Copolyetherester Flame-Retardant Composition With Lower Smoke
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current flame-retardant polymer resins effectively reduce flammability but often result in high smoke production upon exposure to heat or flames, posing a risk in fire scenarios due to smoke's contribution to damage and mortality.
Innovation Solution
A flame-retardant polymer composition comprising copolyetherester, polyamide elastomer, or thermoplastic polyolefinic elastomers with 2 to 25 wt% aluminium diethylphosphinate and a zinc or aluminium salt of phosphorous acid, optimized to balance flammability and smoke reduction, achieved through specific weight percentages and melt-mixing processes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If flame retardants are added to polymer resins to reduce flammability, then flammability is reduced, but smoke production increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a composite flame retardant system combining aluminium diethyl phosphinate with zinc phosphite and/or aluminium phosphite in specific ratios (2-25 wt% aluminium diethyl phosphinate with zinc phosphite at >40 wt% relative to aluminium diethyl phosphinate, or aluminium phosphite at >25 wt% relative to aluminium diethyl phosphinate). This composite approach leverages the synergistic effects of different flame retardant mechanisms to simultaneously achieve flame suppression and smoke reduction that single additives cannot provide alone.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent optimizes the concentration ratios of different flame retardant components to achieve the desired balance between flame retardancy and smoke suppression. By carefully controlling the weight percentages of aluminium diethyl phosphinate, zinc phosphite, and aluminium phosphite, the system adjusts the chemical composition parameters to minimize smoke production while maintaining effective flame retardancy.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If non-halogenated flame retardants are used, then environmental safety is improved, but smoke production remains high
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a composite system of non-halogenated flame retardants (aluminium diethyl phosphinate combined with zinc phosphite and/or aluminium phosphite) that work synergistically to suppress both flames and smoke. This composite non-halogenated approach overcomes the limitation of individual non-halogenated additives that typically produce high smoke, achieving environmental safety without sacrificing smoke suppression performance.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent modifies the chemical composition parameters by using non-halogenated phosphinate and phosphite compounds in optimized ratios. This parameter change from halogenated to non-halogenated chemistry, combined with precise concentration control, achieves environmental safety while the synergistic interaction between components suppresses smoke production.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The composition exhibits excellent flammability performance with reduced smoke production, as evidenced by improved Limiting Oxygen Index (LOI) and smoke density testing, facilitating safer applications by minimizing smoke interference during fires.
Implementation Method 1
Dialkyl phosphinate salts are well-known, non-halogenated flame retardant molecules
Implementation Method 2
The composition exhibits excellent flammability performance with reduced smoke production, as evidenced by improved Limiting Oxygen Index (LOI)
Implementation Method 3
it can unfortunately result in high smoke production upon exposure to heat or flame. This is of concern since smoke can be a significant contributor to damage and mortality in fires
Implementation Method 4
achieved through specific weight percentages and melt-mixing processes
Data Source
AI summary
The invention provides a copolyetherester compositions that are resistant to burning and which show reduced smoke production when exposed to heat or flame.