Copolyetherester

Abstract

The invention provides a copolyetherester compositions that are resistant to burning and which show reduced smoke production when exposed to heat or flame.

1 - 43 . (canceled) 
     
     
         44 . A flame-retardant polymer composition comprising:
 (A) at least one polymer selected from copolyetherester, polyamide elastomer, thermoplastic polyolefinic elastomers, styrenic elastomer, thermoplastic polyurethane, thermoplastic vulcanisate;   (B) 2 to 25 wt % aluminium diethylphosphinate;   (C) at least one aluminium salt of phosphorous acid; and   (D) at least one melamine derivative, selected from melamine salts with organic or inorganic acids and mixtures of two or more of these;   wherein the weight percentages are based on the total weight of the composition.   
     
     
         45 . The composition of  claim 44 , wherein the at least one polymer comprises a copolyetherester. 
     
     
         46 . The composition of  claim 44 , wherein the copolyetherester is made by reacting a C 2 -C 6  diol with an aromatic diacid moiety and a poly(alkyleneoxide)diol. 
     
     
         47 . The composition of  claim 44 , wherein the copolyetherester is made using one or more of the following:
 a poly(alkyleneoxide)diol selected from poly(ethyleneoxide)diol, poly(propyleneoxide)diol, poly(tetramethyleneoxide)diol, and mixtures of two or more of these;   a C 2 -C 6  diol selected from ethylene glycol, propylene glycol, butylene glycol, and mixtures of two or more of these; and   an aromatic diacid selected from terephthalate, iso-terephthalate, and mixtures of these.   
     
     
         48 . The composition of  claim 44 , additionally comprising (B′) 0.2 to 16 wt % of aluminum salts of ethylbutylphosphinic acid, dibutylphosphinic acid, ethylhexylphosphinic acid, butylhexylphosphinic acid, dihexylphosphinic acid, or mixtures of two or more of these. 
     
     
         49 . The composition of  claim 44 , wherein the at least one aluminium salt of phosphorous acid is selected from mixtures of aluminium phosphite and aluminium hydroxide having the composition of 5-95% by weight of Al 2 (HPO 3 ) 3 *nH 2 O and 95-5% by weight of Al(OH) 3  wherein n=0 to 4. 
     
     
         50 . The composition of  claim 44 , wherein the at least one aluminium salt of phosphorous acid is selected from those having the CAS numbers [15099 32-8], [119103-85-4], [220689-59-8], [56287-23-1], [156024-71-4], [71449-76-8], [15099-32-8], and mixtures of two or more of these. 
     
     
         51 . The composition of  claim 44 , comprising a zinc salt of phosphorous acid which is CAS number [14332-59-3]. 
     
     
         52 . The composition of  claim 44 , wherein (D) is selected from salts of melamine with boric acid, cyanuric acid, phosphoric acid and/or pyro/polyphosphoric acid, and mixtures of two or more of these. 
     
     
         53 . The composition of  claim 44 , wherein (D) is melamine pyrophosphate. 
     
     
         54 . The composition of  claim 44 , wherein (D) is present at 1 to 15 wt % based on the total weight of the composition. 
     
     
         55 . The composition of  claim 44 , comprising:
 (A) at least one copolyetherester;   (B) aluminium diethylphosphinate; and   (C) 3 wt % or more of an aluminium salt of phosphorous acid;   wherein the weight percentages are based on the total weight of the composition.   
     
     
         56 . The composition of  claim 44 , wherein the aluminium diethylphosphinate, the aluminium salt of phosphorous acid, or a combination thereof has a D95, volume %, measured using laser diffraction technology with a Malvern Mastersizer 2000 particle size analyser instrument, in acetone, of 10 microns. 
     
     
         57 . The composition of  claim 44 , wherein component (D) has a mean particle diameter of less than 20 microns, as measured using laser diffraction technology with a Malvern Mastersizer 2000 particle size analyser instrument, in acetone. 
     
     
         58 . The composition of  claim 44 , having an LOI of 19 or greater when measured according to test method ISO 4589-1/-2, using test bars in the shape of rectangular bars of dimension 125 mm long by 13 mm wide and having an average thickness of about 1.7±0.1 mm. 
     
     
         59 . The composition of  claim 44 , having a ratio of LOI of the composition incorporating the aluminium diethylphosphinate, metal phosphite(s) and component (D) to LOI of the composition with aluminium diethylphosphinate alone of about 0.75 or greater when measured according to test method ISO 4589-1/-2, using test bars in the shape of rectangular bars of dimension 125 mm long by 13 mm wide and having an average thickness of about 1.7±0.1 mm. 
     
     
         60 . The composition of  claim 44 , having a D s,max, ret  measured according to ISO 5659 test standard and using plaques having an area of 75 mm×75 mm and thickness of 2 mm, of not greater than 45. 
     
     
         61 . The composition of  claim 44 , having a ratio of D s,max, ret  of the composition including the aluminium diethylphosphinate, metal phosphite(s) and component (D) to D s,max, ret  of the composition with aluminium diethylphosphinate alone measured according to ISO 5659 test standard and using plaques having an area of 75 mm×75 mm and thickness of 2 mm, of not greater than 0.9. 
     
     
         62 . A shaped article made from the composition of  claim 44 . 
     
     
         63 . A cable comprising a light or electrical conducting core and at least one sheath made from a composition of  claim 44 .