MULTIFUNCTIONAL FLAME RETARDANT THERMOPLASTIC COMPOSITIONS FOR CONNECTED PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT

1 . An electrostatic dissipative thermoplastic composition comprising:

a. a polycarbonate polymer component comprising a polycarbonate resin, a polysiloxane-polycarbonate copolymer, and a brominated polycarbonate resin;

b. an intrinsically conductive or dissipative polymer or a blend thereof, wherein the intrinsically conductive or dissipative polymer has a surface resistivity less than or equal to 10′ ohms per square (ohm/sq);

c. a flame retardant;

d. an antidripping agent; and

e. an ultraviolet (UV) stabilizer,

wherein the thermoplastic composition is colorable or dyeable.

2 . The thermoplastic composition of claim 1 , further comprising a catalyst deactivator.

3 . (canceled)

4 . The thermoplastic composition according to claim 1 , wherein the brominated polycarbonate resin is present in an amount from 10 wt. % to 50 wt. % of the total polycarbonate polymer component.

5 . The thermoplastic composition according to claim 1 , wherein the polysiloxane-polycarbonate copolymer is present in an amount from 1 wt. % to 80 wt. % of the total polycarbonate polymer component.

6 . The electrostatic dissipative thermoplastic composition according to claim 1 , wherein the brominated polycarbonate resin is present in an amount equal to or less than 50% of the polycarbonate polymer component.

7 . The thermoplastic composition according to claim 1 , further comprising a radio frequency transparent reinforcing filler comprising a glass fiber or a ceramic fiber.

8 . The electrostatic dissipative thermoplastic composition according to claim 1 , further comprising a processing aid, the processing aid comprising at least one of a mold release component, a flow modifier component and a process stabilizer.

9 . The electrostatic dissipative thermoplastic composition according to claim 1 , wherein the flame retardant comprises phosphazene, aryl phosphate, bisphenol A diphosphate, resorcinol bis-diphenylphosphate, bisphenol A diphenyl phosphate, resorcinol diphosphate, or a combination thereof.

10 . The electrostatic dissipative thermoplastic composition according to claim 1 , wherein the antidripping agent comprises styrene acrylonitrile (SAN) encapsulated polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE).

11 . The electrostatic dissipative thermoplastic composition according to claim 1 , wherein the an intrinsically conductive or dissipative polymer comprises a block copolymer, wherein the block copolymer comprises a polyamide-poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) block copolymer (polyetheresteramide).

12 . The electrostatic dissipative thermoplastic composition according to claim 1 , further comprising a colorant or a dye.

13 . The electrostatic dissipative thermoplastic composition according to claim 1 , wherein the flame retardant comprises phosphazene, aryl phosphate, bisphenol A diphosphate, resorcinol bis-diphenylphosphate, bisphenol A diphenyl phosphate, resorcinol diphosphate, or a combination thereof.

14 . The electrostatic dissipative thermoplastic composition according to claim 1 , further comprising a compatibilizer.

15 . The electrostatic dissipative thermoplastic composition according to claim 2 , wherein the catalyst deactivator comprises phosphoric acid, phosphorous acid, acidic phosphate salt or octadecyl phosphate.

16 . The electrostatic dissipative thermoplastic composition according to claim 1 , wherein the thermoplastic composition has one or more of the following properties:

a. electrostatic dissipative properties according to ATEX Directive (94/9/EC) and/or EN 50014 in a potentially explosive atmosphere;

b. a surface resistivity of from about 10 6 to about 10 9 ohms/square (Ω/sq) when tested in accordance with ASTM D257;

c. the thermoplastic composition is transparent to radio frequency signals;

d. the thermoplastic composition has a V0 rating at a thickness of about 0.8 millimeter (mm) to about 2.5 mm when tested in accordance with UL 94;

e. the thermoplastic composition does not break under unnotched Izod impact test conditions of ASTM D256 with a pendulum energy of 11 J;

f. the composition has an unnotched Izod impact strength of at least 800 Joule per meter (J/m) at −25° C., when tested in accordance with ASTM D256 with a pendulum energy of 11 J;

g. the thermoplastic composition has a notched Izod impact strength of at least about 200 J/m when tested in accordance with ASTM D256; and

h. the composition is colorable or dyeable.

17 . The electrostatic dissipative thermoplastic composition according to claim 1 , wherein the thermoplastic composition comprises:

a. from about 40 wt. % to about 85 wt. % polycarbonate component comprising 1 to 15 wt. % of polysiloxane-polycarbonate copolymer and 10 to 50 wt. % brominated polycarbonate based on the total weight of the polycarbonate component;

b. from about 5 wt. % to about 50 wt. % intrinsically conductive/dissipative polymer;

c. from about 3 wt. % to about 25 wt. % flame retardant;

d. from about 0.1 wt. % to about 5 wt. % antidripping agent;

e. from about 0.1 wt. % to about 3 wt. % UV stabilizer; and

f. from about 0.1 wt. % to about 10 wt. % of a colorant or dye

based on the total weight of the electrostatic dissipative thermoplastic composition.

18 . The electrostatic dissipative thermoplastic composition according to claim 1 , wherein the electrostatic dissipative thermoplastic composition comprises a mold release component in an amount of from about 0.2 wt. % to about 2 wt. %.

19 . A molded article formed from the electrostatic dissipative thermoplastic composition of claim 1 .

20 . A method for making a thermoplastic composition, comprising:

a. combining a thermoplastic polymer, an antidripping agent, an ultraviolet (UV) stabilizer, and optionally a colorant or dye to form a mixture;

b. adding the mixture at a feed throat of an extruder and compounding the mixture in the extruder;

c. adding an intrinsically conductive polymer to the mixture at either the feed throat of the extruder or downstream in the extruder;

d. adding a flame retardant to the mixture into the extruder through the feed throat or through a liquid feed port; and

e. extruding the mixture to form the thermoplastic composition.