Cyclodextrin-PIL Flame Retardant Additive for Low-Smoke Cable Compounds

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing flame retardant materials for plastics and other combustible materials face inefficiencies in charring and smoke suppression, leading to suboptimal fire resistance and increased raw material costs.

Innovation Solution

Incorporation of polyoxometalate ionic liquid inclusion complexes within a polymer base resin, utilizing cyclodextrin as host molecules and PIL as guest molecules, to enhance charring efficiency and reduce additive aggregation, thereby improving flame retardance and smoke suppression.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If conventional flame retardant compounds are used, then fire resistance is provided, but the limiting oxygen index and UL-94 rating are insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefire resistanceVSAvoidlimiting oxygen index

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses a composite system combining cyclodextrin host molecules with polyoxometalate ionic liquid guest molecules to form inclusion complexes. This composite approach creates a synergistic flame retardant system where the cyclodextrin provides structural framework and the polyoxometalate ionic liquid enhances charring efficiency, achieving superior fire resistance with LOI ≥25% and UL-94 V-0 rating

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

Solution Approach 2:

The patent modifies the chemical composition and molecular structure parameters by selecting specific polyoxometalate ionic liquids with appropriate cations and anions, and matching them with suitable cyclodextrin host molecules. This parameter optimization enables the inclusion complexes to achieve enhanced flame retardant performance with controlled charring behavior and smoke suppression

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Reliability

If more flame retardant material is added to improve fire resistance, then the limiting oxygen index increases, but the amount of material and cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefire resistanceVSAvoidamount of flame retardant material

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The inclusion complexes exhibit self-enhancing properties where the cyclodextrin-polyoxometalate ionic liquid structure automatically promotes efficient charring and flame retardance through molecular recognition and self-assembly. The system serves its own flame retardant function effectively, achieving high LOI values and UL-94 V-0 rating without requiring excessive amounts of additive

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs a nested molecular structure where the polyoxometalate ionic liquid guest molecule is encapsulated within the cyclodextrin host molecule cavity. This nesting arrangement maximizes the flame retardant efficiency per unit mass by ensuring intimate contact and synergistic interaction between the two components, reducing the overall quantity of flame retardant material needed

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

3Object-affected harmful factors

If conventional flame retardants are used, then fire protection is provided, but smoke suppression is insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefire damageVSAvoidsmoke production

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent converts the potential harmful effect of incomplete combustion into a beneficial charring process. The polyoxometalate ionic liquid within the inclusion complex catalyzes controlled charring that forms a protective carbonaceous layer, which suppresses smoke generation while maintaining fire resistance. The charring reaction transforms what would be smoke-producing combustion into a protective barrier formation

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

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 inclusion complexes provide enhanced flame retardant performance with reduced material usage, achieving higher limiting oxygen index and UL-94 ratings, while minimizing smoke production and raw material costs.

Implementation Method 1

The flame retardant additive includes inclusion complexes that are made of at least one guest molecule and at least one carbonific host molecule. The at least one guest molecules is a polyoxometalate ionic liquid.

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectInclusion complex formation: Solvation

Implementation Method 2

which form physical associations to enhance charring and char residue density, thereby improving flame retardance and smoke suppression

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectCharring: Pyrolysis

Data Source

PatentUS12617874B2Cyclodextrin-polyoxometalate ionic liquid inclusion complex flame retardant additive for making a low smoke zero halogen compound

Publication Date: 2026.05.05 CORNING INC

AI summary

Embodiments of a flame retardant compound are provided. The flame retardant compound includes a polymer base resin and a flame retardant additive distributed within the polymer base resin. The flame retardant additive includes inclusion complexes that are made of at least one guest molecule and at least one carbonific host molecule. The at least one guest molecules is a polyoxometalate ionic liquid. The flame retardant compound achieves a limiting oxygen index of at least 25% according to ISO 4589. Additionally, embodiments of a flame retardant cable are provided that utilize the flame retardant compound as a jacketing material.