Investigation on phosphorus halogen‐free flame‐retardancy systems in short glass fiber‐reinforced PC/ABS composites under rapid thermal cycle molding process condition

In this study, standard test specimens with flame‐retarded short glass fiber‐reinforced PC/ABS materials were fabricated under rapid thermal cycle injection molding condition by selecting a potassium perfluorobutane sulfonate flame retardant specially used for PC, FR2025, and two kinds of aryl phosphorus halogen‐free flame retardants, UN707 and PX‐220. The flame‐retardancy effect of the above different flame retardants on the studied systems was compared through combustion tests of the specimens. Meanwhile, the thermal and mechanical properties of flame‐retarded composites were studied by using the thermogravimetry analysis, dynamic mechanical thermal analysis (DMTA), and universal testing machine. The results show that the “candlewick effect” of fibers exacerbates the fire behavior of composites. With the increase of the aryl phosphorus halogen‐free flame retardants, the flame‐retardancy effect of composites is obviously improved, and the maximum thermal degradation rate of composites is significantly decreased. The UL94 combustion rating is improved, and the time of residual flame is substantially reduced with the increase of PC content under the same content of flame retardant. The DMTA results show that the flame retardants have a reinforcement action on PC/ABS matrix. However, the macroscopic mechanical properties are slightly decreased in the glass fiber‐reinforced composites because of the destructive effect of the flame retardants on the interface compatibility between matrix and fibers; the scanning electron microscopic micrographs of tensile fracture fully prove this action mechanism of flame retardants. In addition, the addition of toughener and antidripping additive significantly affects the flame retardancy and mechanical properties of composites. POLYM. COMPOS., 36:1653–1663, 2015. © 2014 Society of Plastics Engineers