Flame retardant polymers containing renewable content

Abstract

A flame retardant polymer is prepared from renewable content. In an exemplary synthetic method, a bio-derived flame retardant polymer is prepared by a polycondensation reaction of a biobased diol (e.g., isosorbide) and a phosphorus-containing monomer (e.g., phenylphosphonic dichloride). The biobased diol may be obtained either directly from, or through modification of, a biological product. Preferably, at least 50% of the mass of the biobased diol is obtained directly from a biological product. The phosphorus-containing monomer may be a phosphonic dichloride, dichlorophosphate, alkyl/aryl phosphonate, or other phosphorus-containing monomer known for flame retardancy.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A flame retardant polymer, comprising:
 a polycondensation reaction product of a biobased diol and a phosphorus-containing monomer, wherein at least 50% of the mass of the biobased diol is obtained directly from a biological product.   
     
     
         2 . The flame retardant polymer as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the biobased diol is selected from a group consisting of a 1,4:3,6-dianhydrohexitol (DAH), 2,5-bis(hydroxymethyl)furan, ethylene glycol, propylene glycol, 1,3-propanediol, glycerol, 2,3-butanediol, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         3 . The flame retardant polymer as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the biobased diol includes isosorbide. 
     
     
         4 . The flame retardant polymer as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the phosphorus-containing monomer comprises a phosphonic dichloride. 
     
     
         5 . The flame retardant polymer as recited in  claim 4 , wherein the phosphonic dichloride includes phenylphosphonic dichloride. 
     
     
         6 . The flame retardant polymer as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the phosphorus-containing monomer comprises an alkyl phosphonate and/or an aryl phosphonate. 
     
     
         7 . The flame retardant polymer as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the polycondensation reaction product is represented by the following formula: 
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
       
     
     
         8 . A flame retardant polymer, comprising:
 a polycondensation reaction product of a biobased diol and a phosphorus-containing monomer, wherein the biobased diol is selected from a group consisting of a 1,4:3,6-dianhydrohexitol (DAH), 2,5-bis(hydroxymethyl)furan, ethylene glycol, propylene glycol, 1,3-propanediol, glycerol, 2,3-butanediol, and combinations thereof, and wherein the phosphorus-containing monomer comprises a phosphonic dichloride.   
     
     
         9 . The flame retardant polymer as recited in  claim 8 , wherein the biobased diol includes isosorbide. 
     
     
         10 . The flame retardant polymer as recited in  claim 9 , wherein the phosphonic dichloride includes phenylphosphonic dichloride. 
     
     
         11 . A flame retardant polymer, comprising:
 a polycondensation reaction product of a biobased diol and a phosphorus-containing monomer, wherein the biobased diol includes isosorbide, wherein the phosphorus-containing monomer includes phenylphosphonic dichloride, and wherein the polycondensation reaction product is represented by the following formula: