| abstract |
The present invention is directed to polymer compositions with flame retardant properties that are made from a polymer blended using a defined process with a smectite clay that has been reacted with a specified mixture of organic materials.The inventive compositions have the property that when the organically modified clay is added to the polymer, a composite results which has flame-retardant properties and is based on the finding that degree of dispersion of a smectite organoclay in a polymer matrix will give the compositions flame-retardant properties. Further, it has been found that it is very important to proper functioning of the flame retardant polymer compositions that they have the organoclay dispersed in the polymer such that it is not completely exfoliated. |