Abstract: Flame retardant formulations comprised of at least one bromine-containing polyol are produced by a process which comprises: A) heating a mixture formed from components comprised of (i) tetrabromophthalic anhydride, (ii) at least one aliphatic polyol, and (iii) at least one liquid straight chain aliphatic diester of a straight-chain alkane dicarboxylic acid to form an intermediate composition; and B) contacting all or a portion of the intermediate composition one or more times with (iv) at least one alkylene oxide that results in the formation of a liquid product formulation, and optionally, removing any excess alkylene oxide present; the amounts of (i), (ii), (iii), and (iv) used being proportioned to form a formulation having a bromine content of at least about 40 wt %, a viscosity at 25° C. of about 20,000 cps or less, and an acid number as determinable by aqueous sodium hydroxide titration and expressed in terms of potassium hydroxide, of less than about 1 milligram of KOH per gram of the formulation.

Abstract: Flame retardant formulations comprised of at least one bromine-containing polyol are produced by a process which comprises: A) heating a mixture formed from components comprised of (i) tetrabromophthalic anhydride, (ii) at least one aliphatic polyol, and (iii) at least one liquid straight chain aliphatic diester of a straight-chain alkane dicarboxylic acid to form an intermediate composition; and B) contacting all or a portion of the intermediate composition one or more times with (iv) at least one alkylene oxide that results in the formation of a liquid product formulation, and optionally, removing any excess alkylene oxide present; the amounts of (i), (ii), (iii), and (iv) used being proportioned to form a formulation having a bromine content of at least about 40 wt %, a viscosity at 25° C. of about 20,000 cps or less, and an acid number as determinable by aqueous sodium hydroxide titration and expressed in terms of potassium hydroxide, of less than about 1 milligram of KOH per gram of the formulation.

Abstract: A flame retardant formulation which is the combination of at least (1) at least one bromine-containing polyol flame retardant formed from the reaction of (a) tetrabromophthalic anhydride, (b) an aliphatic polyol, and (c) an epoxide, and (2) at least one aliphatic diester of an alkane dicarboxylic acid, with the proviso that the formulation has a viscosity at 25° C. of about 20,000 cps or less, and a bromine content of at least about 40 wt %. A flame retardant compound formed from A) tetrabromophthalic anhydride; B) diethylene glycol; C) at least one alpha-omega alkane diol, or at least one alpha-omega alkane diol and at least one aliphatic monool; and D) at least one alkylene oxide; with the proviso that the compound has a viscosity at 25° C. of about 60,000 cps or less, and a bromine content of at least about 43 wt %. Polymer compositions formed from (a) a polyurethane or a polyisocyanurate and (b) a formulation of the invention.