Flame-retardant poly(arylene ether) composition and its use as a covering for coated wire

1. A thermoplastic composition, comprising:

20 to 50 weight percent of a poly(arylene ether);

25 to 57 weight percent of total polyolefin; wherein said total polyolefin consists of polyolefins and the polyolefin content of block copolymers comprising a poly(alkenyl aromatic) block and a polyolefin block; and

3 to 30 weight percent of a flame retardant composition consisting of aluminum tris(diethyl phosphinate);

wherein all weight percents are based on the total weight of the thermoplastic composition;

wherein the poly(arylene ether) and total polyolefin are present in a weight ratio of 0.55:1 to 1.2:1; and

wherein a test sample coated wire exhibits

a tensile stress at break of at least 10 megapascals, measured at 23° C. according to UL 1581, Section 470,

a tensile elongation at break of at least 100 percent, measured at 23° C. according to UL 1581, Section 470, and

a passing flame test rating according to UL 1581, Section 1080,

wherein the test sample coated wire consists of an AWG 24 wire having a nominal cross sectional area of 0.205 millimeter 2 , and a tubular covering comprising the thermoplastic composition and having a nominal outer diameter of 2 millimeters.

2. A thermoplastic composition, comprising:

39 to 47 weight percent of a poly(arylene ether);

wherein the poly(arylene ether) is a poly(2,6-dimethyl-1,4-phenylene ether) having an intrinsic viscosity of 0.3 to 0.6 deciliter per gram measured in chloroform at 25° C.;

35 to 42 weight percent of total polyolefin;

wherein said total polyolefin consists of polyolefins and the polyolefin content of block copolymers comprising a poly(alkenyl aromatic) block and a polyolefin block;

wherein the total polyolefin is selected from the group consisting of polypropylene, polybutene, ethylene-propylene copolymer, a poly(ethylene-propylene) block of a block copolymer comprising a polystyrene block and a poly(ethylene-propylene) block, and a poly(ethylene-butylene) block of a block copolymer comprising a polystyrene block and a poly(ethylene-butylene) block; and

4 to 10 weight percent of a flame retardant composition consisting of aluminum tris(diethyl phosphinate);

wherein all weight percents are based on the total weight of the thermoplastic composition;

wherein the poly(arylene ether) and total polyolefin are present in a weight ratio of 0.9 to 1.2; and

wherein a test sample coated wire exhibits

a tensile stress at break of 10 to 25 megapascals, measured at 23° C. according to UL1581, Section 470,

a tensile elongation at break of 150 to 300 percent, measured at 23° C. according to UL1581, Section 470, and

a passing flame test rating according to UL 1581, Section 1080,

wherein the test sample coated wire consists of an AWG 24 wire having a nominal cross sectional, area of 0.205 millimeter 2 , and a tubular covering comprising the thermoplastic composition and having a nominal outer diameter of 2 millimeters.

3. The thermoplastic composition of claim 2 , wherein the test sample coated wire further exhibits a heat deformation of 5 to 20 percent, measured at 121° C. and a 250 gram load according to UL 1580.

4. The thermoplastic composition of claim 2 , further comprising 3 to 20 weight percent of total poly(alkenyl aromatic); wherein said total poly(alkenyl aromatic) consists of poly(alkenyl aromatic)s and the poly(alkenyl aromatic) content of block copolymers comprising a poly(alkenyl aromatic) block and a polyolefin block.

5. An extruded article, comprising a thermoplastic composition comprising:

20 to 50 weight percent of a poly(arylene ether);

25 to 57 weight percent of total polyolefin; wherein said total polyolefin consists of polyolefins and the polyolefin content of block copolymers comprising a poly(alkenyl aromatic) block and a polyolefin block; and

3 to 30 weight percent of a flame retardant composition consisting of aluminum tris(diethyl phosphinate);

wherein all weight percents are based on the total weight of the thermoplastic composition;

wherein the poly(arylene ether) and total polyolefin are present in a weight ratio of 0.55:1 to 1.2:1; and

wherein a test sample coated wire exhibits

a tensile stress at break of at least 10 megapascals, measured at 23° C. according to UL 1581, Section 470,

a tensile elongation at break of at least 100 percent, measured at 23° C. according to UL 1581, Section 470, and

a passing flame test rating according to UL 1581, Section 1080,

wherein the test sample coated wire consists of an AWG 24 wire having a nominal cross sectional area of 0.205 millimeter 2 , and a tubular covering comprising the thermoplastic composition and having a nominal outer diameter of 2 millimeters.

6. An extruded article, comprising a thermoplastic composition comprising:

39 to 47 weight percent of a poly(arylene ether);

wherein the poly(arylene ether) is a poly(2,6-dimethyl-1,4-phenylene ether) having an intrinsic viscosity of 0.3 to 0.6 deciliter per gram measured in chloroform at 25° C.;

35 to 42 weight percent of total polyolefin;

wherein said total polyolefin consists of polyolefins and the polyolefin content of block copolymers comprising a poly(alkenyl aromatic) block and a polyolefin block; and

wherein the total polyolefin is selected from a group consisting of polypropylene, polybutene, ethylene-propylene copolymer, a poly(ethylene-propylene) block of a block copolymer comprising a polystyrene block and a poly(ethylene-propylene) block, and a poly(ethylene-butylene) block of a block copolymer comprising a polystyrene block and a poly(ethylene-butylene) block; and

4 to 10 weight percent of a flame retardant composition consisting of aluminum tris(diethyl phosphinate);

wherein all weight percents are based on the total weight of the thermoplastic composition;

wherein the poly(arylene ether) and total polyolefin are present in a weight ratio of 0.9to 1.2; and

wherein a test sample coated wire exhibits

a tensile stress at break of 10 to 25 megapascals, measured at 23° C. according to UL1581, Section 470,

a tensile elongation at break of 150 to 300 percent, measured at 23° C. according to UL1581, Section 470, and

a passing flame test rating according to UL 1581, Section 1080,

wherein the test sample coated wire consists of an AWG 24 wire having a nominal cross sectional area of 0.205 millimeter 2 , and a tubular covering comprising the thermoplastic composition and having a nominal outer diameter of 2 millimeters.

7. A coated wire, comprising:

a conductor, and

a covering disposed on the conductor;

wherein the covering comprises a composition comprising

20 to 50 weight percent of a poly(arylene ether);

25 to 57 weight percent of total polyolefin; wherein said total polyolefin consists of polyolefins and the polyolefin content of block copolymers comprising a poly(alkenyl aromatic) block and a polyolefin block; and

3 to 30 weight percent of a flame retardant composition consisting of a metal dialkyl phosphinate,

wherein all weight percents are based on the total weight of the thermoplastic composition;

wherein the poly(arylene ether) and total polyolefin are present in a weight ratio of 0.55:1 to 1.2:1; and

wherein a test sample of said coated wire exhibits

a tensile stress at break of at least 10 megapascals, measured at 23° C. according to UL1581, Section 470,

a tensile elongation at break of at least 100 percent, measured at 23° C. according to UL1581, Section 470, and

a passing flame test rating according to UL 1581, Section 1080,

wherein the test sample coated wire consists of an AWG 24 wire having a nominal cross sectional area of 0.205 millimeter 2 , and said covering having a nominal outer diameter of 2 millimeters.

8. A coated wire, comprising;

a conductor, and

a covering disposed on the conductor;

wherein the covering comprises a composition comprising

39 to 47 weight percent of a poly(arylene ether);

wherein the poly(arylene ether) is a poly(2,6-dimethyl-1,4-phenylene ether) having an intrinsic viscosity of 0.3 to 0.6 deciliter per gram measured in chloroform at 25° C.;

35 to 42 weight percent of said total polyolefin;

wherein said total polyolefin consists of polyolefins and the polyolefin content of block copolymers comprising a poly(alkenyl aromatic) block and a polyolefin block; and

wherein the total polyolefin is selected from the group consisting of polypropylene, polybutene, ethylene-propylene copolymer, a poly(ethylene-propylene) block of a block copolymer comprising a polystyrene block and a poly(ethylene-propylene) block, and a poly(ethylene-butylene) block of a block copolymer comprising a polystyrene block and a poly(ethylene-butylene) block; and

4 to 10 weight percent of a flame retardant composition consisting of aluminum tris(diethyl phosphinate);

wherein the poly(arylene ether) and total polyolefin are present in a weight ratio of 0.9 to 1.2; and

wherein a test sample of said coated wire exhibits

a tensile stress at break of 10 to 25 megapascals, measured at 23° C. according to UL1581, Section 470,

a tensile elongation at break of 150 to 300 percent, measured at 23° C. according to UL1581, Section 470, and

a passing flame test rating according to UL 1581, Section 1080

wherein the test sample coated wire consists of an AWG 24 wire having a nominal cross sectional area of 0.205 millimeter 2 , and said covering having a nominal outer diameter of 2 millimeters.