Flame retardant halogenated polymer compositions

Abstract

A halogenated aryl ether oligomer is formed by halogenation of an aryl ether oligomer and is useful as a flame retardant for flammable macromolecular materials. Typically, the halogenated aryl ether oligomer comprises the following repeating monomeric units: wherein R is hydrogen or alkyl, especially C 1 to C 4 alkyl, Hal is halogen, m is at least 1, n is 0 to 3 and x is at least 2.

1 . A halogenated aryl ether oligomer formed by halogenation of an aryl ether oligomer. 
     
     
         2 . The oligomer of  claim 1 , wherein the halogen content of the halogenated aryl ether oligomer is in the range of about 50 to about 83 wt % of the oligomer. 
     
     
         3 . The oligomer of  claim 1  and having an average of least 3 aryl rings. 
     
     
         4 . The oligomer of  claim 1 , wherein the halogen is bromine. 
     
     
         5 . The oligomer of  claim 1 , wherein the aryl ether oligomer is brominated, comprises at least 5 aryl rings and has a molecular weight up to 1,000,000 Daltons. 
     
     
         6 . The oligomer of  claim 1 , wherein the oligomer comprises the following repeating monomeric units: 
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
       
       wherein R is hydrogen or alkyl, especially C 1  to C 4  alkyl, Hal is halogen, m is at least 1, n is 0 to 3 and x is at least 2. 
     
     
         7 . The oligomer of  claim 6 , wherein x is 5 to 20. 
     
     
         8 . The oligomer of  claim 6 , wherein Hal comprises bromine. 
     
     
         9 . The oligomer of  claim 6 , wherein said halogenated aryl ether oligomer also comprises end groups each independently comprising alkyl, alkoxy, aryl, aryloxy, hydrogen, halogen and hydroxyl. 
     
     
         10 . A flame retardant polymer composition comprising (a) a flammable macromolecular material and (b) a halogenated aryl ether oligomer flame retardant formed by halogenation of an aryl ether oligomer. 
     
     
         11 . The composition of  claim 10 , wherein the halogen content of the halogenated aryl ether oligomer is in the range of about 50 to about 83 wt % of the oligomer. 
     
     
         12 . The composition of  claim 10  and having an average of least 3 aryl rings. 
     
     
         13 . The composition of  claim 10 , wherein the halogen is bromine. 
     
     
         14 . The composition of  claim 10 , wherein the aryl ether oligomer is brominated, comprises at least 5 aryl rings and has a molecular weight up to 1,000,000 Daltons. 
     
     
         15 . A flame retardant polymer composition comprising (a) a flammable macromolecular material and (b) a halogenated aryl ether oligomer flame retardant formed by halogenation of an aryl ether oligomer, wherein said halogenated aryl ether oligomer comprises the following repeating monomeric units: 
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
       
       wherein R is hydrogen or alkyl, especially C 1  to C 4  alkyl, Hal is halogen, m is at least 1, n is 0 to 3 and x is at least 2. 
     
     
         16 . The composition of  claim 15 , wherein x is 5 to 20. 
     
     
         17 . The composition of  claim 15 , wherein Hal comprises bromine. 
     
     
         18 . The composition of  claim 15 , wherein said halogenated aryl ether oligomer also comprises end groups each independently comprising alkyl, alkoxy, aryl, aryloxy, hydrogen, halogen and hydroxyl. 
     
     
         19 . The composition of  claim 15 , wherein the flammable macromolecular material (a) is a thermoplastic polymer or a thermosetting polymer. 
     
     
         20 . The composition of  claim 15 , wherein the flammable macromolecular material (a) is polystyrene and the amount of halogenated aryl ether oligomer flame retardant in the composition is between about 5 and about 25 wt %. 
     
     
         21 . The composition of  claim 16 , wherein the flammable macromolecular material (a) is polypropylene and the amount of halogenated aryl ether oligomer flame retardant in the composition is between about 20 and about 50 wt %. 
     
     
         22 . The composition of  claim 15 , wherein the flammable macromolecular material (a) is polyethylene and the amount of halogenated aryl ether oligomer flame retardant in the composition is between about 5 and about 35 wt %. 
     
     
         23 . The composition of  claim 15 , wherein the flammable macromolecular material (a) is a polyamide or polyester and the amount of halogenated aryl ether oligomer flame retardant in the composition is between about 5 and about 25 wt %. 
     
     
         24 . A flame retardant polymer composition comprising (a) a flammable macromolecular material and (b) a halogenated aryl ether having the following formula: 
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
       
       wherein each R 1  is independently selected from hydrogen, hydroxy, halogen and alkyl, wherein each R 2  is independently selected from hydrogen, hydroxy, halogen and alkyl, provided at least one R 2  is halogen, n is 5, m is 4, and x is from 1 to 10. 
     
     
         25 . The composition of  claim 24 , wherein x is from 2 to 6.