Acrylonitrile–Butadiene–Styrene Terpolymer with Metal Hypophosphites: Flame Retardance and Mechanism Research

Three metal hypophosphites, including aluminum hypophosphite (AP), magnesium hypophosphite (MP), and calcium hypophosphite (CP), were applied to flame retard acrylonitrile–butadiene–styrene (ABS). Thermal stability of three flame-retardant ABS were evaluated, and the enhancement of thermal stability were found. Flammable properties of flame-retardant ABS were investigated by Underwriters Laboratories 94 vertical burning test (UL-94), limit oxygen index (LOI), and cone calorimetry. Results suggested that AP could endow the best flame retardance for ABS with a UL-94 V-0 rating and LOI value of 25.1%. The peak heat release rate of ABS-AP reduced to 174.8 kW/m 2, and the total heat released was decreased to 40.9 MJ/m 2 . Thermogravimetric Fourier transform infrared (TG-FTIR), FTIR, and scanning electron microcsopy–energy-dispersive X-ray spectrometry (SEM-EDX) were used to characterize the gaseous products and condensed residue respectively. Results showed that the flame-retardant mechanism was attributed to the formation of a two-layer protective barrier consisting of an organic P–O–C char layer and an inorganic layer to insulate material from fire and oxygen in the condensed phase, and the generation of P • and PO • to capture the reactive radicals in the vapor phase.