Abstract: Preparing mixed phosphate ester compositions consisting essentially of 10% to 19% tributyl phosphate, 62% to 80% dibutyl phenyl phosphate, and 10% to 19% butyl diphenyl phosphate which comprises forming a first reaction product by reacting phosphorus oxychloride with phenol in a molar ratio of 1:0.8 to 1.0 until less than 1% unreacted phenol is present in the reaction mixture, reacting the first reaction product with excess n-butanol at a temperature below 35.degree. C to prepare a crude mixed phosphate ester composition comprising tributyl phosphate, dibutyl phenyl phosphate and butyl diphenyl phosphate, and purifying the crude composition leaving a substantially pure mixed phosphate ester composition.

Abstract: A novel process consisting of reacting a phosphonitrilic chloride with an alcohol or alkoxide to 12 carbon atoms to produce a partially esterified phosphonitrilic chloride, removing impurities from the chloroester and heating the ester to form a condensed polymeric phosphazene with P-O-P oxygen linkages. This new class of polymer phosphazenes, with P-O-P oxygen linkages, is unusually efficacious in rendering rayon flame-retardant.