Flame Retardant Polyester Composition

1 . A method of reducing the amount of antimony flame retardant compound in a flame retardant composition which comprises combining an alkali metal carbonate with a brominated flame retardant compound in preparing the composition, wherein the composition comprises:

(a) 40 to 70 percent by weight of polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polybutylene terephthalate (PBT), PBT made from recycled PET, PCT, and glycol modified polycyclohexylenedimethylene terephthalate (PCTG), or a combination thereof;

(b) 3 to 30 percent by weight of a brominated flame retardant compound;

(c) 0.5 to 4.5 percent by weight of Sb 2 O 3 ;

(d) 0.03 to 0.9 percent by weight of sodium carbonate or potassium carbonate; and

(e) 5 to 45 percent by weight of glass fiber; and wherein:

(i) the composition meets or exceeds the requirements of UL94-V2;

(ii) less antimony retardant compound is present in the composition comprising (a), (b), (c), and (d) as compared to a composition comprising component (a), (b), (c) and no (d);

(iii) the comparative tracking index (CTI) for a composition comprising (a), (b), (c), and (d) is the same as or greater than the CTI of a composition comprising component (a), (b), (c) and no (d);

(iv) the composition does not contain a phosphorous containing flame retardant;

and wherein the percent by weights are based on the total weight of the composition.

2 . (canceled)

3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the polyester is PET, PBT, or a combination thereof.

4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the polyester is PBT.

5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the composition comprises 52 to 58 percent by weight of PBT with an intrinsic viscosity of 0.66 cm 3 /g as measured in a 60:40 phenol/tetrachloroethane mixture; or a mixture comprising 49 to 52 percent by weight of PBT with an intrinsic viscosity of 0.66 cm 3 /g as measured in a 60:40 phenol/tetrachloroethane mixture and 4 to 8 percent by weight of PBT with an intrinsic viscosity of 1.2 cm3/g as measured in a 60:40 phenol/tetrachloroethane mixture.

6 . The method of claim 5 , wherein the composition comprises:

(a) 52 to 58 percent by weight of PBT with an intrinsic viscosity of 0.66 cm 3 /g as measured in a 60:40 phenol/tetrachloroethane mixture; or a mixture comprising 49 to 52 percent by weight of PBT with an intrinsic viscosity of 0.66 cm 3 /g as measured in a 60:40 phenol/tetrachloroethane mixture and 6 percent by weight of PBT with an intrinsic viscosity of 1.2 cm3/g as measured in a 60:40 phenol/tetrachloroethane mixture;

(b) 9 to 12 percent by weight of TBBPA, poly(pentabromobenzylacrylate), or brominated polystyrene; and

(d) 0.03 to 0.8 percent by weight of sodium carbonate or potassium carbonate.

7 . The method of claim 6 , wherein the composition comprises:

(b) 9 to 12 percent by weight of TBBPA, poly(pentabromobenzylacrylate), or brominated polystyrene;

(c) 1.25 to 2.5 percent by weight of Sb 2 O 3 ; and

(d) 0.03 to 0.8 percent by weight of sodium carbonate or potassium carbonate.

8 . The method of claim 6 , wherein the composition comprises:

(b) 9 to 12 percent by weight of phenoxy-terminated tetrabrombisphenol A carbonate oligomer, poly(pentabromobenzylacrylate), or brominated polystyrene;

(c) 1.25 to 2.5 percent by weight of Sb 2 O 3 ; and

(d) 0.03 to 0.8 percent by weight of sodium carbonate or potassium carbonate.

9 . (canceled)

10 . The method of claim 6 , wherein the composition comprises:

(b) 9 to 12 percent by weight of phenoxy-terminated tetrabrombisphenol A carbonate oligomer, poly(pentabromobenzylacrylate), or brominated polystyrene;

(c) 1.25 to 2.5 percent by weight of Sb 2 O 3 ;

(d) 0.03 to 0.8 percent by weight of sodium carbonate or potassium carbonate;

(e) 0 to 50 percent glass fiber; and

(f) 0.1 to 0.3-percent by weight of a LDPE.

11 . The method of claim 6 , wherein the composition comprises:

(b) 9 to 12 percent by weight of TBBPA, poly(pentabromobenzylacrylate), or brominated polystyrene;

(c) 1.25 to 2.5 percent by weight of Sb 2 O 3 ;

(d) 0.03 to 0.8 percent by weight of sodium carbonate or potassium carbonate; and

(e) 5 to 45 percent by weight of glass fiber;

(f) 0 to 0.3 percent by weight of a LDPE; and

(g) 1 to 5 percent by weight of talc.

12 . The method of claim 6 , wherein the composition comprises:

(b) 9 to 12 percent by weight of TBBPA, poly(pentabromobenzylacrylate), or brominated polystyrene;

(c) 1.25 to 2.5 percent by weight of Sb 2 O 3 ;

(d) 0.03 to 0.8 percent by weight of sodium carbonate or potassium carbonate;

(e) 20 to 40 percent glass fiber;

(f) 0 to 0.3 percent by weight of a LDPE; and

(g) 1 to 5 percent by weight of talc.

13 . The method of claim 6 , wherein the composition comprises:

(b) 9 to 12 percent by weight of TBBPA, poly(pentabromobenzylacrylate), or brominated polystyrene;

(c) 1.6 to 2.2 percent by weight of Sb 2 O 3 ;

(d) 0.08 to 0.24 percent by weight of sodium carbonate or potassium carbonate;

(e) 25 to 35 percent by weight glass fiber; and further comprising

(f) 0.1 to 0.3 percent by weight of a LDPE; and

(g) 1.5 to 2.5 percent by weight of talc.

14 . The method of claim 6 , wherein the composition comprises:

(a) 52 to 58 percent by weight of PBT with an intrinsic viscosity of 0.66 cm 3 /g as measured in a 60:40 phenol/tetrachloroethane mixture;

(b) 9 to 12 percent by weight of poly(pentabromobenzylacrylate) or brominated polystyrene;

(c) 1.25 to 2.5 percent by weight of Sb 2 O 3 ;

(d) 0.03 to 0.8 percent by weight of sodium carbonate or potassium carbonate;

(e) 25 to 35 percent by weight glass fiber; and

(f) 1.5 to 3 percent by weight of talc.

15 - 27 . (canceled)

28 . An article prepared from the composition of claim 1 , wherein the article is a covering for an electrical wire or electrical component.