Polymer polyols containing halogenated aromatic monomers

Abstract: Novel polymer polyols based on halogenated aromatic monomers such as tribromostyrene give polyurethane foams with improved flame retardant properties. For example, replacing conventional SAN polymer polyols with tribromostyrene (TBS)/acrylonitrile polymer polyols allows the preparation of polyurethane foams passing British Standard 5852, Part 2, Ignition Source 5 Combustion Test and having better ASTM E-906 values without the need for solid fillers such as melamine or aluminum trihydrate, although these and other flame retardant additives may be optionally employed as well. Elimination of these fillers also provides other improvements such as superior strength and better compression set properties. The TBS dispersions may also be used in conjunction with melamine to eliminate the need for liquid fire retardant additives.

Description: Field of the Invention The invention relates to the polymer polyols useful in the synthesis of polyurethane compositions, and in one aspect, is more particularly related to polymer polyols having fire retardant monomers incorporated therein. Background of the Invention Polyurethane foams, formed by the reaction of a polyisocyanate with a polyhydroxyl-containing compound in the presence of a suitable catalyst, are widely accepted as padding materials for cushions in furniture, automobiles and the like. Polyurethane foams are also used in sponges and for other uses that require high liquid absorption properties, such as specialty packaging and personal care and hygiene items, including highly absorbent diapers. Polyisocyanurate foams, made with a different catalyst to increase cross-linking relative to polyurethane foams, are often used as insulation in the building and construction industry. The components used to make polyurethane foams have often been modified or added to in attempts to improve one or more properties of the resultant foam. For example, polymer polyols, made by the polymerization of monomers in the presence of a base polyol, are often used to supplement or in place of the polyhydroxyl-containing component to enhance polyurethane foam properties. Various other materials are added to the foam formulation such as antioxidants, stabilizers and flame retardants. Flame retardants inhibit the burning of a polyurethane foam should it ignite. Typical flame retardant additives include, but are not limited to, antimony trioxide, phosphate ester plasticizers and halogenated compounds. A common problem with additives or fillers to polyurethane foam formulations is that the distribution of the additive throughout the formulation may not be uniform which results in isolated areas of the foam that are defective or that at least do not possess the benefits desired throughout the foam. Another typical disadvantage is that other foam properties, such as load bearing properties, tear and tensile strengths, etc., may be degraded simply by the physical presence of some additives. It would be advantageous if fire retardant polyurethane foams could be produced without the extra addition of a separate material and/or the degradation of final foam properties. Interest in polyurethane foams with enhanced ignition resistance has dramatically increased throughout the world since the introduction of new flammability standards for foams in Great Britain. However, it is also generally accepted that foams having flame retardants which contain phosphorus and halogens, as noted above, have limitations in meeting current fire retardancy requirements, and more particularly, the recent British Standard 5852, Part 2, Ignition Source 5 specifications. The technologies now used to produce foams meeting these new combustion requirements involve the addition of substantial amounts of solid flame retardant, predominantly melamine, but also aluminum hydrate or exfoliated graphite with increased level of standard liquid flame retardant to foam formulation. As noted, the addition of solid flame retardants, such as melamine, to provide adequate combustion modification negatively influences some of the major foam processing parameters. For example, the viscosity of the polyol-filler dispersion is high; the cell opening is non-uniform, resulting in a significant top-to-bottom density gradient, and large amounts of undesirable chlorofluorocarbon blowing agents are required to lower the density. U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,655,553; 3,953,393; and 4,214,055 describe polymer polyols made by homo- or copolymerizing vinyl chloride or vinylidene chloride in a polyol. These materials are claimed to produce polyurethane foams with improved fire retardant properties. However, there are problems with these materials. Polymers of vinyl and vinylidene chloride are thermally unstable. Thermal decomposition proceeds with the evolution of hydrogen chloride. This results in products which are discolored and have high acid numbers. The high acidity causes urethane catalysis problems. The preparation of urethane foams having reduced flammability from polymer polyols made by copolymerizing bis (β-cholorethyl)vinyl phosphonate in a polyol is described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,925,506. Vinylphosphonates are very unreactive monomers and do not incorporate into the polyol in high conversion. None of these patents address the difficulty of meeting the increased fire retardancy standards, discussed above. The present invention provides a polyurethane foam that has improved fire retardancy but which requires no addition of a separate solid additive to the formulation to achieve the increased fire retardancy. Broadly speaking, the improved fire retardancy is achieved by the use of a halogen-containing polymer polyol obtained by polymerizing an addition-polymerizable aromatic monomer component having ethylenic unsaturation and at least one aromatic halogen in its structure, alone, or with at least one additional monomer copolymerizable therewith, via free radical reaction in the presence of a base polyol. Also provided is a polymer polyol wherein the polymer is formed by polymerizing an addition polymerizable aromatic monomer component with ethylenic unsaturation and having more than one aromatic halogen in its structure, alone or together with at least one additional monomer copolymerizable therewith, via a free radical reaction in the presence of a base polyol which is free of carboxylic acid groups. There is further provided a polymer polyol formed by a process comprising polymerizing tribromostyrene alone or with at least one additional monomer copolymerizable therewith via a free radical reaction in the presence of a base polyol. Further according to the present invention there is provided a polyurethane foam made by reacting a polyisocyanate with a polymer polyol in the presence of a polyurethane catalyst and wherein the polymer polyol is as defined in the two immediately preceding paragraphs. An important feature of the invention is that such fire retardant polyurethane foams can pass the British Standard 5852, Part 2 Ignition Source 5 Combustion Test when containing one or more flame retardant additives selected from phosphorous compounds, halogenated compounds, aluminum trihydrate, exfoliated graphite, urea, melamine and melamine derivatives, even when using less of said additive or additives than would be required to pass the test in the absence of the monomer having the aromatic halogen. The polymer polyols employed in accordance with the invention in the production of the polyurethane foams may be prepared in good conversion. It has been discovered that addition polymerizable monomers with ethylenic unsaturation and having at least one aromatic halogen in their structures may be polymerized in the presence of a base polyol to give a polymer polyol that may be reacted with a polyisocyanate in the presence of a polyurethane catalyst to give polyurethane foams with improved flame retardancy properties. By incorporating the halogen in this fashion, it is more evenly distributed over the entire foam. These monomers have a halogen atom substituted on an aromatic ring. These types of halogen flame retarding agents also work well in melamine-containing foams. More specifically, the addition polymerizable monomer has ethylenic unsaturation and at least one halogen atom. The halogen atom may be chlorine, bromine, iodine and mixtures thereof. In a particular aspect of the invention, the monomer may have a structure such as: where R is an alkyl, aryl, alkylaryl group or hydrogen; X is a halogen atom selected from the group consisting of Cl, Br and I, and y ranges from 1 to 5. In one embodiment of the invention, the halogenated monomer is tribromostyrene. A particularly preferred halogenated monomer is 2,4,5-tribromostyrene (TBS); represented by the formula above where X is bromine and y is 3. This monomer has 70 wt.% bromine and polymerizes well with styrene and acrylonitrile. In fact, it has been surprisingly discovered that in some cases when TBS is copolymerized with acrylonitrile alone no dispersant is required to maintain the polymer polyol as homogeneous. The halogen-containing monomer may be homopolymerized or copolymerized with additional monomer. Two comonomers that may be employed in combination are styrene and acrylonitrile to make a terpolymer together with the halogen-containing monomer. However one preferred form of the invention simply uses the halogen-containing monomer and another comonomer, without styrene. Other suitable monomers include, but are not limited to, butadiene, isoprene, 1,4-pentadiene, 1,6hexadiene, 1,7-octadiene, styrene, acrylonitrile, methacrylonitrile, α-methylstyrene, methylstyrene, 2,4-dimethylstyrene, ethyl styrene, isopropylstyrene, butylstyrene, substituted styrenes, such as cyanostyrene, phenylstyrene, cyclohexylstyrene, benzylstyrene, substituted styrenes such as cyanostyrene, nitrostryrene, N,N-dimethylamino-styrene, acetoxystyrene, methyl 4-vinylbenzoate, phenoxystyrene, p -vinyl diphenyl sulfide, p- vinylphenyl phenyl oxide, acrylic and substituted acrylic monomers such as acrylic acid, methacrylic acid, methyl acrylate, 2-hydroxyethyl acrylate, 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate, methyl methacrylate, cyclohexyl methacrylate, benzyl methacrylate, isopropyl methacrylate, octyl methacrylate, ethyl α-ethoxyacrylate, methyl α-acetoaminoacrylate, butyl acrylate, 2-ethylhexyl acrylate, phenyl acrylate, phenyl methacrylate, N,N-dimethylacrylamide, N,N-dibenzylacrylamide, N-butylacrylamide, methacrylyl formamide, vinyl esters, vinyl ethers, vinyl ketones, vinyl acetate, vinyl alcohol, vinyl butyrate, isopropenylacetate, vinyl formate, vinyl acrylate, vinyl methacrylate, vinyl methoxy acetate, vinyl benzoate, vinyl toluene, vinyl naphthalene, vinyl methyl ether, vinyl ethyl ether, vinyl propyl ethers, vinyl butyl ethers, vinyl 2-ethylhexyl ether, vinyl phenyl ether, vinyl 2-methoxyethyl ether, methoxybutadiene, vinyl 2-butoxyethyl ether, 3,4-dihydro-1,2-pyran, 2-butoxy-2'-vinyloxy diethyl ether, vinyl 2-ethylmercaptoethyl ether, vinyl methyl ketone, vinyl ethyl ketone, vinyl phenyl ketone, vinyl ethyl sulfide, vinyl ethyl sulfone, N-methyl-N-vinyl acetamide, N-vinylpyrrolidone, vinyl imidazole, divinyl sulfide, divinyl sulfoxide, divinyl sulfone, sodium vinyl sulfonate, methyl vinyl sulfonate, N-vinyl pyrrole, dimethyl fumarate, dimethyl maleate, maleic acid, crotonic acid, fumaric acid, itaconic acid, monomethyl itaconate, t-butyl-aminoethyl methacrylate, dimethylaminoethyl methacrylate, glycidyl acrylate, allyl alcohol, glycol monoesters of itaconic acid, vinyl pyridine, maleic anhydride, maleimide, N-substituted maleimides, such as N-phenylmaleimide and the like. The polymerization initiator catalyst may be any suitable initiator for the particular monomers employed. Suitable catalytic initiators useful in producing the polymer polyol compositions of this invention are the free radical type of vinyl polymerization catalysts, such as the peroxides, persulfates, perborates, percarbonates, azo compounds, and the like. Specific examples include, but are not limited to, 2,2'-azo- bis -isobutyronitrile (AIBN), dibenzoyl peroxide, lauroyl peroxide, di- t -butylperoxide, diisopropyl peroxide carbonate, t -butyl peroxy-2-ethylhexanoate, t -butylperpivalate, 2,5-dimethyl-hexane-2,5-di-per-2-ethyl hexoate, t -butylperneodecanoate, t -butylperbenzoate, t -butyl percrotonate, t -butyl perisobutyrate, di- t -butyl perphthalate, 2,2'-azo- bis (2-methylbutanenitrile) for example. Other suitable catalysts may be employed, of course. The total halogen content of the polymer polyol will vary across a wide range depending on the monomer used, monomer proportions, preparation conditions and other factors. The aromatic halogen containing monomer may be employed in an amount of from about 1 wt.% to about 100 wt.% based on the total monomers, preferably in an amount of from about 50 wt.% to about 100 wt.%. The monomer mixture is employed in an amount within the range of from about 5 to 60 wt.%, based on the total weight of monomers and polyol, preferably from about 15 to 40 wt.%. The polymer polyols of the present invention can be produced by polymerizing the monomer mixture in the selected polyol at a temperature of from about 60°C. to about 150°C., preferably from about 100°C. to about 130°C., in the presence of a free radical initiator. Any conventional process for preparing polymer polyols can be employed to prepare the polymer polyols of this invention. Both semi-batch and continuous processes are suitable. For the semi-batch process, any suitable addition time of the monomer feed may be employed, for example, the addition time may range from about 0.5 to about 5.0 hours, preferably from about 1 to about 2.5 hours. The reaction may also be carried out in the presence of an organic solvent. Aromatic solvents such as toluene and xylenes are preferred. A dispersant may also be employed. Suitable dispersants are any which are known for conventional SAN polymer polyols. The reaction may also be conducted in the presence of chain transfer agents. In accordance with this invention, the remaining polyurethane foam components are expected to be conventional, indicating that the invention is compatible with standard formulations. For example, a variety of relatively high molecular weight polyether and/or polyester polyols are expected to be useful together with the polymer polyols for the polyurethane compositions of this invention. These polyols may also be suitable as the polyol in making the polymer polyols of the present invention. These polyols include, but are not necessarily limited to, ethylene oxide (EO) capped polyols and polyols not capped with EO, as well as propylene oxide (PO) and/or butylene oxide containing polyols. The polyols may contain blocks or random distributions of these various alkylene oxides added to suitable initiators. In one aspect, the polyol preferably has a molecular weight of from about 2000 to 10,000, and more preferably from about 3000 to 8000, and is typically made by the reaction of an initiator having a plurality of reactive hydrogens thereon with one or more alkylene oxides. Suitable initiators include, but are not limited to, glycerin, alkanolamines, alkylamines, aryl or aromatic amines, sucrose, sorbitol, trimethylol propane (TMP), α-methylglucoside, β-methylglucoside, or other methylglucoside, resins of phenol, aniline and mixed phenol aniline, such as methylenedianiline or bisphenol A, Mannich condensates and mixtures thereof, for example. The polyol may be made by alkoxylating the initiator with a desired number of moles of an alkylene oxide. Preferably, the alkylene oxide has two to four carbon atoms, and is thus, EO, PO, butylene oxide or mixtures thereof, as noted. The alkylene oxides may be mixed upon addition, or may be added to the polyol initiator chain separately to form blocks or caps. In one aspect, a mixture of ethylene oxide and propylene oxide is added to the initiator. The alkoxylation may or may not be catalyzed; KOH is a commonly used catalyst, although others may be employed. For example, double metal cyanide catalysts may be employed, in particular zinc hexacyanocobaltate, and the polyols may be prepared in accordance with the methods described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,029,505; 3,900,518; 3,941,049 and 4,355,100, incorporated by reference herein. Although a dispersant may not be necessary to keep the polymerized material uniformly dispersed in the base polyol, a wide variety of dispersants may be used in conjunction with the polymer polyols of the present invention. For example, suitable dispersants may include, but are not limited to, glycerin initiated polyethers of alkylene oxides, specifically propylene oxide and ethylene oxide; polyacrylate graft-polyols made by polymerizing at least one acrylate monomer or polymer in a polyol where the resultant polyacrylate is soluble in the polyol employed; high molecular weight polyol dispersants made by adding an alkylene oxide component to a polyfunctional initiator in the presence of a zinc hexacyanocobaltate catalyst; epoxy resin-modified polyols, and the like. A catalyst is typically employed in preparing the polyurethane foams in the conventional manner. Such catalysts may include one or more of the following: (a) Tertiary amines such as trimethylamine; triethylamine; N-methylmorpholine; N-ethylmorpholine; N,N-dimethylbenzylamine; N,N-dimethylethanolamine; N,N,N',N'-tetramethyl-1,4-butanediamine; N,N-dimethylpiperazine; 1,4-diazobicyclo[2.2.2]octane; triethylenediamine and the like; (b) Tertiary phosphines such as trialkylphosphines; dialkylbenzylphosphines, and the like; (c) Strong bases, such as alkali and alkaline earth metal hydroxides; alkoxides; and phenoxides; (d) Acidic metal salts of strong acids, such as ferric chloride; stannic chloride; stannous chloride; antimony trichloride; bismuth nitrate and chloride; and the like; (e) Chelates of various metals such as those which can be obtained from acetylacetone; benzoylacetone; trifluoroacetyl acetone; ethyl acetoacetate; salicyclaldehyde; cyclopentanone-1-carboxylate; acetylacetoimine; bis -acetylacetonealkylenediamine; salicyclaldehydeimine; and the like, with various metals such as Be, Mg, Zn, Cd, Pd, Ti, Zr, Sn, As, Bi, Cr, Mo, Mn, Fe, Co, and Ni; (f) Alcoholates and phenolates of various metals, such as Ti(OR) 4 ; Sn(OR) 4 ; Al(OR) 3 ; and the like, wherein R is alkyl or aryl, and the reaction products of alcoholates with carboxylic acids, β-diketones, and 2-(N,N-dialkylamino)alcohols; (g) Salts of organic acids with a variety of metals, such as alkali metals, alkaline earth metals, Al, Sn, Pb, Mn, Co, Ni and Cu, including, for example, sodium acetate, stannous octoate, stannous oleate, lead octoate, metallic driers such as manganese and cobalt naphthenate, and the like; and (h) Organometallic derivatives of tetravalent tin, trivalent and pentavalent As, Sb, and Bi and metal carbonyls of iron and cobalt. Of course, combinations of any of the above polyurethane catalysts may be employed. Usually, the amount of catalyst employed ranges from about 0.01 to about 5.0 pbw percent, based on 100 pbw of the polyol. More often, the amount of the catalyst used is about 0.2 to about 2.0 pbw. The polyol blend for the polyurethane composition is reacted in the presence of one or more of the above catalysts with a polyisocyanate according to conventional procedures. The polyisocyanate used may be any aromatic or aliphatic polyisocyanate, such as toluene diisocyanates (TDIs); polymeric isocyanates and aliphatic diisocyanates. Typical aromatic polyisocyanates include, but are not limited to, m -phenylene diisocyanate; p -phenylene diisocyanate; polymethylene polyphenylisocyanate; 2,4-toluene diisocyanate; 2,6-toluene diisocyanate; dianisidine diisocyanate; bitolylene diisocyanate; naphthalene-1,4-diisocyanate; diphenylene-4,4'-diisocyanate; aliphatic-aromatic diisocyanates, such as xylylene-1,4-diisocyanate; xylylene-1,2-diisocyanate; xylylene- 1,3 -diisocyanate; bis (4-isocyanatophenyl) methane; bis (3-methyl-4-isocyanatophenyl)methane; and 4,4'-diphenylpropane diisocyanate. Suitable aliphatic diisocyanates would include isophorone diisocyanate; hexamethylene diisocyanate; and methylene- bis -cyclohexylisocyanate. Toluene diisocyanates are preferred, in one aspect of the invention. Aromatic polyisocyanates suitable for use include methylene-bridged polyphenyl polyisocyanate mixtures which have a functionality of from about 2 to about 4. These latter isocyanate compounds are generally produced by the phosgenation of corresponding methylene bridged polyphenyl polyamines, which are conventionally produced by the reaction of formaldehyde and primary aromatic amines, such as aniline, in the presence of hydrochloric acid and/or other acidic catalysts. Foaming is carried out in the presence of water and, optionally, additional organic blowing agents. The water is normally used in amounts of 0.5 to 15 parts by weight, preferably, 1.0 to 10 parts by weight (pbw) based on 100 parts by weight of the polymer polyol and any additional polyol present. The organic blowing agents optionally used along with the water are known in the art and are, for example, monofluorotrichloromethane, difluorodichloromethane, methylene dichloride and others generally known in the art. Additives to regulate the cell size and the cell structure, for example, silicone surfactant such as dimethylpolysiloxanes, may also be added to the foaming mixture. Fillers, dyes or plasticizers of known types may also be used. These and other additives are well known to those skilled in the art. The method and polymer polyols of the invention will be further described with respect to the following illustrative examples. The formulations of the polymer polyols using various amounts of styrene, acrylonitrile and TBS monomers are presented along with the various properties of the polymer polyols. The S/AN/TBS ratio refers to the wt. proportions of styrene, acrylonitrile and tribromostyrene, respectively. Note that in Examples 1-3 and 5 using no styrene, no dispersant is used. Then, polyurethane foam formulations and their properties are given indicating that indeed the polyurethane foams made using the polymer polyols of this invention have improved flame retardancy. Procedures for Measurements of Physical Properties of Polymer Polyols Viscosity was measured using a Brookfield cone and plate viscometer, Spindle #CP-52, operated at 20 secs -1 at 25°C. Particle sizes were measured using a Coulter N4 Particle Size Analyzer with o -xylene or isopropyl alcohol as the dispersing media. Centrifugable solids were determined by centrifuging a sample of the polymer polyol for about 24 hours at about 3300 rpm and 1470 radial centrifugal "g" forces. The centrifuge tube was then inverted and allowed to drain for 4 hours. The non-flowing cake at the bottom of the tube is reported as weight percent of the initial weight of the sample tested. Preparation of Polymer Polyols Into a reactor fitted with a stirrer, condenser, thermometer and addition tube and under a blanket of nitrogen were charged the amounts of reactants indicated in Tables I and II. After heating the reactor charge to the reaction temperature, the feed charge was added over the indicated time period. Upon completion of the addition, the reaction product was held at the reaction temperature for 0.5 to 1.0 hours, then stripped of residual monomers for 1.0 hour at 115-125°C. and < 5 mm Hg. In the following Examples, the novel polymer polyols based on tribromostyrene/acrylonitrile (TBS/AN) dispersions were used in slabstock formulations without addition of solid flame retardants, to produce foams meeting BS 5852, Part 2, Ignition Source 5 Test requirements (mentioned previously) for densities varying from 25.6 Kg/m 3 (1.6 pcf) to 40 Kg/m 3 (2.5 pcf). These foams exhibit superior strength and compression set properties, under both dry and humid conditions, as compared with those produced using conventional technologies with solid flame retardant additives. The following Examples 15 through 40 illustrate the practice of using the novel polymer polyols of the invention in slabstock foam formulations. All results were generated from polyurethane resin foams produced both on a Maxfoam laboratory scale machine and by hand-mix pours into 50 liter carton boxes. The polyisocyanate used was TDI T-80, a commercial 80/20 blend of 2-4 and 2-6 toluene diisocyanate. The physical properties were measured according to ASTM D3574 and RENAULT NFT 56112 (humid compression set). The ignition resistance properties were measured according to ASTM E-906 or Ohio State University (OSU) Heat of Release Test. This test has been selected as the evaluation instrument for an SPI Industry Research Project to develop a system for grading flexible polyurethane foam according to ignition resistance. For further information, see J. F. Szabot, et al., Proceedings of the SPI 31 st Annual Technical/Marketing Conference, p. 190, 1988; and A. K. Schrock, et al., Proceedings of the SPI 32 nd Annual Technical/Marketing Conference, p. 451, 1989. The combustion resistance properties were measured according to the BS 5852, Part 2, Ignition Source 5 Test, currently used for foams to meet the requirements of British Furniture and Furnishings Fire Safety Regulations of 1988. The slope E values (time to the maximum rate of heat release [MRHR] divided into MRHR) were found to be particularly important when correlations were made with the BS 5852 weight losses. In most cases, a slope E greater than about 78.5 x 10 3 J.m -2 .min 2 800 BTU/ft 2 -min 2 was found to result in failure of the BS 5852 test. As shown in Table III, for densities varying from 25.6 Kg/m 3 (1.6 pcf) to 41.6 Kg/m 3 (2.6 pcf), the foams prepared from TBS/AN dispersion polyols exhibit better ASTM E-906 values than those based on styrene/acrylonitrile (S/AN) when using the same amounts of solid and liquid fire retardant additives; compare Examples 15 and 16; 21 and 22. For all examples in Tables III and IV, the ratio of monomers in both the S/AN and TBS/AN polymer polyols was 75/25. The slope E values which correlate the best with BS 5852 combustion measurements, are below about 78.5 x 10 3 J.m -2 .min 2 800 Btu/ft 2 -min 2 for all examples and surprisingly also for TBS/AN based foams produced without any solid fire retardant additives (melamine). See Examples 18, 20 and 24. Table IV compares the physical properties of non-melamine filled foams prepared from TBS/AN dispersion polyols to melamine filled foams produced with conventional S/AN dispersion polyols. When 50 parts per hundred (pph) of the dispersion polyol was used with 50 parts of THANOL F5505 polyol, the total solids content over all polyol component was 10%. When 30 pph of the dispersion polyol was used, the total solids content was 6%. All examples relate to foams which pass the BS 5852, Part 2, Ignition Source 5 Combustion Test, with a weight loss ≤ 60 g. Non-melamine filled foams based on TBS/AN dispersion polyols exhibit superior strength properties (tensile-elongation), as well as better compression set properties (70% dry and wet compression set); see particularly Examples 28, 29, 37 and 40 as compared with the S/AN-polyol-based foams. The general improvement of the above-mentioned physical properties is also confirmed for formulations based on TBS/AN and S/AN materials containing the same amount of polymer (10%); compare Examples 25 with 28 and 29; 38 with 40. However, though it is generally accepted that liquid fire retardant additives are also required in addition to the solid fire retardant to pass BS 5852, Ignition Source 5 Combustion Test, we have surprisingly noticed that TBS/AN foams filled with melamine and no liquid fire retardant additive also pass the British Standard Combustion Test; see Example 33. The polymer polyols of the present invention may be incorporated into polyurethane foams in many different ways. For example, the use of the polymer polyols of the invention may be used with only one of the following additional additives, or even more than one of the following additives: including, but not limited to, phosphorous compounds, halogenated compounds (present as additives, not reacted to make the polymer polyols), aluminum trihydrate, exfoliated graphite, urea, melamine and melamine derivatives. In some formulations, the polymer polyols of this invention can be used to reduce the proportion of these common additives, even though one or more may be present, at least below the proportion required to pass the British Standard 5852, Part 2, Ignition Source 5 Combustion Test in the absence of the aromatic halogenated monomers of the present inventive polymer polyols. Many modifications may be made in the polymer polyols of this invention and their method of production without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, which is defined only in the appended claims. For example, one skilled in the art could adjust the temperature, pressure, reactants, proportions and modes of additions within the parameters set forth to provide polymer polyols with particularly advantageous properties. Alternatively, it may be discovered that a certain halogenated monomer or combination of monomers may give optimal results. GLOSSARY CFC-11 Trichlorofluoromethane. DE 60°F Pentabromodiphenyl ether/aromatic phosphate blend, from Great Lakes Chemical Co. Dispersant 1 A glycerin started polyether of propylene oxide and ethylene oxide, containing 15.8 wt.% ethylene oxide, modified with 1.8% EPON® 828, and having a hydroxyl number of 21.5. The OH/epoxy ratio is 2.9. Dispersant 2 A glycerin started polyether of propylene oxide, modified with 3.0% EPON® 828, and having a hydroxyl number of 33. The OH/epoxy ratio is 2.3. DMMP Dimethyl methyl phosphonate liquid fire retardant from Stauffer Chemical Co. Melamine Standard grade, d50 = 90/u, d99 = 230/u from Dutch State Coal Mine (DSM). Polyol A ARCOL® 1342 Polyol. A glycerin started polyether of propylene oxide and ethylene oxide with a hydroxyl number of 34 and a primary hydroxyl group content of 80% of the total hydroxyl content of the polyether, made by ARCO Chemical Company. Polyol B ARCOL® 1130 Polyol. A glycerin started polyether of propylene oxide and ethylene oxide having a hydroxyl number of 48 and containing essentially secondary hydroxyl groups, made by ARCO Chemical Company. S/AN dispersion polyol A polymer modified polyol of styrene/acrylonitrile (S/AN in a ratio of 75/25) content of about 20 wt.%. Hydroxyl number is 28. TBS/AN dispersion polyol A polymer modified polyol of tribromostyrene/ acrylonitrile (TBS/AN in a ratio of 75/25) content of about 20 wt.%. Hydroxyl number is 28. THANOL® F5505 A glycerin started polyether of propylene oxide and ethylene oxide with a hydroxyl number of 34 and a primary hydroxyl group content of 80% of the total hydroxyl content of the polyether made by ARCO Chemical Company. Thermolin® 101 Tetrakis(2 chloroethyl)-ethylene diphosphate made by Olin Chemicals. VAZO® 67 2,2'-Azo- bis (2-methylbutanenitrile) polymerization catalyst made by E.I. duPont de Nemours and Co.

Claims: The use of an addition polymerizable aromatic monomer component with ethylenic unsaturation and having at least one aromatic halogen in its structure, alone or with at least one additional monomer copolymerizable therewith, in the production of a polymer polyol by polymerizing said addition polymerizable monomer via a free radical reaction in the presence of a base polyol, to increase the fire retardancy of polyurethane foam derived from said polymer polyol as compared with the fire retardancy of a polyurethane foam made from the same amount of the same polymer polyol using the same aromatic monomer component but without the aromatic halogen substituent or substituents. The use as claimed in claim 1 characterised in that the halogen is selected from chlorine, bromine, iodine and mixtures thereof. The use as claimed in claim 1 characterised in that the aromatic monomer component satisfies the formula: where R is an alkyl, aryl or alkylaryl group or hydrogen; each X is a halogen atom selected from Cl, Br and I, and y ranges from 1 to 5. The use as claimed in claim 1 characterised in that the aromatic monomer component is tribromostyrene. The use as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4 characterised in that the aromatic monomer component is polymerized with acrylonitrile. The use as claimed in claim 4 or claim 5 characterised in that the aromatic monomer component is 2, 4, 5-tribromostyrene. The use as claimed in claim 6 characterised in that the polymer polyol is made in the absence of styrene and added dispersant. The use as claimed in claim 5 or claim 6 characterised in that the aromatic monomer component is polymerized with acrylonitrile and styrene. A polymer polyol formed by a process comprising polymerizing tribromostyrene alone or with at least one additional monomer copolymerizable therewith via a free radical reaction in the presence of a base polyol. A polymer polyol as claimed in claim 9 characterised in that the tribromostyrene is polymerized with acrylonitrile. A polymer polyol as claimed in claim 10 characterised in that the aromatic monomer is 2, 4, 5-tribromostyrene. A polymer polyol as claimed in claim 11 characterised in that the copolymerization is effected in the absence of styrene and added dispersant. A polymer polyol as claimed in claim 10 or claim 11 characterised in that the tribromostyrene is polymerized with acrylonitrile and styrene. A polymer polyol wherein the polymer is formed by polymerizing an addition polymerizable aromatic monomer component with ethylenic unsaturation and having more than one aromatic halogen in its structure, alone or together with at least one additional monomer, other than an ethylenically unsaturated dicarboxylic acid anhydride, copolymerizable therewith, via a free radical reaction in the presence of a base polyol which is free of carboxylic acid groups. A polymer polyol as claimed in claim 14 characterised in that the halogen is selected from chlorine, bromine, iodine and mixtures thereof. A polymer polyol as claimed in claim 15 characterised in that the aromatic monomer component satisfies the formula: where R is an alkyl, aryl or alkylaryl group or hydrogen; each X is a halogen atom selected from Cl, Br and I, and y ranges from 1 to 5. A polymer polyol as claimed in any one of claims 14 to 16 characterised in that the aromatic monomer component is polymerized with acrylonitrile. A polymer polyol as claimed in claim 17 characterised in that the aromatic monomer component is polymerized with acrylonitrile and styrene. A polyurethane foam made by reacting a polyisocyanate with a polymer polyol in the presence of a polyurethane catalyst characterised in that the polymer polyol comprises polymer polyol as claimed in any one of claims 9 to 18. A fire retardant polyurethane foam as claimed in claim 19, said foam containing only one additional flame retardant additive, said additive being selected from phosphorous compounds, halogenated compounds, aluminum trihydrate, exfoliated graphite, urea, melamine and melamine derivatives; and the proportion of said one additional flame retardant additive being less than that proportion required to pass the British Standard 5852, Part 2, Ignition Source 5 Combustion Test in the absence of the monomer having at least one aromatic halogen. A fire retardant polyurethane foam as claimed in claim 19, said foam containing at least one additional flame retardant additive, said additive or additives selected from phosphorous compounds, halogenated compounds, aluminum trihydrate, exfoliated graphite, urea, melamine, melamine derivatives and mixtures thereof; and the proportion of each additional flame retardant additive being less than that proportion required to pass the British Standard 5852, Part 2, Ignition Source 5, Combustion Test in the absence of the monomer having at least one aromatic halogen. A fire retardant polyurethane foam as claimed in claim 19 wherein the polymer polyol is produced by a process comprising polymerizing, via a free-radical reaction, a first addition polymerizable monomer component with ethylenic unsaturation, with tribromostyrene, in the presence of a base polyol; said foam containing only one additional flame retardant additive, said additional additive being selected from phosphorous compounds, halogenated compounds, aluminum trihydrate, exfoliated graphite, urea, melamine and melamine derivatives; and said fire retardant polyurethane foam passing the British Standard 5852, Part 2, Ignition Source 5 Combustion Test. A fire retardant polyurethane foam as claimed in claim 19 and wherein the polymer polyol is produced by a process comprising polymerizing, via a free-radical reaction, a first addition polymerizable monomer component with ethylenic unsaturation, with tribromostyrene, in the presence of a base polyol; said foam containing at least one additional flame retardant additive said additional additive or additives being selected from phosphorous compounds, halogenated compounds, aluminum trihydrate, exfoliated graphite, urea, melamine, melamine derivatives and mixtures thereof; and said fire retardant polyurethane foam passing the British Standard 5852, Part 2, Ignition Source 5, Combustion Test.

Inventors: GASTINGER ROBERT G, HAYES JOHN E, MOTTE PHILIPPE C, GASTINGER, ROBERT G., HAYES, JOHN E., MOTTE, PHILIPPE C.
Applicants: ARCO CHEM TECH, ARCO CHEMICAL TECHNOLOGY, L.P.
Application year: 1991
Main classification: C08F291
IPC codes: C08F283, C08G18, C08G101, C08F2, C08F291