Antimony Oxide Synergist

PET requires special flame-retardant chemistry since the antimony oxide synergist that is normally used in combination with brominated flame retardants causes de-esterification of the PET chain and concomitant molecular weight loss. In place of antimony oxide, PET requires a sodium antimonate synergist. Another problem with antimony trioxide is that it decreases the thermal stability of the brominated flame retardant which then produces hydrobromic acid which degrades the PET. 

Unsaturated polyester Antimony oxide Synergistic flame retardant [37]... 

Mixed Metal Antimony Synergists Worldwide scarcities of antimony have prompted manufacturers to develop synergists that contain less antimony. Other metals have been found to work in concert with antimony to form a synergist that is as effective as antimony alone. Thermoguard CPA from Elf Atochem NA, which contains zinc in addition to antimony, can be used instead of antimony oxide in flexible poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) as well as some polyolefin appHcations. The Oncor and AZ products which contain siUcon, zinc, and phosphoms from Anzon Inc. can be used in a similar manner. The mixed metal synergists are 10 to 20% less expensive than antimony trioxide. 

Ammonium Fluoroborate. Ammonium fluoroborate [13826-83-0] NH BF, is unique in that when it is exposed to a flame, it generates both a halogen and a boron flame retardant (20). Antimony oxide is usually recommended as a co-synergist. 

Zinc Borate. Zinc borate is also effective in enhancing the flame-inhibiting powers of chlorine. Although zinc borate increases flame resistance, it is not as effective as antimony oxide, as is illustrated in Figure 3. However, zinc borate can be used in combination with antimony oxide to obtain equivalent and in some instances enhanced effects over what can be obtained using either of the two synergists alone (Table 9). 

Molybdenum Oxide. Molybdenum compounds incorporated into flexible PVC not only increase flame resistance, but also decrease smoke evolution. In Table 10 the effect of molybdenum oxide on the oxygen index of a flexible PVC containing 50 parts of a plasticizer is compared with antimony oxide. Antimony oxide is the superior synergist for flame retardancy but has Httle or no effect on smoke evolution. However, combinations of molybdenum oxide and antimony oxide may be used to reduce the total inorganic flame-retardant additive package, and obtain improved flame resistance and reduced smoke. 

Zinc Sta.nna.tes, The zinc staimates are also effective synergists for flexible PVC however, as shown in Figure 4a, antimony oxide is more effective. If more chlorine such as in a chlorinated paraffin such as Cereclor is added, then the staimates become more effective and eventually outperform antimony oxide (Fig. 4b). 

Synergists. The effect of antimony oxide on the flammabiUty of unsaturated polyesters that contain chlorine is shown in Table 11. A similar effect on the flammabiUty of unsaturated polyester containing 2inc stannates and bromine instead of chlorine is given in Table 12. 

Antimony oxide and 2inc borate are also used as synergists for unsaturated polyesters. Their combined effect on the flame spread index (25) is ... 

Cblorina.ted Pa.ra.ffins, The term chlotinated paraffins covers a variety of compositions. The prime variables are molecular weight of the starting paraffin and the chlorine content of the final product. Typical products contain from 12—24 carbons and from 40—70 wt % chlorine. Liquid chlotinated paraffins are used as plasticizers (qv) and flame retardants ia paint (qv) and PVC formulations. The soHd materials are used as additive flame retardants ia a variety of thermoplastics. In this use, they are combiaed with antimony oxide which acts as a synergist. Thermal stabilizers, such as those used ia PVC (see vinyl polymers), must be used to overcome the inherent thermal iastabiUty. 

Ba(B02)2 H2O, used in flame retardant plastic formulations as a synergist for phosphoms or halogen compounds and as a partial or complete replacement for antimony oxide (see Flame RETARDANTS), is excellent as an afterglow suppressant. The low refractive index of results in greater... 

The role of antimony oxide is not entirely understood. On its own it is a rather weak fire retardant although it appears to function by all of the mechanisms listed above. It is, however, synergistic with phosphorus and halogen compounds and consequently widely used. Other oxides are sometimes used as alternatives or partial replacements for antimony oxide. These include titanium dioxide, zinc oxide and molybdenic oxide. Zinc borate has also been used. 

Surprisingly, phosphorus when combined with bromine is effective in nonoxygen containing polymers. In another reference, a mixture of a brominated compound and a triaryl phosphate was claimed to be effective in HIPS where antimony oxide is generally required as a synergist for bromine (ref. 7). 

AS A FLAME RETARDANT. The zinc borate is an efficient synergist of organic halogen sources. In certain halogen-containing systems such as unsaturated polyester, epoxy (3), and rigid PVC, the zinc borate alone can outperform antimony oxide as shown by the Oxygen Index and UL-94 tests (Fig. 3, 4, and 5). 

Antimony oxide is known as a flame retardant synergist when used in combination with halogen compounds. Volatile antimony oxyhalide (SbOX) and/or antimony trihalide (SbX3) are formed in the condensed phase and transport the halogen into the gas phase (3). It has been suggested that antimony is also a highly active radical trap (4). 

Antimony oxide flame retardants act as depolymerization agents for PET. Instead, sodium antimonate is the synergist of choice. 

Poly (vinyl chloride). PVC is a hard, brittle polymer that is self-extinguishing. In order to make PVC useful and more pliable, plaslict/ers I qv) are added. More often than not the plasticizers are flammable and make Ihe formulation less flame-resistant. The Maine resistance of the polyf vinyl chloride) can he increased by ihe addition of an inorganic llamc-rctardunl synergist, e.g., antimony oxide, mixed metal antimony synergists, zinc borate, molybdenum oxide, zinc stannates. and alumina trihydrale. 

Flammability. Most polyolefins can be made fire retardant using a stabilizer, usually a bromine-containing organic compound, and a synergist such as antimony oxide. However, the required loadings are usually too high for fibers to be spun. Fire-retardant polypropylene fibers exhibit reduced light and thermal resistance. 

Tetrabromobisphenol A is used in epoxy resins especially for glass fiber reinforced used in printed circuit board. Nonreactive compounds such as tetrabromophatalate ester, bis(tribromophenoxy) ethane, and decabromodiphenyl ether are also used. The use of synergists, such as antimony oxide, reduces the quantity of brominated flame retardant necessary but decreases the electrical properties required. 

Additive flame-retardant compounds include brominated epoxy resins, chlorinated hydrocarbons, decabromodiphenyl ether, and pentabromodiphenyl ether. Where transparency is not important, antimony oxide can be used as a synergist to reduce the amount of halogen required. 

---