Ultra-low petroleum plastics
Plastic-like compositions having ultra-low contents of petroleum derived materials are provided. The materials comprise up to about 80% by weight of an inorganic salt having an average particle size between about 0.001 and about 300 μm and a plastic binder. The compositions have a low propensity to ignite or smoke in the presence of heat or flame.
1. A foamed composition comprising:
(a) a polyurethane polymer in an amount of about 10 to about 60% by weight of the composition; and
(b) ammonium sulfate in an amount above 30 up to about 80% by weight of the composition having an average particle size of less than about 62 μm; wherein
the ammonium sulfate is in a micronized form when introduced into the polyurethane polymer,
the foamed composition has a reduced propensity to ignite or smoke in the presence of heat or flame as compared to the polyurethane polymer alone,
the foamed composition is fire retardant and has a petroleum-derived polymeric component content that is at least about 30% lower than the petroleum-derived polymeric component content of polyethylene, and
the foamed composition meets the U.S. Government standard for flammability resistance FAR 25.853(b) and/or passes the ASTM E-84 test with a Class A rating.
2. The composition of claim 1 wherein the ammonium sulfate has an average particle size between about 0.1 and about 30 μm.
3. The composition of claim 2 wherein the ammonium sulfate has an average particle size between about 1 and about 10 μm.
4. The composition of claim 1 wherein the ammonium sulfate is present in an amount between about 40 to about 80% by weight of the composition.
5. The composition of claim 4 wherein the polyurethane polymer is present in an amount between about 10 and about 50% by weight of the composition and the ammonium sulfate is present in an amount between about 40 to about 80% by weight of the composition.
6. The composition of claim 5 wherein the polyurethane polymer is present in an amount between about 10 and about 40% by weight of the composition and the ammonium sulfate is present in an amount between about 50 to about 80% by weight of the composition.
7. The composition of claim 6 wherein the polyurethane polymer is present in an amount between about 10 and about 30% by weight of the composition and the ammonium sulfate is present in an amount between about 60 to about 80% by weight of the composition.
8. The composition of claim 1 further comprising one or more additives selected from the group consisting of plasticizers, stabilizers, fillers, blending resins, pigments, and impact modifiers.
9. The composition of claim 8 wherein the one or more additives are present in an amount between about 0.05% and about 35% by weight of the composition.
10. A foamed composition comprising:
a plurality of ammonium sulfate particles having an average particle size of less than about 62 μm held in a homogenous physical unit by a plastic polymeric binder; wherein
at least a portion of the ammonium sulfate is in a micronized form when introduced into the plastic polymeric binder,
the ammonium sulfate particles are present in an amount above 30 up to about 80% by weight of the composition,
the foamed composition has a reduced propensity to ignite or smoke in the presence of heat or flame as compared to the plastic polymeric binder alone,
the foamed composition is fire retardant and has a petroleum-derived polymeric component content that is at least about 30% lower than the petroleum-derived polymeric component content of polyethylene,
the foamed composition meets the U.S. Government standard for flammability resistance FAR 25.853(b) and/or passes the ASTM E-84 test with a Class A rating, and
the plastic polymeric binder comprises a polyurethane polymer.
11. The composition of claim 10 wherein the ammonium sulfate has an average particle size between about 0.1 and about 30 μm.
12. The composition of claim 11 wherein the ammonium sulfate has an average particle size between about 1 and about 10 μm.
13. The composition of claim 10 wherein the plastic polymeric binder is present in an amount between about 10 and about 60% by weight of the composition and the ammonium sulfate is present in an amount between about 40 to about 80% by weight of the composition.
14. The composition of claim 13 wherein the plastic polymeric binder is present in an amount between about 10 and about 50% by weight of the composition and the ammonium sulfate is present in an amount between about 40 to about 80% by weight of the composition.
15. The composition of claim 14 wherein the plastic polymeric binder is present in an amount between about 10 and about 40% by weight of the composition and the ammonium sulfate is present in an amount between about 50 to about 80% by weight of the composition.
16. The composition of claim 15 wherein the plastic polymeric binder is present in an amount between about 10 and about 30% by weight of the composition and the ammonium sulfate is present in an amount between about 60 to about 80% by weight of the composition.
17. The composition of claim 1 , wherein the composition has a bulk, and the bulk of the composition is provided by the ammonium sulfate.
18. The composition of claim 10 , wherein the composition has a bulk, and the bulk of the composition is provided by the ammonium sulfate.
19. The composition of claim 1 , wherein the composition passes the UL-94 test.
20. The composition of claim 10 , wherein the composition passes the UL-94 test.