The investigation of intumescent flame-retarded ABS using zinc borate as synergist

The influence of zinc borate (ZB) on the flammability and thermal properties of acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene copolymer (ABS)/ammonium polyphosphate (APP)/poly(p-ethylene terephthalamide) (PETA) system was investigated. When the loadings of ABS, APP, PETA, and ZB were 70, 20.8, 6.9, and 2.3 %, respectively, the LOI value reached 36 and UL-94 vertical burning test was V-0. Even when 1.5 % ZB was added into ABS/APP/PETA (80/13.9/4.6) system, the LOI value was also 27. The thermal degradation of the composites was investigated by means of thermogravimetric analysis (TG) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). The TG indicated that the addition of ZB improved the thermal stability and the char residue of the ABS/APP/PETA system. What's more, the mechanism was investigated by FTIR. The spectrum of flame retardant residue suggested that ZB reacted with APP/PETA physically. Additionally, scanning electron microscopy showed that the surface of intumescent charred layer obtained after combustion of ABS/APP/PETA/ZB (70/20.8/6.9/2.3) was compact and thick.