The effects of APP, APP/MMT nanocomposites on the thermal degradation of ABS resin

The thermal degradation of acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (ABS) added ammonia polyphosphate (APP) or APP/montmorillonite (MMT) nanocomposite was studied. The whole degradation progress of ABS could be regarded as the combination of the thermal degradation of polystyrene (PS) and polybutadiene (PB). The PB influences the formation of char while PS influences the maximum mass loss rate and its decomposition temperature. APP or APP/MMT nanocomposite could decrease the maximum mass loss rate and promotes the formation of char. A SiO₂ network was formed on the char surface of the ABS-APP/MMT composite which could improve the strength of the char and flame retardancy of ABS. It was found that when APP/MMT mixture or APP/MMT nanocomposite are added to ABS, NH₃ (the gas product of APP) was buried in the residue and released until full degradation of ABS. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2014, 131, 40704.