Impact-Modified Polyphosphazene Flame Retardants

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current flame-retardant materials used in plastics compromise impact resistance when increased to achieve high flame retardancy, and there is a need for sustainable alternatives to petroleum-based polymers that meet stringent performance standards.

Innovation Solution

Incorporating orthogonal functionality into polymeric flame-retardants like polyphosphazene, allowing them to be directly blended or covalently bound with base polymers, thereby maintaining flame retardancy while enhancing impact resistance without degrading ignition resistance.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the loading level of flame-retardant is increased to achieve high flame retardancy, then flame retardancy is improved, but impact resistance is degraded

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveflame retardancyVSAvoidimpact resistance

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses polyphosphazene as a flame-retardant additive that forms a composite structure with the base polymer matrix. This composite approach allows the flame-retardant to maintain its fire-resistant properties while the polymer matrix preserves the mechanical strength and impact resistance of the material.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

Solution Approach 2:

The patent modifies the chemical structure of the flame-retardant by using polyphosphazene with specific phosphorus-containing groups and adjustable molecular weight. By changing these chemical parameters, the material achieves high flame retardancy through phosphorus-based fire suppression mechanisms while maintaining compatibility with the polymer matrix to preserve mechanical properties.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Object-affected harmful factors

If flame-retardant loading is increased to meet UL 94 standards, then fire safety is improved, but physical properties are degraded

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefire safetyVSAvoidphysical properties

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent adjusts the molecular weight and chemical composition parameters of polyphosphazene to optimize the balance between fire safety and physical properties. The phosphorus-containing side groups provide fire protection while the polymer chain structure maintains mechanical integrity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

Polyphosphazene acts as an intermediary substance that provides fire protection through phosphorus-based mechanisms (forming protective char layers and releasing flame-inhibiting gases) without directly compromising the physical properties of the base polymer, thus mediating between fire safety requirements and mechanical performance.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS11485835B2Impact resistant cyclic phosphazenes

Publication Date: 2022.11.01 INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINE CORPORATION

AI summary

An impact-modified composition and a method of making an impact-modified composition are provided. In an embodiment, the method includes reacting a phosphazene material with an acrylamide material to form a functionalized phosphazene material; initiating a polymerization reaction on a reaction mixture comprising the functionalized phosphazene material and one or more monomers to form an impact-modified phosphazene material; and adding the an impact-modified phosphazene material to a polymeric material.