Albemarle Corporation

Ablemarle Corporation

Douglas W Luther

Arthur G Mack

William J Layman, Jr

Charles H Kolich

Bo Liu

Govindarajulu Kumar

Hoover Chew

Samuel G Thomas, Jr

Ronny W Lin

John F Balhoff

Susan D Landry

Bruce C Peters

Jeffrey Todd Aplin

Kimberly M White

Techen Tsao

Robert C Herndon

Junzuo Wang

Zhongxin Ge

Jonathan P McCarney

Jorge Morice

David A Lee

Luc Van Muylem

Bruce C Berris

Jon S Reed

Daniel A De Schryver

Ravindra R Joshi

Jr Robert C Herndon

William Layman

Described are a particular group of novel aromatic hydrocarbon telomers that, on bromination, result in the formation of novel flame retardants having a uniquely beneficial combination of properties. The resultant flame retardants and uses thereof are also described. The disclosure includes descriptions of methods for preparing both the aromatic hydrocarbon telomers and the brominated flame retardant polymers.

Brominated flame retardants and precursors therefor

Novel polymer compositions of specified formula are converted into pellets of this invention by process technology provided by this invention. By forming a binder free melt of a polymer of such polymer compositions, and converting the melt into pellets as described here-in, pellets can be formed produce during production, handling, and use, no more than acceptably small amounts of 'fines' or air-entrainable dusts.

Pelletized low molecular weight brominated aromatic polymer compositions

New branched or star-branched styrene polymeric, telomeric, and monomeric product distributions, their preparation, their use as raw materials for bromination to produce flame retardants, the flame retardants themselves, and their use as flame retardants in various polymeric substrates are described.

Branched and star-branched styrene polymers, telomers, and adducts, their synthesis, their bromination, and their uses

Brominated styrenic polymer is recovered from solution in a vaporizable solvent by converting the solution in a devolatilization extruder into a brominated styrenic polymer melt or flow and a separate vapor phase comprised predominately of vaporizable solvent, recovering the melt or flow from the devolatilization extruder, and allowing or causing the melt or flow to solidify. The solidified brominated styrenic polymer can be subdivided into a powder or pelletized form. Pellets so made have improved hardness and/or crush strength properties along with reduced formation of fines. Brominated anionic styrenic polymer is preferably used in the process.

Process technology for recovering brominated styrenic polymers from reaction mixtures in which they are formed and/or converting such mixtures into pellets or into granules or pastilles

The present invention relates to low triphenyl phosphate, high phosphorous content aryl phosphates with high ortho alkylation that are suitable for use as flame retardant compositions, processes for their preparation, and their use as flame retardants.

Low triphenylphosphate, high phosphorous content isopropyl phenyl phosphates with high ortho alkylation

Despite the frangibility of additive-free granules of brominated anionic styrenic polymer, pellets of unadulterated brominated anionic styrenic polymer are provided having 50 wt % or more bromine content, in which 70 wt % or more of the pellets are retained on a US No. 40 sieve and no more than 30 wt % are retained on a US No. 5 sieve. These pellets contain no binding agent and they do not break apart or revert to small particles and finely divided powder, typically called 'fines' when subjected to ordinary handling. More specifically, no more than about 5 wt %, preferably no more than about 3 wt %, and more preferably no more than about 1 wt % of these pellets as formed and packaged are fines or dusts that can pass through a US No. 40 sieve.

Pelletized brominated anionic styrenic polymers and their preparation and use

A fiber or filament which is formed from ingredients comprising (a) at least one fiber-forming thermoplastic polymer and (b) at least one polybrominated anionic styrenic polymer is provided. The polybrominated anionic styrenic polymer has a bromine content of at least about 50 wt %, and a GPC weight average molecular weight in the range of about 5000 to about 40,000, or a GPC weight average molecular weight of at least about 600,000. When the fiber-forming thermoplastic polymer is a polyester, the polybrominated anionic styrenic polymer is present in a flame resistant or flame retardant amount. When the fiber-forming thermoplastic polymer is a polyamide, the polybrominated anionic styrenic polymer is at least about 2 wt % of the fiber or filament. When the fiber-forming thermoplastic polymer is a polyolefin, at least one synergist is present and the polybrominated anionic styrenic polymer is no more than about 15 wt % of the fiber or filament.

Flame retarded fibers and filaments and process of production therefor

Despite the frangibility of additive-free granules of brominated anionic styrenic polymer, it has been found possible by use of special mechanical processing to provide pellets of unadulterated brominated anionic styrenic polymer having a bromine content of at least about 50 wt % and in which at least about 70 wt % (preferably at least about 75 wt %) of the pellets are retained on a standard US No. 40 sieve and no more than about 30 wt % (preferably no more than about 25 wt %) are retained on a standard US No. 5 sieve. In preferred embodiments such pelletized anionic styrenic polymer is brominated anionic polystyrene having a bromine content of at least about 67 wt %, e.g., in the range of about 67 to about 71 wt %. Also preferred are pelletized brominated anionic styrenic polymers in which the melt flow index (ASTM D 1238-99) at 220&#xb0; C., 2.16 kg is at least 4 g/10 min and preferably is at least 5 g/10 min. Another embodiment of this invention is a method of preparing pelletized unadulterated brominated anionic styrenic polymer which method comprises: A) forming strands of molten unadulterated brominated anionic styrenic polymer; B) submitting said strands to cooling and downwardly directed forced air flow on a porous conveyor belt whereby said strands are broken into pellets; and C) causing said pellets to drop into a classifier that removes fines from the pellets.

Disclosed are flame retardant compositions comprised of (a) brominated anionic styrenic polymer, and (b) at least one polybrominated alpha-omega diphenylalkane having a total of at least 6 bromine atoms directly bonded to the phenyl rings and in the range of 1 to 6 carbon atoms in the alkylene group disposed between the phenyl groups, and specified flame retarded polymer compositions with which have been blended (a) and (b) individually or in combination.

Flame retardant compositions and their use

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Walker, LA, United States of America

Douglas W Luther