Flame retardant antistatic additives and antistatic fibers

Abstract

Abstract Flame-retardant antistatic polymer additives are provided which inhibit the buildup of electrostatic charges upon the addition of such compositions to synthetic polymeric fibers, i.e., polyamide fibers, and at the same time do not contribute to the flammability characteristics of such polymeric fibers. The flame-retardant antistatic polymer compositions are useful in combinations with fibers such as polyamide, polyester, polyurea, polyurethane, polysulfonamide, polyolefin and polyacrylic fibers. The antistatic effect is obtained by the process of coating the fibers or dispersing in or on the fibers up to about 12 percent by weight of a polymer composition which is the reaction product of: (a) a polyoxyalkylene compound or polyester thereof and (b) at least one reactant selected from the group consisting of (1) a diol, (2) a polyester and (3) an aliphatic or aromatic diacid or derivative of (3), wherein at least one said reactant is halogenated. Improved flame-retardant properties can be obtained by including with the flame-retardant, antistatic polymer composition an effective flame retardant proportion of a compound from group Vb of the periodic table. Generally about 1:4 to about 4:1 parts halogen to antimony compound is used. Such compounds are oxides of metals such as phosphorus, arsenic, antimony, or bismuth with the preferred compound being antimony trioxide.

Inventors

• 👤 David D. Newkirk
• 👤 Robert B. Login
• 👤 Basil Thir

Bibliographic Details