FLAME RETARDANT THERMOPLASTIC ELASTOMERS

• US 20120037396A1
• Filed: 04/27/2010
• Published: 02/16/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 04/29/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Avient Corp.
• Original Assignee: Polyone Corporation (Avient Corp.)
• Inventors: Gu, Jiren
• Granted Patent: US 9,558,867 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 174/110.AR
• CPC Class Codes: C08K 5/0083 Nucleating agents promoting the crystallisation of the polymer matrix
• CPC Class Codes: C08K 5/49 Phosphorus-containing compounds C08K5/0091 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: C08L 23/10 Homopolymers or copolymers of propene
• CPC Class Codes: C08L 2666/24 Graft or block copolymers according to groups C08L51/00, C08L53/00 or C08L55/02; Derivatives thereof
• CPC Class Codes: C08L 53/025 modified
• CPC Class Codes: C08L 71/12 Polyphenylene oxides
• CPC Class Codes: H01B 7/295 using material resistant to flame

Abstract

A flame-retardant thermoplastic elastomer compound is disclosed having polyphenylene ether, a hydrogenated styrene block copolymer, at least one solid non-halogenated phosphorus containing flame retardant, and a nucleated olefinic polymer. The compound has a before-aging tensile elongation of >200% and an after-aging tensile elongation residual of at least 75%, according to the UL 62 test, which makes it useful as an insulation layer, a jacketing layer, or both for protected electrical lines such as alternating current wire and cable products, accessory cables, and variety of injection molded electrical or electronic parts.

Claims

1. A thermoplastic elastomer compound, comprising:

(a) from about 10 to about 60 weight percent of a polyphenylene ether;

(b) from about 10 to about 60 weight percent of a hydrogenated styrenic block copolymer;

(c) from about 5 to about 30 weight percent of at least one solid non-halogen flame retardant selected from the group consisting of organo-phosphinate, melamine polyphosphate, and combinations thereof; and

(d) from about 5 to about 40 weight percent of a nucleated olefinic polymer;

wherein the compound has a before-aging tensile elongation of >

200% and an after-aging tensile elongation residual of at least 75%, according to Underwriters'"'"' Laboratory test UL 62.

2. The compound of claim 1,

wherein the hydrogenated styrenic block copolymer has a weight average molecular weight of between about 70,000 and about 160,000 and a ratio of styrenic end-block to olefinic mid-block should range from about 20/80 to about 40/60,

wherein the compound further comprises oil to plasticize the hydrogenated styrenic block copolymer, and

wherein the compound further tackifier to modify the olefinic mid-block of the hydrogenated styrenic block copolymer.

3. The compound of claim 1, wherein the hydrogenated styrenic block copolymer is selected from the group consisting of styrene-ethylene butylene-styrene polymers, styrene-ethylene propylene-styrene polymers, hydrogenated styrene-isoprene block copolymers, and hydrogenated styrene-butadiene block copolymers, styrene-ethylene-ethylene-propylene-styrene copolymers, and combinations of them.

4. The compound of claim 1, wherein the polyphenylene ether is unblended or blended with an aromatic vinyl group thermoplastic resin.

5. The compound of claim 4, wherein the polyphenylene ether is selected from the group consisting of poly(2,6-dimethyl-1,4-phenylene ether), poly(2,6-diethyl-1,4-phenylene ether), poly(2-methyl-6-ethyl-1,4-phenylene ether), poly(2-methyl-6-propyl-1,4-phenylene ether), poly(2,6-dipropyl-1,4-phenylene ether), poly(2-ethyl-6-propyl-1,4-phenylene ether), poly(2,6-dimethoxy-1,4-phenylene ether), poly(2,6-di(chloro methyl)-1,4-phenylene ether), poly(2,6-di(bromo methyl)-1,4-phenylene ether), poly(2,6-diphenyl-1,4-phenylene ether), poly(2,6-ditoluoyl-1,4-phenylene ether), poly(2,6-dichloro-1,4-phenylene ether), poly(2,6-dibenzyl-1,4-phenylene ether), poly(2,5-dimethyl-1,4-phenylene ether), and combinations thereof.

6. The compound of claim 5, wherein the aromatic vinyl group thermoplastic resin is selected from the group consisting of homopolymers of styrene or its derivatives, copolymers of styrene and p-methyl styrene, copolymers of styrene and alpha-methyl styrene, copolymers of styrene and alpha-methyl-p-methyl styrene, copolymers of styrene and chlorostyrene, copolymers of styrene and bromostyrene, and combinations thereof.

7. The compound of claim 1, wherein the solid flame retardant is an organo-phosphinate and wherein the compound further comprises polyammonium polyphosphate as a solid flame retardant.

8. The compound of claim 1, wherein the nucleated olefinic polymer is nucleated polypropylene homopolymer.

9. The compound of claim 1, wherein the compound further comprises adhesion promoters;

antioxidants;

biocides, antibacterials, fungicides, and mildewcides;

anti-fogging agents;

anti-static agents;

bonding, blowing or foaming agents;

dispersants;

fillers or extenders;

smoke suppresants;

expandable char formers;

impact modifiers;

initiators;

lubricants;

micas;

pigments, colorants or dyes;

processing aids;

release agents;

silanes, titanates or zirconates;

slip or anti-blocking agents;

stabilizers;

stearates;

tackifiers;

ultraviolet light absorbers;

viscosity regulators;

waxes; and

combinations of them.

11. A plastic article made from a compound of claim 1.

12. The plastic article of claim 11, in the form of an electrical part or an electronic part.

13. A protected electrical line, comprising:

(a) wire or cable having an axial length and

(b) at least one layer of the compound of claim 1 enveloping the axial length of the wire or cable.

14. The protected electrical line of claim 13 in the form of a wire.

15. The protected electrical line of claim 13 in the form of a cable.

10. The compound in the form of an insulation layer enveloping a protected electrical line or in the form of a jacketing layer enveloping a protected electrical line.