Current fire-retardant (FR) additives, such as polybrominated biphenyls (PBBPs), have proven to be exceedingly toxic, thereby violating environmental standards and decreasing life sustainability. Compounds incorporating phosphonate groups were previously speculated to be potential replacements for PBBPs, some of which are currently prohibited in Europe and Japan. We synthesized several phosphonated polynorbornenes, diesters, and imides, by Grubbs initiated ROMP.  The samples were analyzed via thermogravimetric analysis and burn studies, which utilized polymer-treated paper strips. Another objective for our potential flame-resistant additives was to make plastics less flammable.  Therefore, blending studies of our FR agents with UV-curable acrylic monomers were initiated. Here, we report the synthesis of these phosphonated polymers and small molecule analogues, as well as results from the blending and burn studies.

Blending and thermal degradation studies of novel fire-retardant polynorbornenes with various substrates

243rd National Meeting (2012)

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