Compounds of the formula (I) ##STR1## where Y is H, Cl or Br with at least one Y always being Cl or Br and X is S or S--S. Polymer compositions including antioxidants and the compounds or the compound alone are useful as electrical insulation e.g., for copper cable, as heat shrinkable (heat recoverable) parts or as other plastic parts to improve the retention of mechanical and/or electrical properties of the insulation or parts.

BRIEF STATEMENT OF THE INVENTION 
This invention is directed to a compound of the formula (I) 
##STR2## 
where Y is H, Cl or Br with at least one Y always being Cl or Br and X is 
S or S--S most preferably each Y is Br or each Y is Cl and X is S, and its 
use in polymers as a flame retardant as well as a synergist for 
antioxidants used in such polymers or as an antioxidant or flame retardant 
in its own right, and articles of manufacture made comprising polymers 
with the compound. 
While it would be expected that the compounds (I) would have nil 
antioxidant properties at elevated temperatures in a polymer unexpectedly 
the compounds of formula (I) have antioxidant properties comparable to 
compounds which would be considered to be primary antioxidants. The 
compounds will also, when used in combination with one or more primary 
antioxidants will substantially and unexpectedly increase the useful life 
of the polymer at elevated temperatures without requiring the high loading 
of the primary antioxidants (also referred to as chain breaking 
antioxidants). 
While it may be possible to use additional antioxidants, to achieve the 
increased polymer life at elevated temperatures, primary antioxidants 
commonly used tend to diffuse out of the polymer at high concentrations 
and form undesirable coating (termed blooming) on the surface thereof. In 
addition, the loss of primary antioxidant will over a period of time 
permit oxidation to take place at an accelerated rate and thereby 
significantly decrease the mechanical and electrical properties of the 
polymer thus shortening its lifetime. The commonly used antioxidant 
synergist (synergists are sometimes referred to as secondary antioxidants, 
and also referred to as peroxide decomposing antioxidants) DLTDP (dilauryl 
thiodipropionate) also is known to bloom. 
The present invention is useful in polymers used for electrical insulation, 
in heat shrinkable tubing and other parts, e.g., end caps made of 
polyethylene and used for electrical purposes, as well as in other plastic 
(polymer) parts used as utensils or as parts of the tubs of washing 
machines to prevent them from becoming brittle due to loss of antioxidant 
(because of soapy water causing the antioxidants commonly used to leach 
out of the plastic). 
The compounds of formula (I) are particularly useful in heat recoverable 
(heat shrinkable) articles of manufacture such as tubing, end caps and 
other hollow articles to which heat is applied to cause shrinkage because 
the lack of blooming permits cooling with adhesives which may contain 
metal particles. 
Polymers in which the compound of formula (I) are useful in this invention 
include all thermoplastics and thermohardening (thermosetting) plastics in 
which antioxidants are employed. Suitable plastics may include polyolefins 
such polyethylene (high and low density), polypropylene, polybutylene, 
substituted polyolefins such as halogenated olefin polymers and copolymers 
of same and silane grafted polyethylenes, e.g., grafted using a silane 
such as vinyl trimethoxy silane as the grafting agent, (see U.S. Pat. No. 
3,086,242). 
The compounds of formula (I) would also be useful with any polymer whose 
useful properties are adversely affected by oxidative degradation such as 
esters, amides (e.g., nylon), phenolics, acrylics, rubber, urethanes, 
vinyls, styrenes (e.g. ABS), and others used in the plastics industry. See 
the Test PLASTICS IN THE MODERN WORLD by E. G. Couzens and V. E. Yarsly 
(C) 1968, published by Pelican Books, Inc., Maryland U.S.A., for other 
polymers used in industry and useful in this invention. 
Prior art patents showing heat recoverable plastics and articles include 
U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,048,129, 4,016,356, 3,982,546 and 3,959,052. It should be 
understood that heat recoverable articles are meant to include those that 
are treated by irradiation or chemically treated to produce such articles. 
Examples of primary antioxidants useful in a polymer with the compounds of 
formula (I) include: 
______________________________________ 
ANTIOXIDANTS 
Commercial Name 
Chemical Name 
______________________________________ 
Irganox 1010 tetrakis[methylene-3(3',5'-di-tert-butyl- 
4'-hydroxyphenyl)propionate]methane 
Santonox R 4,4'-thiobis(3-methyl-6-tert-butyl 
phenol) 
Irganox 1024 N,N'---bis(3,5-di-tert-butyl-4-hydroxy- 
hydrocinnamoyl) hydrazine 
Cyanox 1729 Bis(4-tert-butyl-3-hydroxy-2,6-dimethyl 
benzyl) dithiolterephthalate 
Ethyl 330 1,3,5,Trimethyl-2,4,6,-tris[3,5 di-tert- 
butyl-4 hydroxy benzyl]-benzene 
Agerite White 
di-.beta.-napthyl-p-phenylene-diamine 
Irganox 1035 thiodiethylene bis(3,5-di-tert-butyl- 
4-hydroxy) hydrocinnamate 
______________________________________ 
Other suitable commercial antioxidants include Good-Rite 3114, Plastanox 
2246, Naugard 449, Naugard XL-1, Irganox 1093, Irganox 1076, Topanol CA, 
and Irganox 565. Other antioxidants (normally termed primary antioxidants) 
in the art may be found in the text ANTIOXIDANTS, RECENT DEVELOPMENTS, 
CHEMICAL TECHNOLOGY REVIEW NO. 127, by M. William Ronney, Noyes Data 
Corporation (C) 1979, Library of Congress, Catalog No. 79-84425. 
In using thus invention to form polymeric articles, while the compounds of 
formula (I) acts as a synergist, it is preferred that an amount of the 
compound of formula (I) to the amount of antioxidant is in the ratio of 
1:10 to 10:1 with the total weight of antioxidant and the compounds of 
formula (I) being within the range of 0.05 to 150% (generally 50 to 100%) 
based on the weight of the polymer (resin) with 0.05 to 10% being the 
preferred range where it is used solely for its antioxidant properties. 
The compounds of formula (I) provide the sulfur for synergism with primary 
(strong) antioxidants (see list of antioxidants on previous page) and also 
includes halogen atoms. 
In using the compounds of formula (I) by themselves as antioxidants in a 
polymer, the concentration used should preferably be between 0.05 to 10% 
of the weight of the polymer depending upon environmental conditions to be 
met. When the compounds of Formula I are to be used as flame retardants as 
well, the preferred concentrations can be as high as 150% of the weight of 
the polymer.

In FIGS. 1 to 7 there are shown various forms of the invention. FIGS. 1 to 
5 illustrate hollow articles as does FIG. 7. 
FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 illustrate a tube 20 formed of material such as 
polyethylene and containing an antioxidant and a compound of formula (I) 
or a compound of formula (I) alone. The tube is formed by conventional 
technology to be heat shrinkable e.g., see U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,086,242 and 
3,303,243. See U.K. Patent Application No. 1,601,063 published Oct. 21, 
1981 for an illustration of chemically produced heat shrinkable material. 
Conventional cross-linked silane grafted polyethylene as shown in U.S. 
Pat. No. 3,086,242. The material of U.S. Pat. No. 3,086,242 will be 
modified by the incorporation of antioxidant and a compound of formula (I) 
as disclosed herein. 
The tube 20 is shrunk as shown in FIG. 3 over electrical cable 21 to 
provide an insulative protective cover which will protect against moisture 
and other deleterious substances. 
FIGS. 2 and 5 illustrate a heat recoverable end cap 25 (a closed at one end 
hollow article) with FIG. 5 showing the end cap 25 shrunk over a pair of 
wires 26 and 27. The end cap 25 is made by using the polymer material of 
the invention in a manner well known in the art. 
FIGS. 6 and 7 show a sheet 30 of material of the invention rolled over upon 
itself as in FIG. 7 to form a tube. The sheet may be heat recoverable or 
not depending upon the desires of the end use. A heat recoverable sheet 
may be made by methods known in the art. 
In this invention, the preferred primary antioxidants are those 
characterized in the art as hindered phenolics or aromatic amines. 
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
FIG. 1 is a side view of a tube; 
FIG. 2 is an end view of a tube; 
FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the tube of FIGS. 1 and 2 shrunk over wire or 
cable; 
FIG. 4 is a sectional view of an end cap; 
FIG. 5 is a sectional view of the end cap of FIG. 4 shrunk over a pair of 
wires; 
FIG. 6 is a top view of a sheet of polymer material of the invention; and 
FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the sheet of FIG. 6 rolled up upon itself 
to form a tube. 
The following examples are illustrative of the practice of the invention 
and are not intended for purposes of limitation. All parts are by weight 
and all temperatures are in centigrade. 
EXAMPLE 1 
Preparation of the compound of formula (I) where X is S and each Y is Br 
The compound of this example may be prepared in two steps as follows: Sixty 
ml. of water is heated to about 60.degree. C. and 10 grams of dimethyl 
thiodipropionate 
##STR3## 
are added with stirring. 
To this two-phase composition is added 7.3 grams of hydrazine hydrate 
[NH.sub.2 NH.sub.2 ]H.sub.2 O (a 50% excess) while stirring is continued. 
In about 5 minutes the suspension clarifies and reaction appears to be 
complete. Stirring is continued for an additional 25 minutes and the 
solution is cooled to about 5.degree. C. (crystals form at about 
35.degree. to 40.degree. C.), filtered and dried. The yield is about 7.5 
grams of thiodipropionic acid dihydrazide, m.p. 154.degree. C. 
(Perkin-Elmer DSC-2 calorimeter at a heating rate of 10.degree./minute). 
The yield may be increased by re-using the mother liquor in place of the 
water, by concentrating the mother liquor, or by diluting with a poor 
solvent for the dihydrazide such as methanol. 
The thiodipropionic acid hydrazide 
##STR4## 
is used without further purification. To 300 ml. of water at room 
temperature is added 10 grams of powered tetrabromophthalic onhydride and 
10 grams of the thiopropionic dihydrozide. The mixture is stirred at room 
temperature for 1 hour and then the temperature is raised to approximately 
100.degree. C. over a two-hour period. The solid is filtered, washed with 
water and dried. A nearly quantitative yield (19 grams) compound of 
formula (I) is obtained. 
This ditetrabromo compound (where each Y is Br and X is S) endotherm at 
about 165.degree. C. (Perkin-Elmer DSC-2 calorimeter at a heating rate of 
10.degree. C./minute). It is substantially white and is insoluble in 
boiling water. 
EXAMPLE 2 
Using the compound of Example 1 a number of compositions are prepared by 
mixing the proportions of ingredients (percent by weight shown) into a 
polymer comprising 9% vinyl acetate--91% ethylene copolymer (commercially 
known as U.S. Industrial Chemicals UE 635) on a heated, two-roll mill, 
molding into a sheet approximately 75 mils thick as shown below: 
(i) 0.5 part by weight of Naugard XL-1 [2,2'-oxamidobis ethyl 3 
(3,5-ditert-butyl-4-hydroxyphenyl) propionate] and 3 parts by weight 
compound of Example 1 and 100 parts by weight of the polymer; 
(ii) 3 parts by weight of the compound of Example 1 and 100 parts by weight 
of the polymer; and 
(iii) 1 part by weight of the compound of Example 1 and 100 parts by weight 
of the polymer. 
EXAMPLE 3 
Preparation of the compound of formula (I) where X equals S--S and each Y 
is Br 
The dibenzal derivative of the dihydrazide of thiodipropionic acid 
(compound of formula (I) may be prepared in two steps as follows: Sixty 
ml. of water is heated to about 60.degree. C. and 11.6 grams of dimethyl 
dithiodipropionate 
##STR5## 
are added with stirring. 
To this two-phase composition is added 7.4 grams of hydrazine hydrate 
[NH.sub.2 NH.sub.2 ]H.sub.2 O (a 50% excess) while stirring is continued. 
In about 5 minutes the suspension clarifies and reaction appears to be 
complete. Stirring is continued for an additional 25 minutes and the 
solution is cooled to about 5.degree. C. (crystals form at about 
35.degree. to 40.degree. C.), filtered and dried. The yield is about 8.5 
grams of thiodipropionic acid dihydrazide. The yield may be increased by 
re-using the mother liquor in place of the water, by concentrating the 
mother liquor, or by diluting with a poor solvent for the dihydrazide such 
as methanol. 
The dithiodipropionic acid hydrazide 
##STR6## 
is used without further purification. To 300 ml. of water at room 
temperature is added 10 grams of tetrabromo phthalic anhydride and 11.6 
grams of the dithiodipropionic dihydrazide, with stirring. After one hour 
the temperature is raised to approximately 100.degree. C. over a two-hour 
period. The solid is filtered, washed with water, and dried. 
A nearly quantitative yield (19.5 grams) of the compound of formula (I) is 
obtained. It is substantially white and is insoluble in boiling water. CL 
EXAMPLE 4 
Using the compound of Example 3 a number of compositions are prepared by 
mixing the proportions of ingredients (percent by weight shown) into a 
polymer comprising 9% vinyl acetate--91% ethylene copolymer (commercially 
known as U.S. Industrial Chemicals UE 635) on a heated, two-roll mill, 
molding into a sheet approximately 75 mils thick as shown below: 
(i) 0.5 part by weight of Naugard XL-1 [2,2'-oxamidobis ethyl, 3 
(3,5-di-tert-butyl-4-hydroxyphenyl) propionate] and 3 parts by weight 
compound of Example 3 and 100 parts by weight of the polymer; 
(ii) 3 parts by weight of compound of Example 3 and 100 parts by weight of 
the polymer; and 
(iii) 1 part by weight of the compound of Example 3 and 100 parts by weight 
of the polymer. 
Examples of commercially available materials from which compounds of 
Formula (I) are preparable include 4-chlorophthalic acid and 4, 
5-dichlorophthalic acid.