Metallic salts of tetrazoles used as blowing and intumescent agents for thermoplastic polymers

Claim 2

A PROCESS OF PRODUCING AN EXPANDED THERMOPLASTIC POLYMER HAVING A PROCESSING TEMPERATURE OF GREATER THAN ABOUT 500*F, WHICH PROCESS COMPRISES: A. INCORPORATING INTO THE POLYMER A BLOWING AMOUNT OF A METAL SALT OF TETRAZOLE HAVING THE FORMULA:

Claim 3

The process of claim 1 wherein the tetrazole is zinc di (5-phenyl tetrazole).

Claim 4

The process of claim 1 wherein the tetrazole is barium di (5-phenyl tetrazole).

Claim 5

The process of claim 1 wherein the tetrazole is calcium di (5-phenyl tetrazole).

Claim 6

The process of claim 1 wherein the polymer is selected from the group consisting of polycarbonate, polysulfone, polysulfonate, polyphenyl oxide, polyamides, polyaryl ether, polyphenylene sulfide, poly-p-oxybenzoate and polyester polymers.

Claim 7

The process of claim 1 wherein the blowing amount is from about 0.1 to 5.0% by weight of the polymer.

Claim 8

The process of claim 1 which includes heating the polymer to a temperature of from about 500* to 750*F to decompose the blowing agent.

Claim 9

The process of producing an expanded polycarbonate polymer, which process comprises: a. incorporating in the polycarbonate polymer having a compounding melt temperature of about 400* to 550*F from 0.1 to 5.0% by weight of a metal salt of a 5-phenyl tetrazole, the salt selected from the group of metals of barium, calcium, lead, zinc and aluminum; and b. heating the polycarbonate containing the incorporated metal salt to a temperature of from 500* to 750*F and sufficient to decompose the metal salt of the tetrazole, and to provide an expanded polycarbonate polymer.

Claim 10

The process of producing an expanded polycarbonate polymer, which process comprises: a. incorporating in the polycarbonate polymer having a compounding melt temperature of about 400* to 550*F from 0.1 to 5.0% by weight of a metal salt of a 5-phenyl tetrazole, the salt selected from the group of metals of barium, calcium, lead, zinc and aluminum; and b. heating the polycarbonate containing the incorporated metal salt to a temperature of from 500* to 750*F and sufficient to decompose the metal salt of the tetrazole, and to provide an expanded polycarbonate polymer.

Claim 11

A flame-retardant synthetic textile material which comprises a plurality of fibers composed of a polymeric material containing a flame-retardant additive, which fibers also contain an intumescent amount of a metal salt of a mono or bis tetrazole, the metal salt selected from the group of metals of barium, calcium, zinc, lead and aluminum, the salt decomposing to provide nitrogen gas and a foam-like char material when the fibers are exposed to a temperature in excess of about 500*F.

Claim 12

A flame-retardant synthetic textile material which comprises a plurality of fibers composed of a polymeric material containing a flame-retardant additive, which fibers also contain an intumescent amount of a metal salt of a mono or bis tetrazole, the metal salt selected from the group of metals of barium, calcium, zinc, lead and aluminum, the salt decomposing to provide nitrogen gas and a foam-like char material when the fibers are exposed to a temperature in excess of about 500*F.

Claim 13

A flame-retardant paint composition which comprises an aqueous-base latex polymeric paint composition which contains an intumescent amount of a metal salt of a mono or bis tetrazole, the metal salt selected from the group of metals of barium, calcium, zinc, lead and aluminum, the salt compound resistant to hydrolysis and water-insoluble, the salt providing for the release of nitrogen gas and the formation of a foam char-type material when the dried latex paint coating is exposed to a temperature of more than about 500*F.

Claim 14

A flame-retardant paint composition which comprises an aqueous-base latex polymeric paint composition which contains an intumescent amount of a metal salt of a mono or bis tetrazole, the metal salt selected from the group of metals of barium, calcium, zinc, lead and aluminum, the salt compound resistant to hydrolysis and water-insoluble, the salt providing for the release of nitrogen gas and the formation of a foam char-type material when the dried latex paint coating is exposed to a temperature of more than about 500*F.

Claim 15

The process of claim 1 which includes, after incorporating and prior to heating, the step of forming the polymer with the metal salts of the tetrazole therein at a temperature less than the decomposition temperature of the tetrazole into foamable pellets.

Claim 16

The process of claim 1 which includes, after incorporating and prior to heating, the step of forming the polymer with the metal salts of the tetrazole therein at a temperature less than the decomposition temperature of the tetrazole into a foamable textile fiber.

Claim 17

The process of claim 12 wherein the polymer contains a flame-retardant additive.

Claim 18

The process of claim 1 which includes, after incorporating and prior to heating, the step of dispersing the polymer with the metal salts of the tetrazole into a latex solution.

Claim 19

An expandable polymer composition which comprises: a. an expandable thermoplastic polymer having a processing temperature of greater than about 500*F; and b. a blowing amount of a metal salt of a tetrazole having the formula

Claim 20

An expandable polymer composition which comprises: a. an expandable thermoplastic polymer having a processing temperature of greater than about 500*F; and b. a blowing amount of a metal salt of a tetrazole having the formula

Claim 21

The polymer composition of claim 15 wherein the polymer is selected from the group consisting of polycarbonate, polysulfone, polysulfonate, polyphenyl oxide, polyamides, polyaryl ether, polyphenylene sulfide, poly-p-oxybenzoate and polyester polymers.

Claim 22

The polymer composition of claim 15 wherein the processing temperature of the polymer is from about 500* to 750*F.

Claim 23

The polymer composition of claim 15 wherein the polymer is foamable pellets or fibers.