Flame retardant polymers and methods of making
AssigneeAlexium, Inc.
InventorsRobert N Brookins, Benjamin R. Butterfield, Nicholas H. Leitner
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Abstract
Polymers useful for imparting flame resistance to fibers and textiles are provided herein. The polymers are water-soluble, phosphine oxide-containing polymers that may be reaction products of hydroxymethyl phosphonium salts or hydroxymethyl phosphines with linking monomers, wherein at least 20% of the phosphorous atoms of the polymer are present as phosphine oxides. Formulations including the polymers and methods of using the polymers to impart flame resistance to fibers and textiles are also disclosed.
Claims29
A polymer comprising a plurality of repeat units of Formula IIx, Formula IIy, or Formula IIz
- wherein each X in each repeat unit independently is oxygen or is absent;
- each R1, R2, R3, and R4 in each repeat unit independently is a residue of a linking monomer that is capable of forming two or more covalent bonds with a phosphorus-containing monomer via condensation reactions with formaldehyde;
- and each R5 in each repeat unit independently is hydroxymethyl, aryl, or linear or branched C1-C10alkyl;
- wherein the polymer comprises a plurality of repeat units of Formula IIy or Formula IIz;
- wherein the polymer has a number average molecular weight less than 1,000,000;
- wherein at least 20% of the phosphorus atoms in the polymer are present as phosphine oxide;
- and
- wherein the polymer is water soluble.
A polymer comprising a reaction product of a plurality of phosphorus-containing monomers comprising:
- tetrakis(hydroxymethyl) phosphonium salts or tris(hydroxymethyl) phosphonium salts, wherein the tetrakis(hydroxymethyl) phosphonium salts or tris(hydroxymethyl) phosphonium salts are in equilibrium with their respective hydroxymethyl phosphines and formaldehyde;
- and
- a plurality of linking monomers that are capable of forming two or more covalent bonds with the phosphorus-containing monomers via condensation reactions with formaldehyde,
- wherein the molar ratio of phosphorus-containing monomers to linking monomers is from 1:0.3 to 1:0.95;
- wherein the polymer has a number average molecular weight less than 1,000,000;
- wherein at least 20% of the phosphorus atoms in the polymer are present as phosphine oxide, and
- wherein the polymer is water soluble.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.