Enhancement of char‐forming and water resistance on ABS modified by poly(4‐nitrophenoxy)‐phosphazene

Poly(4‐nitrophenoxy)‐phosphazene (DPP) was used as charring and water resistance agent in Acrylonitrile–butadiene–styrene (ABS) composites. The char‐forming capability of DPP and combustion behavior of DPP‐based ABS (ABS‐DPP) were studied by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and cone calorimeter, respectively. TGA‐coupled Fourier transform infrared (TGA/FTIR) was used to research the releasing intensity of gaseous products during decomposition. Moreover, the char formation morphology of ABS, DPP, and ABS‐DPP were observed by scanning electron microscopy analysis. The water resistance of DPP was measured by the boiled water tests, the FTIR and static water contact angle analysis. The flame properties of samples and the samples treated by boiled water were studied by LOI and UL‐94, and the tensile properties of ABS‐DPP samples were assessed by tensile testing at high temperature. The results showed that the residues yield of ABS‐DPP samples increased from 0 to more than 20% under nitrogen and from 0.7 to 3.9% under air compared with pure ABS. The combustibility of ABS was decreased by DPP; however, the water resistance of ABS was not affected. At high temperature, tensile strength of ABS‐DPP decreased and the elongation at break enhanced with the addition of DPP. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2018 , 135, 45988.