Flame-retardant compound, continuous materials and products constructed therefrom and methods of manufacture thereof

1. A zero-halogen flame-retardant compound, consisting of:

melamine cyanurate (MC);

melamine polyphosphate (MPP);

poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET); and

a titanate coupling agent.

2. The compound of claim 1 , wherein said titanate coupling agent is neoalkoxy titanate.

3. The compound of claim 1 , wherein said MC, MPP and PET comprise below a 100 ppm combined moisture content.

4. The compound of claim 1 , wherein said MC comprises 5 to 12 weight percent of the compound and the MPP comprises from 5 to 12 weight percent of the compound.

5. The compound of claim 1 , wherein said MC is provided having a particle size of about 2 μm, and the MPP is provided having a particle size of about 5 μm.

6. A method of forming a zero-halogen flame-retardant continuous material, consisting of the steps of:

providing melamine cyanurate (MC);

providing melamine polyphosphate (MPP);

providing poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET);

providing a titanate coupling agent;

forming a mixture of the melamine cyanurate, melamine polyphosphate, poly(ethylene terephthalate) and titanate coupling agent;

compounding the mixture; and

extruding the compounded mixture.

7. The method of claim 6 , further including providing the titanate coupling agent as neoalkoxy titanate.

8. The method of claim 6 , further including extruding a monofilament from the compound.

9. The method of claim 6 , further including extruding the compound with the MC, MPP and PET having less than a 100 ppm combined moisture content.

10. The method of claim 6 , further including providing the MC having 5 to 12 weight percent of the compound and the MPP having from 5 to 12 weight percent of the compound.

11. The method of claim 10 , further including providing the titanate coupling agent having 0.1 to 1.0 weight percent of the compound.

12. The method of claim 6 , further including providing the MC having a particle size of about 2 μm and the MPP having a particle size of about 5 μm.

13. The method of claim 6 , further including providing the PET in a ratio of about 1:1 with the combined amounts of the MC and MPP.

14. The method of claim 6 , further including maintaining the temperature of the mixture between about 245-260 degrees Celsius during compounding.

15. A fire-retardant protective textile sleeve, comprising:

yarn interlaced to form a tubular wall; and

at least some of said yarn being an as extruded monofilament consisting of:

melamine cyanurate;

melamine polyphosphate;

poly(ethylene terephthalate); and

a titanate coupling agent.