Albemarle Corporation

Ethyl Corporation

Albelmarle Corporation

Jon S Reed

Susan D Landry

Daniel A De Schryver

F Alexander Pettigrew

Charles H Kolich

Meng-Sheng Ao

Donald E Balhoff

Billie B Dadgar

Homer C Lin

James E Torres

Janet F Jones

David K Doucet

Arthur G Mack

David R Brackenridge

Douglas W Luther

Rajeev S Mathur

Thorsten W Brockmann

Samuel G Thomas, Jr

John Randall Chaya

This invention provides aqueous flame retardant dispersions comprising water, a brominated flame retardant containing aromatically-bound bromine, at least one dispersant, at least one wetting agent, and at least one thickener. The brominated flame retardant has an average particle size of about 20 μm or less. The flame retardant dispersion contains about 50 wt % or more of brominated polymeric flame retardant, based on the total weight of the dispersion. Also provided are coating compositions, processes for forming flame retardant dispersions, processes for forming coating compositions, and processes for applying the coating compositions to textile substrates.

Flame retardants for textile applications

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 %. 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

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.

A polyalkylene terephthalate polymer, such as polyethylene terephthalate, polybutylene terephthalate, blends or copolymers thereof, and analogous polyester-type engineering thermoplastics, with which has been blended a flame retardant amount of brominated styrenic polymer, such as brominated polystyrene, that, prior to blending, is characterized by (a) containing less than 700 ppm Cl and having a TGA temperature for 1% weight loss of 340&deg; C. or higher; and/or (b) having an actual M,which is within about 20%, and preferably within about 10%, of its calculated theoretical M,, the theoretical M,being based upon the actual bromine content of the brominated styrenic polymer and the M,of the styrenic polymer reactant used to produce the brominated styrenic polymer; and/or (c) being essentially free of each of the following impurities: (1) ethylene dichloride, (2) bromodichloroethane, (3) dibromochloroethane, (4) dibromodichloroethane, and (5) tribrormochloroethane. These compositions most preferably also further comprise a reinforcing amount of glass fiber and/or a flame retardant synergist dispersed therein. It is now possible to provide polyalkylene terephthalate compositions that have a UL-94 rating of V-O using both {fraction (1/16)}-inch test specimens and {fraction (1/32)}-inch test specimens, and that have superior electrical resistance characteristics as reflected by a higher comparative tracking index and greater melt stability as determined by capillary rheometry.

Polymer compositions containing brominated polystyrenic resins

This invention relates to a thermally stable brominated polystyrene composition which contains alkali metal base (e.g., NaOH) in an amount less than about 1 wt % such that if the flame retardant is dissolved in bromochloromethane and the resultant solution is extracted with water, the resultant water extract exhibits a pH of at least about 9.0. A preferred composition of this type even when heated to 315.degree. C. for one hour did not undergo darkening--the color remained tan. Comparative samples not containing the base turned black under these same conditions. Especially useful compositions additionally have less than 500 ppm, and better still, less than 100 ppm total Cl, and at least about 67 wt % bromine. Processes for producing the compositions are also described.

Brominated polystyrenic flame retardants

The impact strength of articles made from a flame-retarded formulated ABS resin containing an impact modifier is increased by forming a concentrate or masterbatch containing the flame retardant and impact modifier, blending the concentrate with ABS resin and extruding the resultant blend.

Flame-retarded abs formulations with high impact strength

This invention relates to a method for increasing the ultraviolet light stability of articles made from macromolecular materials comprising: forming a flame-retarded formulation containing macromolecular material and a mixture of (i) a first alkylenebis(tetrabromophthalimide) flame retardant having a yellowness index (YI) value ranging from about 20 to about 40 as determined by ASTM D-1925; and (ii) a second alkylenebis-(tetrabromophthalimide) flame retardant having a yellowness index (YI) value (ASTM D-1925) ranging from about 2 to about 15 whereby the uv stability of a test plaque made from the flame-retarded formulation is greater than the arithmetic average of the uv stabilities of a test plaque made from a flame-retarded formulation containing (i) but not (ii) and of a test plaque made from a flame-retarded formulation containing (ii) but not (i).

UV stable compositions

The impact strength of a flame retarded formulated ABS resin containing an impact modifier is increased by masterbatching the flame retardant and impact modifier.

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Baton Rouge, LA, United States of America

Jon S Reed