Synthesis and applications of biscyclic phosphorus flame retardants

The influence of structural effects of organo-phosphorus flame retardants (FRs) on their flame retardant action was investigated. A series of spirobisphosphorus compounds including 3,9-dibutyl-3,9-dioxo-2,4,8,10-tetraoxa-3,9-diphosphaspiro-5,5-undecane were prepared using various synthetic methods such as the Arbuzov reaction. The chemical structure of the product was confirmed by 1H and 31P NMR. Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) results reveal that these cyclic phosphorus compounds show a single step degradation in the range of 250-400 °C and act in the gas phase rather than in the condensed phase. The obtained products were blended with an acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene copolymer (ABS) or polycarbonate (PC) and their flame retardant behavior was evaluated using a UL-94 vertical test. V-0 ratings are achieved at 15-35 wt% loading of FR for ABS and at a much lesser amount of loading for PC. In both cases, it is apparent that the flame retardancy is strongly dependent on the P content of the flame retardant.