and wondered why these tiny torture devices don’t just crumble under the weight of your expletive-filled step? Or perhaps pondered how that age-old LEGO® set in your attic is still snap-perfect? Dive into the superhero-like strength of the iconic LEGO® brick!
The ABS Advantage: The LEGO® Secret Sauce in Polymer Form
No, ABS isn’t some high-tech shield from a sci-fi flick; it stands for acrylonitrile butadiene styrene. This plastic powerhouse was introduced in 1963, replacing the former and weaker cellulose acetate, and gives LEGO® bricks their resilient muscle, shine, and durability—allowing those bricks in your basement to last a lifetime!
Let’s Break Down Each Aspect of ABS and What It Does:
Acrylonitrile: It is a liquid at room temperature and, by chemical engineering standards, it is seriously volatile! It has a smell similar to the allium family (garlic, onion, shallots) and is not a safe chemical to handle without proper equipment.
Butadiene: A colorless gas that is quite flammable! It is used in the processing and creation of polymers—like rubber and plastic.
Styrene: It is another liquid like acrylonitrile, but instead of smelling like garlic, it smells quite sweet. This compound is also highly dangerous but is utilized to give LEGO® bricks their signature shine.
Now, please note: While all these chemicals are harmful and toxic on their own, together in the LEGO® manufacturing process, they are stable and produce the plastic brick we know and love.
The Future of ABS: LEGO® Goes Green by 2032
Here’s where things get exciting—LEGO® is actively transforming its plastic formula to replace fossil fuel-based ABS with renewable and recycled materials, aiming for all products to be fully sustainable by 2032. Using a “mass balance” approach, they’re integrating bio-based and recycled waste materials (including cooking oil!) into their production without sacrificing those 60-year-old durability standards we’ve come to rely on. As of early 2024, 30% of the ABS plastic used is already certified sustainable. They’ve also introduced bio-polyethylene made from sugarcane for softer, plant-like pieces. The new formula costs more to produce, but retail prices haven’t increased—and every new brick still connects perfectly with bricks made decades ago. That’s superhero-level commitment to quality and the planet!
A Snap and Shine More Powerful Than Thanos
Every superhero has its power, and for LEGO®, it’s the signature “snap” of the little plastic brick. This patented interlocking connection of studs and holes means LEGO® bricks snap together with a grip LEGO® Spider-Man would envy. The force of friction keeps our bricks stuck together—held so firmly that sometimes you need a brick separator to get them apart.
And that shine—from a new set with brightly colored pieces, that iconic shine is incredible when you first unbox a set.
LEGO® Might Be Able to Support the Infinite Weight of Mjölnir
While we haven’t tried handing Mjölnir to a LEGO® Minifigure, a 2×2 brick can bear a staggering 432 kg (950 lbs). That’s like stacking 375,000 bricks into a tower reaching 3.5 km high before the bottom brick even thinks about giving up.
So how was this discovered? Scientists applied 4,240 newtons of force to the 2×2 plastic brick until it finally folded. To give you a more reality-based perspective, that’s the weight of an African elephant!
ABS Plastic Defies the Tests of Time
Like Captain America refusing to age with his super soldier serum injection, LEGO® sets can be passed down generations without losing their snap due to the granules and molds of the ABS. These bricks defy time, offering endless boxes of LEGO® to be passed down in families like a rite of passage.
LEGO® vs. Temperature and the Sun
Though prolonged sunbathing might give a LEGO® brick UV-fade (color fade), these bricks are generally indestructible in the face of Mother Nature. Built to last from the ABS, as long as they don’t receive prolonged exposure to the elements, they should be OK.
Water can be a different story, and while some LEGO® pieces can make for a nice aquarium design, getting LEGO® wet can cause them to grow mold—yuck!
ABS for a Lifetime Brick Saga
LEGO® strength is the result of literal decades of planning, experimenting, and testing a formula that lasts forever but is safe to be around all ages. LEGO® stands tall, not just as a toy, but as the ultimate symbol of playing well together.
Next time you wince from that unexpected LEGO® piece you step on and howl, remember: you’ve just stepped on a piece that can support the weight of an elephant!
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