Flame retardant compositions

Abstract

A silicone elastomer stock that exhibits improved flame resistance in the cured state consisting essentially of a silicone elastomer, a filter, and a small amount of a flame retardant material selected from the group consisting of platinum and platinum-containing materials.

What we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is: .[. 
     
       1.  A composition of matter which in a cured state exhibits improved flame-retardant properties, the composition comprising: (1) 100 parts of an organopolysiloxane gum convertible to the cured, solid, elastic state and consisting essentially of silicon atoms, oxygen atoms, and organic groups selected from the class consisting of methyl radicals, aromatic radicals selected from the class consisting of aryl and halogenated aryl radicals in an amount of from 0 to 35 mol percent of the organic groups, and from 0 to 2 mol percent of the total organic groups of vinyl radicals, there being from 1.98 to 2.05 organic groups per silicon atom,   (2) a finely divided, non-alkaline inorganic filler in an amount of from 10 to 300 parts, by weight, and   (3) small, but effective amount to impart flame retardancy of a platinum containing material not exceeding 250 parts per million, by weight based on the organopolysiloxane gum..]. .[.2. The cured product of claim 1..]. .[.3. The composition of claim 1 wherein the inorganic filler is present in an amount of from 40 to 125 parts..]. .[.4. The composition of claim 1 wherein the platinum-containing material is present in a range to provide from 3 to 250 parts per million, by weight based on the organopolysiloxane   
     
     
        gum, of platinum..]. 5. .[.The.]. .Iadd.A .Iaddend.composition of .[.claim 4 wherein.]. .Iadd.matter which in a cured state exhibits improved flame-retardant properties, the composition comprising:  (1) 100 parts of an organopolysiloxane gum convertible to the cured, solid, elastic state and consisting essentially of silicon atoms, oxygen atoms, and organic groups selected from the class consisting of methyl radicals, aromatic radicals selected from the class consisting of aryl and halogenated aryl radicals in an amount of from 0 to 35 mol percent of the organic groups, and from 0 to 2 mol percent of the total organic groups of vinyl radicals, there being from 1.98 to 2.05 organic groups per silicon atom,    (2) a finely divided, non-alkaline inorganic filler in an amount of from 10 to 300 parts, by weight, and    (3) small, but effective amount to impart flame retardancy of a platinum containing material, said platinum-containing material being present in a range to provide .Iaddend.from 25 to 100 parts per million.Iadd., by weight .Iaddend.of platinum .[.are provided..]..Iadd., based on the organopolysiloxane gum. .Iaddend. .[.6. The composition of claim 1 wherein the inorganic filler is a silica aerogel..]. .[.7. The composition of claim 1 wherein the inorganic filler is a fumed silica..]. .[.8. The composition of claim 1 wherein the filler is a fumed silica treated with an organopolysiloxane..]. .[.9. The composition of claim 1 wherein the inorganic filler in a mixture of a fumed silica and ground quartz..]. .[.10. The composition of claim 1 wherein the filler is a mixture of fumed silica and carbon black..]. .[.11. The composition of claim 1 wherein the inorganic filler is a mixture of fumed silica, diatomaceous earth, and   
     
     
        titanium dioxide..]. .Iadd.12.  A composition of matter which in a cured state exhibits improved flame-retardant properties, the composition comprising:  (1) 100 parts of an organopolysiloxane gum convertible to the cured, solid, elastic state and consisting essentially of silicon atoms, oxygen atoms, and organic groups selected from the class consisting of methyl radicals, aromatic radicals selected from the class consisting of aryl and halogenated aryl radicals in an amount of from 0 to 35 mol percent of the organic groups, and from 0 to 2 mol percent of the total organic groups of vinyl radicals, there being from 1.98 to 2.05 organic groups per silicon atoms,    (2) a finely divided, non-alkaline inorganic filler in an amount of from 10 to 300 parts, by weight,    (3) a peroxide curing agent, and    (4) small, but effective amount to impart flame retardancy of a platinum containing material not exceeding 250 parts per million, by weight based on the organopolysiloxane gum. .Iaddend..Iadd.13. The cured product of claim 12. .Iaddend. .Iadd.14. The composition of claim 12 wherein the inorganic filler is present in an amount of from 40 to 125 parts.   
     
     
        .Iaddend. .Iadd.15.  The composition of claim 12 wherein the platinum-containing material is present in a range to provide from 3 to 250 parts per million, by weight based on the organopolysiloxane gum, of platinum. .Iaddend. .Iadd.16. The composition of claim 15 wherein from 25 to 100 parts per million of platinum are provided. .Iaddend. .Iadd.17. The composition of claim 12 wherein the inorganic filler is a silica aerogel. .Iaddend. .Iadd.18. The composition of claim 12 wherein the inorganic filler is a fumed silica. .Iaddend. .Iadd.19. The composition of claim 12 wherein the filler is a fumed silica treated with an organopolysiloxane. .Iaddend. .Iadd.20. The composition of claim 12 wherein the filler is a mixture of a fumed silica and ground quartz. .Iaddend. .Iadd.21. The composition of claim 12 wherein the filler is a mixture of fumed silica and carbon black. .Iaddend. .Iadd.22. The composition of claim 12 wherein the inorganic filler is a mixture of fumed silica, diatomaceous earth, and 
     
     
        titanium dioxide. .Iaddend. .Iadd.23.  A composition of matter which in a cured state exhibits improved flame-retardant properties, the composition comprising:  (1) 100 parts of an organopolysiloxane gum convertible to the cured, solid, elastic state and consisting essentially of silicon atoms, oxygen atoms, and organic groups selected from the class consisting of methyl radicals and aromatic radicals selected from the class consisting of aryl and halogenated aryl radicals in an amount of from 0 to 35 mol percent of the organic groups, There being from 1.98 to 2.05 organic groups per silicon atom,    (2) a finely divided, non-alkaline inorganic filler in an amount of from 10 to 300 parts, by weight, and    (3) small, but effective amount to impart flame retardancy of a platinum containing material, not exceeding 250 parts per million, by weight based on the organopolysiloxane gum. .Iaddend. .Iadd.24. The composition of claim 23 which further includes a peroxide curing agent. .Iaddend. .Iadd.25. The cured product of claim 23. .Iaddend. .Iadd.26. The composition of claim 23 wherein the inorganic filler is present in an   
     
     
        amount of from 40 to 125 parts. .Iaddend. .Iadd.27.  The composition of claim 23 wherein the platinum-containing material is present in a range to provide from 3 to 250 parts per million, by weight based on the organopolysiloxane gum, of platinum. .Iaddend. .Iadd.28. The composition of claim 27 wherein from 25 to 100 parts per million of platinum are provided. .Iaddend. .Iadd.29. The composition of claim 23 wherein the inorganic filler is a silica aerogel. .Iaddend. .Iadd.30. The composition of claim 23 wherein the inorganic filler is a fumed silica. .Iaddend. .Iadd.31. The composition of claim 23 wherein the filler is a fumed silica treated with an organopolysiloxane. .Iaddend. .Iadd.32. The composition of claim 23 wherein the inorganic filler is a mixture of a fumed silica and ground quartz. .Iaddend. .Iadd.33. The composition of claim 23 wherein the filler is a mixture of fumed silica and carbon black. .Iaddend. .Iadd.34. The composition of claim 23 wherein the inorganic filler is a mixture of fumed silica, diatomaceous earth, and titanium dioxide. .Iaddend. 
     
     
        .Iadd.     A composition of matter which in a cured state exhibits improved flame-retardant properties, the composition comprising:  (1) 100 parts of an organopolysiloxane gum convertible to the cured, solid, elastic state and consisting essentially of silicon atoms, oxygen atoms, and organic groups selected from the class consisting of methyl radicals, aromatic radicals selected from the class consisting of aryl and halogenated aryl radicals in an amount of from 0 to 35 mol percent of the organic groups, and from 0 to 2 mol percent of the total organic groups of vinyl radicals, there being from 1.98 to 2.05 organic groups per silicon atom,    (2) a finely divided, non-alkaline inorganic filler in an amount of from 10 to 300 parts, by weight, and    (3) small, but effective amount to impart flame retardancy of a platinum containing material, said platinum-containing material being present in a range to provide from 25 to 250 parts per million of platinum by weight,   
     
     
        based on the organopolysiloxane gum. .Iaddend. .Iadd.36.  The cured product of claim 35. .Iaddend. .Iadd.37. The composition of claim 35 wherein the inorganic filler is present in an amount of from 40 to 125 
     
     
        parts. .Iaddend. .Iadd.38.  The cured product of claim 37. .Iaddend. .Iadd.39. The composition of claim 37 wherein the filler is a mixture of fumed silica and carbon black. .Iaddend. .Iadd.40. The cured product of claim 39. .Iaddend. .Iadd.41. The composition of claim 37 wherein the inorganic filler is a mixture of fumed silica, diatomaceous earth, and titanium dioxide. .Iaddend. .Iadd.42. The cured product of claim 41. .Iaddend. .Iadd.43. A composition of matter which in a cured state exhibits improved flame-retardant properties, the composition being free from silicon-bonded hydrogen and comprising:  (1) 100 parts of an organopolysiloxane gum convertible to the cured, solid elastic state and consisting essentially of silicon atoms, oxygen atoms, and organic groups selected from the class consisting of methyl radicals, aromatic radicals selected from the class consisting of aryl and halogenated aryl radicals in an amount of from 0 to 35 mol percent of the organic groups, and from 0 to 2 mol percent of the total organic groups of vinyl radicals, there being from 1.98 to 2.05 organic groups per silicon atom,    (2) a finely divided, nonalkaline inorganic filler in an amount of from 10 to 300 parts, by weight, and    (3) small, but effective amount to impart flame retardancy of a platinum containing material not exceeding 250 parts per million, by weight based   
     
     
        on the organopolysiloxane gum. .Iaddend. .Iadd.44.  The composition of claim 43 which further includes a peroxide curing agent. .Iaddend.