Halogen-Free Phosphorus Compounds for Polymer Foam Flame Retardancy
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current flame retardants for plastics, particularly polyhalogenated hydrocarbons, face issues with bioaccumulation and persistence, and halogen-free alternatives often require higher quantities to achieve similar flame retardant effects, which can disrupt the foaming process and mechanical properties of polymer foams.
Innovation Solution
The use of specific phosphorus compounds, such as those of formula (I), which are halogen-free and effective as flame retardants even in small amounts, particularly in polymer foams, through processes involving their synthesis and incorporation into styrene polymers during extrusion or suspension polymerization.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If halogen-free flame retardants are used to avoid bioaccumulation and persistence, then environmental safety is improved, but flame retardant effectiveness decreases requiring higher quantities
Solution Approach 1:
The patent modifies the chemical structure of phosphorus compounds by introducing specific organic groups (aromatic or alkylenic bridging groups in bisphosphates, cyclic structures) to enhance flame retardant effectiveness. This structural parameter change allows halogen-free compounds to achieve better flame inhibition at lower concentrations, resolving the contradiction between environmental safety and effectiveness.
2Reliability
If higher quantities of halogen-free flame retardants are used to achieve sufficient flame retardant effect, then flame safety is improved, but foaming process stability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent optimizes the molecular structure of phosphorus compounds (using specific formulas I, II, III with defined organic groups) to enhance flame retardant efficiency per unit mass. This allows achieving adequate flame safety with lower concentrations that do not interfere with the foaming process, thus maintaining foaming stability while ensuring flame protection.
3Reliability
If higher quantities of flame retardants are used to achieve sufficient flame retardant effect, then flame safety is improved, but mechanical and thermal properties of polymer foam deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs specifically designed phosphorus compounds with optimized molecular structures (formulas I, II, III featuring aromatic or alkylenic groups) that provide superior flame retardancy at low concentrations. This minimizes the amount of additive required, thereby preserving the mechanical strength and thermal properties of the polymer foam while ensuring adequate flame safety.
4Quantity of substance
If halogen-containing flame retardants are used to achieve good flame retardant effect in small amounts, then flame safety is improved, but environmental safety deteriorates due to bioaccumulation and persistence
Solution Approach 1:
The patent modifies the chemical composition by developing halogen-free phosphorus compounds with enhanced molecular structures (specific organic groups and cyclic configurations) that improve flame inhibition efficiency. This allows achieving effective flame protection with low concentrations of environmentally safe compounds, eliminating the need for halogen-containing substances and their associated environmental hazards.
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to the use of a phosphorous compound of formula (I) as a flame retardant, wherein the symbols of formula (I) have the following meanings: a group Y is -P(=X2)SR3R4, H, a straight-chain or branched C1-C12 alkyl group, C5-C6 cycloalkyl, C6-C12 aryl, benzyl, wherein the four last cited groups are unsubstituted or substituted by one or more radicals from the groupC1-C4 alkylorC2-C4 alkenylene; R1, R2, R3 and R4 are the same or different hydrogen, OH, C1-C16-Alkyl, C2- C16-Alkenyl, C1-C16-Alkoxy, C2-C16-Alkenoxy, C3-C10-Cycloalkyl, C3-C10-Cycloalkoxy, C6-C10-Aryl, C6-C10-Aryloxy, C6-C10-Aryl-C1- C16-Alkyl, C6-C10-Aryl-C1-C16-Alkoxy, SR9 COR10, COOR11, CONR12R13 or two radicals R1, R2, R3, R4 form a ring system together with the phosphorous atom to which they are bound or the group P-O-A-O-P; R5, R6, R7, and R8 are the same or different H, C1-C16-Alkyl, C2-C16-Alkenyl, C1-C16-Alkoxy, C2-C16-Alkenoxy; R9, R10, R11, R12, and R13 are the same or different H d-de-Alkyl, C2-C16- Alkenyl, C6-C10-Aryl, C6-C10-Aryl-C1-C16-Alkyl,, C6-C10- Aryl-C1-C16-Alkoxy; X1, and X2 are the same or different S or O; r, and s are the same or different 0 or 1; and X3, X4, X5, and X6 are the same or different S or O and n is a whole number from 1 to 50.