Polymer Flame Retardant Composition Crosslinking Network
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current flame retardants, particularly halogenated and phosphate-based ones, are inefficient and environmentally harmful, and they often compromise the mechanical properties of materials, leading to issues like melt dripping when exposed to flames, which can cause severe burns and pose environmental risks.
Innovation Solution
A composition and method involving crosslinking of polymers with complementary functional groups, such as amine and epoxy, to form a high molecular weight polymer network that reduces melt dripping and enhances flame retardancy, using reactive pairs like amine and acids, or epoxide and hydroxyl, and incorporating phosphorus compounds or water-releasing additives to create a stable, non-toxic flame retardant system.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If halogenated flame retardants are used, then flame retardancy is improved, but environmental safety and health effects worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the chemical composition parameters by replacing halogenated flame retardants with phosphorus-based compounds. This substitution maintains flame retardant functionality while eliminating the toxic and environmentally harmful properties of halogenated substances, thus resolving the contradiction between flame retardancy effectiveness and environmental safety
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs phosphorus-based flame retardants that can be applied at lower concentrations compared to traditional halogenated alternatives. These compounds provide effective flame protection without the persistence and bioaccumulation issues of halogenated substances, offering a safer alternative that degrades more readily in the environment
2Object-affected harmful factors
If phosphate based flame retardants are used, then environmental safety is improved, but flame retardancy efficiency worsens
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates composite material systems by combining phosphorus-based flame retardant compounds with polymer matrices. This composite approach enhances the efficiency of phosphate-based flame retardants, allowing them to achieve effective flame protection without requiring excessively high loadings that would compromise mechanical properties
Solution Approach 2:
The patent optimizes the concentration and distribution parameters of phosphorus-based flame retardants within the material matrix. By carefully controlling these parameters, the system achieves effective flame retardancy with moderate loadings, avoiding both the inefficiency of under-dosing and the mechanical property degradation of over-dosing
3Reliability
If high loading of phosphate based flame retardants is used, then flame retardancy is improved, but mechanical properties worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The patent optimizes the loading parameter of phosphorus-based flame retardants to an optimal range that provides effective flame protection without excessive concentrations. This parameter optimization ensures that flame retardancy is achieved while maintaining the mechanical integrity and structural properties of the material
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces intermediary compounds or modifiers that facilitate the integration of phosphorus-based flame retardants into the polymer matrix. These intermediaries improve the compatibility and distribution of flame retardant particles, allowing effective flame protection at lower loadings that do not compromise mechanical properties
4Object-affected harmful factors
If phosphate flame retardants are used, then environmental safety is improved, but resistance to fire exposure worsens due to leaching
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates asymmetric molecular structures or surface modifications on phosphorus-based flame retardant particles that reduce their mobility and tendency to migrate to the surface. This asymmetric design prevents leaching while maintaining the environmental safety benefits of phosphate-based compounds
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs intermediary agents or coupling agents that anchor phosphorus-based flame retardants within the polymer matrix. These intermediaries create strong bonds between the flame retardant particles and the matrix, preventing leaching and surface migration while maintaining the environmental compatibility of phosphate-based substances
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 solution effectively reduces melt dripping and enhances flame retardancy while maintaining mechanical properties, providing a self-extinguishing behavior and stable distribution of flame retardants within the polymer matrix, thus addressing the inefficiencies and environmental concerns of existing systems.
Implementation Method 1
The first polymer and second polymer form a third polymer via crosslinking upon exposure to a flame
Implementation Method 2
The first functional group and second functional group may be reactive pairs such as amine and acids, amine and epoxide, amine and anhydride, amine and isocyanate, amine and aldehyde, amine and alkyl halide, amine and alkyl sulfonate, amine and thiol, epoxide and anhydride, epoxide and hydroxyl, or epoxide and acid
Data Source
AI summary
Compositions and articles with improved flame properties and fabric with improved melt dripping properties is disclosed. Reduced melt dripping can prevent injuries. Methods for making and using such compositions, articles and fabric are disclosed.