Flame retardant polymeric materials achieved by incorporation of styrene monomers containing both nitrogen and phosphorus

Organophosphorus compounds have a long history as effective flame retardants for polymeric materials. There is increasing interest in developing new phosphorus flame retardants as a consequence of the increasing worldwide regulatory pressure on the use of organohalogen flame retardants which are persistant in the environment, tend to bioaccumulate, and pose potential health risks for the human population. It has been widely suggested that the flame retardant activity of phosphorus compounds may be enhanced by the presence of nitrogen, sulfur, silicon and a few other elements. This has been tested by examining the flamability behavior of copolymers derived from styrene monomers containing phosphorus moieties in comparison to those containing similar monomers in which both phosphorus and nitrogen are present.