Flame Retardant System for Acrylonitrile-Butadiene-Styrene (ABS) Polymer Blended with Montmorillonite Clay via Melt Processing
Date
2002-08
Authors
Li, Rui
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Abstract
This research focused on modification of acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (ABS)
polymer with montmorillonite (MMT) clay, a non-halogenated additive, to enhance fire
retardancy. ABS is a primary component of plastic computer housings, and formulation
of a non-halogenated fire retardant in ABS would allow the original equipment
manufacturers (OEMs) to recycle the plastic housing in compliance with a pending
European ban on halogenated additives in computers. This study investigated potential
trade-offs between mechanical properties vs fire retardancy of ABS/clay blends. Further,
to understand the morphology of the clay in these blends, we blended five clays with a
model polymer matrix, styrene-acrylonitrile (SAN). We varied the surface modification
of the clay (quaternary ammonium ions) in order to achieve compatibility and therefore
dispersion of the inorganic filler in the melt.
(HE)2MT and/or M2(HT)2-125-modified clay (bishydroxyethyl and dimethyl
dihydrogenated tallow quaternary ammonium ions respectively) showed improvement of
fire retardancy to an ABS system, lowering the peak heat release rate (PHRR). This
reduction in PHRR was a nonlinear function of clay loading. The addition of MMT clay
to SAN matrix and/or ABS system showed an increase in tensile modulus, as well as
decrease in tensile strength. hnpact strength dropped significantly in an ABS system with
the loading of the clay. A small variation in rubber content (±5%) with the same clay
content did not affect fire retardant behavior significantly, but partially restored impact
resistance.
Description
Keywords
Fire resistant polymers, Plastics, Montmorillonite, Fire resistant materials, Clay
Citation
Li, R. (2002). <i>Flame retardant system for acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (ABS) polymer blended with montmorillonite clay via melt processing</i> (Unpublished thesis). Southwest Texas State University, San Marcos, Texas.