Abstract: A process for preparing a polybromoaryl ether, the polybromoaryl ether prepared by this process comprising adding to a solvent for the polybromoaryl ether a mixture of (1) at least one compound of the structure HO—Ar—X1, X2, X3, X4, X5, wherein Ar is an aryl group and X1, X2, X3, X4, and X5 are independently selected from hydrogen and bromine, provided that at least one of X1, X2, X3, X4, and X5 is bromine, (2) at least one alkali or alkaline metal hydroxide, and (3) at least one polymerization initiator, wherein said solvent for the polybromoaryl ether is a non-solvent for alkali metal bromides. The current invention also relates to a composition comprising a mixture of a polymeric resin and the polybromoaryl ether prepared by the process of the current invention.

Abstract: A process for substantially perbrominating diphenyl ether comprising the steps of: (A) adding the diphenyl ether to a mixture of: (i) a greater than 400 percent excess of the stoichiometric amount of bromine; and (ii) a catalytically effective amount of a Lewis acid catalyst; (B) heating said mixture to an elevated temperature during the addition; and (C) continuing the reaction at an elevated temperature after addition of the aromatic compound has been completed.

Abstract: There is disclosed a novel mixture of polyhydroxy phenolic curing agents, such as novolac resins blended with a mixture of mono, bis and tris hydroxyaryl phosphine oxides for co-curing epoxy resins and imparting flame resistance thereto. A preferred composition includes a mixture of monohydroxyaryl, bishydroxyaryl and trishydroxyaryl phosphine oxide and a benzoguanamine/phenol/formaldehyde terpolymer which is used along with an epoxy resin to produce flame-resistant printed wiring boards without the use of halogens.

Abstract: There is disclosed a novel mixture of polyhydroxy phenolic curing agents, such as novolac resins blended with a mixture of mono, bis and tris hydroxyaryl phosphine oxides for co-curing epoxy resins and imparting flame resistance thereto. A preferred composition includes a mixture of monohydroxyaryl, bishydroxyaryl and trishydroxyaryl phosphine oxide and a benzoguanamine/phenol/formaldehyde terpolymer which is used along with an epoxy resin to produce flame-resistant printed wiring boards without the use of halogens.

Abstract: The invention provides new compositions of matter that are capable of forming cross-linked polymeric materials upon reaction with various known epoxy-containing compositions. Thus, the compositions of this invention are useful in the manufacturing of prepregs and laminates for PWB applications among many other uses. Preferred compositions of this invention include substituted hydroxyarylphosphine oxide mixtures, the glycidyl ether derivatives, or the epoxy resin oligomer adducts derived therefrom. The materials provide for laminates that have higher glass transition temperatures, improved thermal stability, and that are free of halogen.

Abstract: A mixture of hydroxyarylphosphine oxides comprising (a) a mono(hydroxyaryl)phosphine oxide, (b) a bis(hydroxyaryl)phosphine oxide, (c) a tris((hydroxyaryl)phosphine oxide, and, optionally (d) a tri- aryl, alkyl, or aralkyl-substituted phosphine oxide combined with a phenolic co-crosslinking composition is useful as a polyhtdroxy mixture for co-crosslinking an epoxy resin which also imparts flame resistance.

Abstract: There is disclosed a novel mixture of polyhydroxy phenolic curing agents, such as novolac resins blended with a mixture of mono, bis and tris hydroxyaryl phosphine oxides for co-curing epoxy resins and imparting flame resistance thereto. A preferred composition includes a mixture of monohydroxyaryl, bishydroxyaryl and trishydroxyaryl phosphine oxide and a benzoguanamine/phenol/formaldehyde terpolymer which is used along with an epoxy resin to produce flame-resistant printed wiring boards without the use of halogens.

Abstract: The invention provides new compositions of matter that are capable of forming cross-linked polymeric materials upon reaction with various known epoxy-containing compositions. Thus, the compositions of this invention are useful in the manufacturing of prepregs and laminates for PWB applications among many other uses. Preferred compositions of this invention include substituted hydroxyarylphosphine oxide mixtures, the glycidyl ether derivatives, or the epoxy resin oligomer adducts derived therefrom. The materials provide for laminates that have higher glass transition temperatures, improved thermal stability, and that are free of halogen.

Abstract: A mixture of hydroxyarylphosphine oxides comprising (a) a mono(hydroxyaryl)phosphine oxide, (b) a bis(hydroxyaryl)phosphine oxide, (c) a tris(hydroxyaryl)phosphine oxide, and, optionally (d) a tri- aryl, alkyl or aralkyl-substituted phosphine oxide is useful in the preparation of polyglycidyl ethers derived therefrom, or is employed as flame retardants in epoxy resin compositions which can be processed into resin-impregnated composites.

Abstract: There is disclosed a novel mixture of polyhydroxy phenolic curing agents, such as novolac resins blended with a mixture of mono, bis and tris hydroxyaryl phosphine oxides for co-curing epoxy resins and imparting flame resistance thereto. A preferred composition includes a mixture of monohydroxyaryl, bishydroxyaryl and trishydroxyaryl phosphine oxide and a benzoguanamine/phenol/formaldehyde terpolymer which is used along with an epoxy resin to produce flame-resistant printed wiring boards without the use of halogens.

Abstract: The invention provides new compositions of matter that are capable of forming cross-linked polymeric materials upon reaction with various known epoxy-containing compositions. Thus, the compositions of this invention are useful in the manufacturing of prepregs and laminates for PWB applications among many other uses. Preferred compositions of this invention include substituted hydroxyarylphosphine oxide mixtures, the glycidyl ether derivatives, or the epoxy resin oligomer adducts derived therefrom. The materials provide for laminates that have higher glass transition temperatures, improved thermal stability, and that are free of halogen.

Abstract: A reduced methyl bromide process for making tetrabromobisphenol A in methanol, including: dissolving bisphenol-A in a methanol solvent to form a bisphenol-A methanol solution, adding bromine to the bisphenol-A methanol solution to brominate bisphenol-A and form tetrabromobisphenol A and hydrogen bromide, exposing the bisphenol-A methanol solution to an amount of a hydrogen peroxide agent to reduce the amount of methyl bromide co-product resulting from the bromination of bisphenol-A in methanol by reducing the amount of hydrogen bromide co-product available to react with the methanol, and collecting the resulting tetrabromobisphenol A product thus formed after the bromination is substantially complete.

Abstract: A process for the preparation of halonitroalkanes, e.g. bromonitromethane, is disclosed in which a nitroalkane is reacted with an alkali metal base or an alkaline earth metal base, and the resulting nitroalkane salt is halogenated to form the halonitroalkane in a reaction mixture. The process is improved by acidifying the reaction mixture, preferably to pH=0-4, and thereafter recovering the halonitroalkane by azeotropic distillation of the reaction mixture. The acidification step increases the amount of halonitroalkane recovered, as compared to prior art processes in which the reaction mixture is distilled without prior acidification.

Abstract: Bromonitroethenylfuran (BNEF) is prepared from furfural in a two-step process. A primary amine is reacted with furfural in an organic solvent at the reflux temperature of the solvent to form the Schiff base. The organic solvent and the water formed in the foregoing reaction are removed from the Schiff base, which is then dissolved in a polar, water-miscible solvent. Bromonitromethane is added to the Schiff base solution and reacts with the Schiff base to form BNEF, which can be readily isolated by precipitation.