Effects of two antioxidants with different degrees of steric hindrance on the thermal‐oxidative aging properties of ABS resin

Abstract ABS resin is easily oxidized and deteriorated during use or processing. The addition of antioxidants is an effective method for improving ABS oxidation. The hindered phenol antioxidant DBHMIE and the asymmetrically hindered 245 were added separately or together to ABS; the oxidation induction temperature of ABS increased by 10.6, 12.1 and 14°C, with the addition of DBHMIE, 245 and their combination, respectively, and the initial decomposition temperature T3% increased by 29.7, 16.2 and 51.3°C, respectively. The addition of these two antioxidants to ABS did not greatly affect the mechanical properties of the material, but the impact strength increased by 2.24 kJ/m 2 when both antioxidants were added together. During the thermal aging test, the decomposition temperature of the ABS splines prepared with the combined antioxidants increased during the first few cycles. The impact strength of the splines prepared with the combined antioxidants was the highest, with the smallest decrease of only 5.18%. The yellow index of the spline prepared with the combined antioxidants was between those of splines prepared with the antioxidants added alone. The combination of DBHMIE and 245 induced synergistic effects, improved thermal‐oxidative aging resistance, and improved and protected the toughness of ABS resin.