SYNTHESIS OF NOVEL BROMINATED BIS-TETRAHYDROPHTHALIMIDES AND BIS-NADIMIDES AND THEIR POSSIBLE APPLICATION AS FLAME-RETARDANT ADDITIVES FOR POLYSTYRENE COMPOSITES

Ten tetrabrominated bisimides of which eight were novel were tested as flame-retardant additives. They were prepared from corresponding bisi mides by the addition of bromine. Structural properties and related th ermal characteristics of these brominated compounds were determined, F lame-retardant properties of tetrabrominated bisimides were tested on high-impact polystyrene, containing various amounts of brominated bisi mides, according to ASTM-D-3801, ''Standard Test Method for Measuring the Comparative Extinguishing Characteristics of Solid Plastics in a V ertical Position,'' and DIN-51960, ''Testing of Organic Floor Covering s Assessment of Flammability.'' It was observed that tetrabrominated b isimides had improved flame resistance of high-impact polystyrene. In addition, thermoxidative stability of novel three bisimides, 04, 14, a nd 05, were compared with the others. (C) 1996 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.