FLEXIBLE, UV-RESISTANT POLY(PHENYLENE ETHER) COMPOSITION, AND INSULATED CONDUCTOR AND JACKETED CABLE COMPRISING SAME

• US 20190318840A1
• Filed: 01/02/2018
• Published: 10/17/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 01/05/2017
• Status: Active Application

• Current Assignee: SHPP Global Technologies BV (Government of Saudi Arabia)
• Original Assignee: SABIC Global Technologies BV (Government of Saudi Arabia)
• Inventors: Peng, Hui, Shan, Wei
• Application Number:
  US16/474,175
• Publication Number:
  US 20190318840A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: C08K 5/523 with hydroxyaryl compounds
• CPC Class Codes: C08L 53/025 modified
• CPC Class Codes: C08L 71/12 Polyphenylene oxides
• CPC Class Codes: C09D 171/12 Polyphenylene oxides
• CPC Class Codes: C09D 5/00 Coating compositions, e.g. paints, varnishes or lacquers, characterised by their physical nature or the effects produced electrically insulating plastics, resins or waxes H01B3/30; Filling pastes
• CPC Class Codes: H01B 3/427 Polyethers
• CPC Class Codes: H01B 3/441 from alkenes
• CPC Class Codes: H01B 3/442 from aromatic vinyl compounds
• CPC Class Codes: H01B 7/295 using material resistant to flame

Abstract

A composition contains specific amounts of a poly(phenylene ether), a hydrogenated block copolymer of an alkenyl aromatic monomer and a conjugated diene, a flame retardant that includes an organophosphate ester with a melting point of 60 to 150° C., and an ultraviolet absorbing agent. The high-melting organophosphate ester permits reduction of the ultraviolet absorbing agent content, which in turn reduces color shift under storage conditions. The composition is useful as an insulating material and a jacketing material for wire and cable.

Claims

1. A composition, comprising:

15 to 40 parts by weight of a poly(phenylene ether);

20 to 50 parts by weight of a hydrogenated block copolymer of an alkenyl aromatic monomer and a conjugated diene;

5 to 30 parts by weight of a flame retardant comprising 3 to 15 parts by weight of an organophosphate ester having a melting point of 60 to 150°

C.; and

0.5 to 5 parts by weight of an ultraviolet absorbing agent;

wherein all parts by weight are based on 100 parts by weight total of polymers and flame retardants.

2. The composition of claim 1, wherein the hydrogenated block copolymer comprises 25 to 35 parts by weight of a polystyrene-poly(ethylene-butylene-styrene)-polystyrene tapered block copolymer.

3. The composition of claim 2, wherein the polystyrene-poly(ethylene-butylene-styrene)-polystyrene tapered block copolymer comprises 10 to 20 parts by weight of a first polystyrene-poly(ethylene-butylene-styrene)-polystyrene tapered block copolymer having a polystyrene content of 34 to 48 weight percent, and 10 to 20 parts by weight of a second polystyrene-poly(ethylene-butylene-styrene)-polystyrene tapered block copolymer having a polystyrene content of 50 to 65 weight percent.

4. The composition of claim 1, wherein the organophosphate ester has structure (1) or (2)

5. The composition of claim 4, wherein the organophosphate ester has structure (1), m is 2, p is on average 1 to 2, and R¹ is methyl.

6. The composition of claim 4, wherein the organophosphate ester has structure (2), n is 0, and p is on average 1 to 2.

7. The composition of claim 1, wherein the flame retardant comprises 3 to 10 parts by weight of the organophosphate ester and further comprises 5 to 12 parts by weight of a metal dialkylphosphinate and 5 to 12 parts by weight of melamine polyphosphate.

8. The composition of claim 1, wherein the ultraviolet absorbing agent is selected from the group consisting of benzophenones, benzotriazoles, cinnamates, oxanilides, triazines, benzoxazinones, and combinations thereof.

9. The composition of claim 1, wherein the ultraviolet absorbing agent comprises a 2-(2′

-hydroxyphenyl)benzotriazole.

10. The composition of claim 1, wherein the ultraviolet absorbing agent comprises a 2-(2′

-hydroxyphenyl)-1,3,5-triazine.

11. The composition of claim 1, further comprising 2 to 15 parts by weight of an ethylene homopolymer, a propylene homopolymer, or a combination thereof.

12. The composition of claim 1, further comprising 2 to 10 parts by weight of a polybutene having a number average molecular weight of 500 to 1500 grams/mole.

13. The composition of claim 1, wherein

the poly(phenylene ether) comprises a poly(2,6-dimethyl-1,4-phenylene ether) having an intrinsic viscosity of 0.3 to 0.6 deciliter per gram, measured by Ubbelohde viscometer in chloroform at 25°

C.;

the hydrogenated block copolymer comprises 25 to 35 weight percent of a polystyrene-poly(ethylene-butylene-styrene)-polystyrene tapered block copolymer;

the organophosphate ester comprises an organophosphate ester having structure (1)

14. An insulated conductor, comprising:

a conductor; and

an insulating covering disposed over the conductor;

wherein the insulating covering comprises a composition comprising

15 to 40 parts by weight of a poly(phenylene ether);

20 to 50 parts by weight of a hydrogenated block copolymer of an alkenyl aromatic monomer and a conjugated diene;

5 to 30 parts by weight of a flame retardant comprising 3 to 15 parts by weight of an organophosphate ester having a melting point of 60 to 150°

C.; and

0.5 to 5 parts by weight of an ultraviolet absorbing agent;

wherein all parts by weight are based on 100 parts by weight total of polymers and flame retardants.

15. The insulated conductor of claim 14, wherein

the poly(phenylene ether) comprises a poly(2,6-dimethyl-1,4-phenylene ether) having an intrinsic viscosity of 0.3 to 0.6 deciliter per gram, measured by Ubbelohde viscometer in chloroform at 25°

C.;

the hydrogenated block copolymer comprises 25 to 35 weight percent of a polystyrene-poly(ethylene-butylene-styrene)-polystyrene tapered block copolymer;

the organophosphate ester comprises an organophosphate ester having structure (1)

16. A jacketed cable, comprising:

a conductor;

an insulating covering surrounding the conductor; and

a jacket surrounding the insulating covering;

wherein the jacket comprises a composition comprising

15 to 40 parts by weight of a poly(phenylene ether);

20 to 50 parts by weight of a hydrogenated block copolymer of an alkenyl aromatic monomer and a conjugated diene;

5 to 30 parts by weight of a flame retardant comprising 3 to 15 parts by weight of an organophosphate ester having a melting point of 60 to 150°

C.; and

0.5 to 5 parts by weight of an ultraviolet absorbing agent;

wherein all parts by weight are based on 100 parts by weight total of polymers and flame retardants.

17. The jacketed cable of claim 16, wherein

the poly(phenylene ether) comprises a poly(2,6-dimethyl-1,4-phenylene ether) having an intrinsic viscosity of 0.3 to 0.6 deciliter per gram, measured by Ubbelohde viscometer in chloroform at 25°

C.;

the hydrogenated block copolymer comprises 25 to 35 weight percent of a polystyrene-poly(ethylene-butylene-styrene)-polystyrene tapered block copolymer;

the organophosphate ester comprises an organophosphate ester having structure (1)