Abstract: Polymer foam bodies are made from phosphorus-containing thermoplastic random copolymers of a dialkyl (meth)acryloyloxyalkyl phosph(on)ate. Foam bodies made from these copolymers exhibit increased limiting oxygen indices and surprisingly have good properties. In certain embodiments, the phosphorus-containing thermoplastic copolymer is blended with one or more other polymers and formed into nanofoams.

Abstract: Extruded polystyrene foams are made with an added brominated styrene-butadiene polymer as a flame retardant. The blowing agent is a mixture of carbon dioxide, ethanol and water, which may also contain a C4-C5 hydrocarbon. The blowing agent mixture overcomes a tendency of the brominated styrene-butadiene to form very small cells. This allows the foam to expand fully to form good quality, low density extruded foam.

Abstract: Polymer foam bodies are made from phosphorus-containing thermoplastic random copolymers of a dialkyl (meth)acryloyloxyalkyl phosph(on)ate. Foam bodies made from these copolymers exhibit increased limiting oxygen indices and surprisingly have good properties. In certain embodiments, the phosphorus-containing thermoplastic copolymer is blended with one or more other polymers and formed into nanofoams.

Abstract: Prepare a thermoset polyurethane foam containing a brominated polymer with aliphatic bromine as a flame retardant.

Abstract: Aluminum carboxylate salt having a formula of Al[OCO(CH2)nP(O)(OR1)(OR2)]3 where R1 and R2 are hydrocarbyl groups that can optionally be joined and n is independently an integer between one and four is useful for forming an article of manufacture comprising a polymer compounded together the aluminum carboxylate salt to form a flame retardant polymer article.

Abstract: Brominated styrene-butadiene copolymers are useful gas transport films. The gas transport films are made by brominating a starting styrene-butadiene copolymer, and then forming the brominated styrene-butadiene copolymer into a film. The film may contain a blend of the brominated styrene-butadiene copolymer with one or more other polymers. The films have excellent selectivities between certain pairs of gasses, and exhibit high gas transport rates for various gasses such as carbon dioxide and water vapor.

Abstract: Aluminum carboxylate salt having a formula of Al[OCO(CH2)nP(O)(OR1)(OR2)]3 where R1 and R2 are hydrocarbyl groups that can optionally be joined and n is independently an integer between one and four is useful for forming an article of manufacture comprising a polymer compounded together the aluminum carboxylate salt to form a flame retardant polymer article.

Abstract: Prepare a thermoset polyurethane foam containing a brominated polymer with aliphatic bromine as a flame retardant.

Abstract: Impact-modified polystyrene resins such as HIPS and ABS resins are blended with a brominated vinyl aromatic-butadiene copolymer. The brominated copolymer is an effective flame retardant in these compositions, allowing in many cases a V-1 rating to be achieved in the UL-94 vertical burn test.

Abstract: Brominated styrene-butadiene copolymers are useful gas transport films. The gas transport films are made by brominating a starting styrene-butadiene copolymer, and then forming the brominated styrene-butadiene copolymer into a film The film may contain a blend of the brominated styrene-butadiene copolymer with one or more other polymers. The films have excellent selectivities between certain pairs of gasses, and exhibit high gas transport rates for various gasses such as carbon dioxide and water vapor.

Abstract: Extruded polystyrene foams are made with an added brominated styrene-butadiene polymer as a flame retardant. The blowing agent is a mixture of carbon dioxide, ethanol and water, which may also contain a C4-C5 hydrocarbon. The blowing agent mixture overcomes a tendency of the brominated styrene-butadiene to form very small cells. This allows the foam to expand fully to form good quality, low density extruded foam.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a composition (10) to be mixed with a molten metal to make a metal matrix composite, the composition characterized by: a ceramic reinforcing filler (12), the ceramic reinforcing filler not being wettable by molten aluminum and/or not being chemically stable in molten aluminum, the ceramic reinforcing filler being coated with a ceramic material, the ceramic material being wettable by and chemically stable in molten aluminum. In a related embodiment, a composition (20) to make a porous preform to be infiltrated by molten metal to make a metal matrix composite, the composition characterized by: a ceramic reinforcing filler (23), the ceramic reinforcing filler not being wettable by molten aluminum, the ceramic reinforcing filler being coated with a ceramic material (22) and optionally with a metal (21) such as nickel, the ceramic material being wettable by molten aluminum.

Abstract: Butadiene copolymers are brominated in solution using bromine as the brominating agent. The bromination is conducted in the presence of an excess of an aliphatic alcohol, relative to the amount of bromine that is used. The bromination proceeds rapidly at mild conditions, and is selective in that only aliphatic carbon-carbon double bonds are brominated, and unwanted bromination at tertiary carbon atoms is largely or completely avoided. The resulting brominated polymers are characterized in having very good thermal stability.

Abstract: Phosphorus-sulfur compounds have flame retardant activity in organic polymer systems. The phosphorus-sulfur compounds can be represented by the structure: wherein X is oxygen or sulfur, T is a covalent bond, oxygen, sulfur or nitrogen, provided that at least one of X and T is sulfur, each X? is independently oxygen or sulfur, each m is independently zero or 1 when X? is oxygen and zero, 1 or 2 when X? is sulfur, n is at least 1 and preferably at least 2, each R is independently an unsubstituted or inertly substituted hydrocarbyl group or the R groups together form an unsubstituted or inertly substituted divalent organic group and A is an organic linking group.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a composition (10) to be mixed with a molten metal to make a metal matrix composite, the composition characterized by: a ceramic reinforcing filler (12), the ceramic reinforcing filler not being wettable by molten aluminum and/or not being chemically stable in molten aluminum, the ceramic reinforcing filler being coated with a ceramic material, the ceramic material being wettable by and chemically stable in molten aluminum. In a related embodiment, a composition (20) to make a porous preform to be infiltrated by molten metal to make a metal matrix composite, the composition characterized by: a ceramic reinforcing filler (23), the ceramic reinforcing filler not being wettable by molten aluminum, the ceramic reinforcing filler being coated with a ceramic material (22) and optionally with a metal (21) such as nickel, the ceramic material being wettable by molten aluminum.

Abstract: Phosphorus-sulfur compounds have flame retardant activity in organic polymer systems. The phosphorus-sulfur compounds can be represented by the structure: wherein X is oxygen or sulfur, T is a covalent bond, oxygen, sulfur or nitrogen, provided that at least one of X and T is sulfur, each X? is independently oxygen or sulfur, each m is independently zero or 1 when X? is oxygen and zero, 1 or 2 when X? is sulfur, n is at least 1 and preferably at least 2, each R is independently an unsubstituted or inertly substituted hydrocarbyl group or the R groups together form an unsubstituted or inertly substituted divalent organic group and A is an organic linking group.

Abstract: Butadiene copolymers are brominated in solution using bromine as the brominating agent. The bromination is conducted in the presence of an excess of an aliphatic alcohol, relative to the amount of bromine that is used. The bromination proceeds rapidly at mild conditions, and is selective in that only aliphatic carbon-carbon double bonds are brominated, and unwanted bromination at tertiary carbon atoms is largely or completely avoided. The resulting brominated polymers are characterized in having very good thermal stability.

Abstract: Extruded polymer foams are prepared using 5,5-bis(bromomethyl)-2-oxo-1,3,2-dioxaphosphorinane or brominated 2-oxo-1,3,2-dioxaphosphorinane compounds. The brominated FR additives unexpectedly are stable at the extrusion temperatures, and provide excellent flame retardancy to the foams.

Abstract: Phosphorus-sulfur compounds have flame retardant activity in organic polymer systems. The phosphorus-sulfur compounds can be represented by the structure: wherein X is oxygen or sulfur, T is a covalent bond, oxygen, sulfur or nitrogen, provided that at least one of X and T is sulfur, each X? is independently oxygen or sulfur, each m is independently zero or 1 when X? is oxygen and zero, 1 or 2 when X? is sulfur, n is at least 1 and preferably at least 2, each R is independently an unsubstituted or inertly substituted hydrocarbyl group or the R groups together form an unsubstituted or inertly substituted divalent organic group and A is an organic linking group.

Abstract: A concrete article comprised of concrete having therein a reinforcing fiber, where at least about 50 percent of the reinforcing fibers are frayed only at an end or ends of the reinforcing fibers, may be made by mixing concrete, water and a reinforcing fiber for a sufficient time to fray the ends of at least 50 percent of the fibers and curing the mixture to form the concrete article. The fiber may be a reinforcing fiber comprised of at least two filaments bonded together and the filaments being comprised of a polymeric core and a polymeric sheath comprised of a fusing-fraying polymer, such that the reinforcing fiber, when mixed with inorganic particulates, frays predominately only at an end or ends of the fiber.