Fire retardant for polyolefins

Abstract

Polypropylene and other polyolefins are rendered flame retardant by the addition of a phosphonate ester having the following formula: ##STR1## wherein a 0, 1 or 2, b is 0, 1 or 2, c is 1, 2 or 3 and a+b+c is 3; R and R' are the same or dissimilar and are alkyl, alkoxy, aryl, aryloxy, alkaryl, alkaryloxy, aralkyl, aryloyxalkoxy, or aralkoxy; wherein the alkyl portion of these groups may contain hydroxyl but no halogen and the aryl portion may contain chlorine bromine and hydroxyl groups; R.sup.2 is alkyl, hydroxyalkyl, or aryl; R.sup.3 is lower alkyl (C.sub.1 -C.sub.4); and a wetting agent penetrant. The presence of the penetrant promotes penetration of the retardant composition into the polypropylene. This fire retardant composition is particularly useful in polypropylene fibers and fabrics particularly where the fibers are woven into a matte.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.