Abstract: A flame retardant additive for polymers is disclosed which additive comprises a polyacrylate in combination with a) at least one zinc borate, b) at least one silicone resin, and c) alumina trihydrate or magnesium hydroxide or a mixture thereof, said additive being free of halogens, antimony oxide and phosphorus-containing substances. A flame retardant composition comprising a polymer and a flame retardant additive is also disclosed as well as a method of reducing the flammability of a polymer by mixing said polymer with said flame retardant additive.

Abstract: Polymer material is surface modified with the intention of increasing the hydrophilicity of the polymer surface, by producing carboxyl groups, carbonyl groups and hydroxyl groups on the polymer surface in a first stage, by oxidizing with, e.g., oxidizing acid solutions or in some other manner, and by reacting the groups on the polymer surface in a second step with heterocyclic compounds having three or four ring atoms or with isocyanate compounds or carbodiimide compounds.