Abstract: The decomposition characteristics of blowing agent azodicarbonamide (AC) in Ethene-Butene copolymer were studied using FTIR、TGA, and DSC analyses. During the decomposition of AC at a constant heating rate, three stages of weight loss could be were identified and 63wt % of gas was released. The onset decomposition temperature of AC decreased with the addition of zinc oxide and/or zinc stearate, with zinc stearate being more effective than zinc oxide. When both were present, the activation effect was mainly due to the formation of zinc stearate. DCP decreased the onset decomposition temperature of AC slightly.

Key words: Ethene-Butene Copolymer, azodicarbonamide, blowing agent, thermo decomposition