Method of making a flame retardant poly(arylene ether)/polyamide composition

1. A method of making a composition comprises:

melt mixing a first mixture comprising a poly(arylene ether) and a compatibilizing agent to form a first melt mixture;

melt mixing a second mixture comprising the first melt mixture and a polyamide, electrically conductive additive and a flame retardant masterbatch wherein the flame retardant masterbatch comprises a phosphinate and a thermoplastic resin, wherein the flame retardant masterbatch comprises 20-80 weight percent phosphinate and 20-80 weight percent thermoplastic resin with respect to the combined weight of phosphinate and thermoplastic resin.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the first melt mixture is isolated.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the first mixture further comprises an impact modifier.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the first mixture further comprises polyamide.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the electrically conductive additive is part of a masterbatch.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the electrically conductive additive is part of the flame retardant masterbatch.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the thermoplastic resin in the flame retardant masterbatch comprises polyamide or a resin miscible with polyamide.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the flame retardant masterbatch further comprises an inorganic compound, a nitrogen compound or an inorganic compound and a nitrogen compound.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein the composition has a melt volume rate less than or equal to 25 cubic centimeters/10 min as determined by Melt Volume Rate test ISO 1133 performed at 300° C. with a load of 5 kilograms (kg).

10. The method of claim 1 wherein the composition has a Vicat B120 greater than or equal to 170° C. as determined by ISO 306.

11. The method of claim 1 , wherein the composition has a specific volume resistivity less than or equal to 10 6 ohm-cm.

12. The method of claim 1 , wherein the poly(arylene ether) has a glass transition temperature of 160° C. to 250° C.

13. The method of claim 1 wherein the poly(arylene ether) is present in an amount of 15 to 60 weight percent, based on the total weight of the composition.

14. The method of claim 1 wherein greater than or equal to 50 weight percent of the polyamide, based on the total weight of the polyamide, has a melt temperature within 35% of the glass transition temperature of the poly(arylene ether).

15. The method of claim 1 wherein greater than or equal to 50 weight percent of the polyamide, based on the total weight of the polyamide, has a melt temperature within 25% of the glass transition temperature of the poly(arylene ether).

16. The method of claim 1 wherein the electrically conductive additive comprises electrically conductive carbon black, carbon nanotubes, carbon fibers or a combination of the two or more of the foregoing.

17. The method of claim 1 wherein the phosphinate has the formula

wherein R 1 and R 2 are independently C 1 -C 6 alkyl, phenyl, or aryl; M is calcium, magnesium, aluminum, zinc or a combination comprising one or more of the foregoing; and d is 2 or 3.

18. The method of claim 15 wherein R 1 and R 2 are ethyl.

19. The method of claim 1 , wherein the composition has a V-1 rating or better at a thickness of 2.0 millimeters according to UL94.

20. A composition produced by a method comprising:

melt mixing a first mixture comprising a poly(arylene ether) and a compatibilizing agent to form a first melt mixture;

melt mixing a second mixture comprising the first melt mixture and a polyamide, electrically conductive additive and a flame retardant masterbatch wherein the flame retardant masterbatch comprises a phosphinate and a thermoplastic resin, wherein the flame retardant masterbatch comprises 20-80 weight percent phosphinate and 20 -80 weight percent thermoplastic resin with respect to the combined weight of phosphinate and thermoplastic resin.

21. An article comprising a composition produced by a method comprising:

melt mixing a first mixture comprising a poly(arylene ether) and a compatibilizing agent to form a first melt mixture;

melt mixing a second mixture comprising the first melt mixture and a polyamide, electrically conductive additive and a flame retardant masterbatch wherein the flame retardant masterbatch comprises a phosphinate and polyamide, wherein the flame retardant masterbatch comprises 20-80 weight percent phosphinate and 20 -80 weight percent thermoplastic resin with respect to the combined weight of phosphinate and thermoplastic resin.

22. The article of claim 21 wherein the article is profile extruded.

23. The article of claim 21 wherein the article is a cap for a cubicle partition, a groove tile, or a conduit for one or more electrical wires.