Modified lignin products, processes for making them, and their use to produce rigid polyurethane or polyisocyanurate foams are disclosed. The processes comprise heating a lignin source with a nitrogen source and a starved concentration of a C.sub.1-C.sub.5 aldehyde to give a reaction mixture comprising a Mannich condensation product, neutralizing the reaction mixture, and isolating the modified lignin product. The process is performed at a mass ratio of lignin source to nitrogen source within the range of 1:1 to 1:5 and at a molar ratio of nitrogen source to C.sub.1-C.sub.5 aldehyde within the range of 3.5:1 to 1:1. Polyol blends and performance additives that contain the modified lignin products are described. Rigid foams that process well and incorporate up to 60 wt.%, based on the amount of polyol component, of the modified lignin contribute to excellent flame retardancy and low-temperature R-value performance.

The present disclosure provides a thermoplastic resin composition having high rigidity and a low coefficient of linear thermal expansion and a molded article including the same. The thermoplastic resin composition includes a first propylene-ethylene copolymer, a second propylene-ethylene copolymer, a thermoplastic elastomer, an inorganic filler, and a sodium-phosphate-based nucleating agent as appropriate, and thus a molded article produced therefrom can exhibit improved mechanical rigidity, impact resistance, and dimensional stability. Even when formed to a low thickness for weight reduction, the molded article can be imparted with excellent processability, high tensile strength, a high flexural modulus, and high impact strength.

The present disclosure provides a thermoplastic resin composition having high rigidity and a low coefficient of linear thermal expansion and a molded article including the same. The thermoplastic resin composition includes a first propylene-ethylene copolymer, a second propylene-ethylene copolymer, a thermoplastic elastomer, an inorganic filler, and a sodium-phosphate-based nucleating agent as appropriate, and thus a molded article produced therefrom can exhibit improved mechanical rigidity, impact resistance, and dimensional stability. Even when formed to a low thickness for weight reduction, the molded article can be imparted with excellent processability, high tensile strength, a high flexural modulus, and high impact strength.

Disclosed herein are asphalt compositions. In some embodiments, the asphalt compositions can include asphalt, a polymer, and a basic salt such as aluminum sulfate. In some embodiments, the asphalt compositions can include asphalt, a polymer, and an inorganic acid such as phosphoric acid. The asphalt compositions can include asphalt in an amount of from 50 wt % to 99.9 wt %, based on the weight of the asphalt composition. In some embodiments, the asphalt compositions can include a styrene-butadiene copolymer in an amount of from 0.05 wt % to 10 wt %, based on the weight of the asphalt composition. The basic salt can be present in an amount of from 0.01 wt % to 5 wt %, based on the weight of the asphalt compositions. The acid can be present in an amount of from 0.005 wt % to 0.1 wt %, based on the weight of the asphalt compositions. Methods of making and using the asphalt compositions are also disclosed.

The invention provides a flame retardant-stabilizer combination for thermoplastic polymers, comprising as component A 20% to 99.7% by weight of phosphinic salt of the formula (I), (I), in which R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 are each ethyl, M is Al and m is 3; as component B 0.2% to 16% by weight of aluminium salts of ethylbutylphosphinic acid, of dibutylphosphinic acid, of ethylhexylphosphinic acid, of butylhexylphosphinic acid and/or of dihexylphosphinic acid; as component C 0.1% to 80% by weight of a salt of phosphorous acid having the general formula (II) [HP(═O)O.sub.2].sup.2−M.sup.m+(II) in which M is Zn and m is 2; as component D 0% to 80% by weight of a salt of phosphorous acid having the general formula (III) [HP(═O)O.sub.2].sup.2−.sub.3 M.sup.m+.sub.2 (III) in which M is Al and m is 3; as component E 0% to 30% by weight of a nitrogen-containing synergist and/or of a phosphorus-containing and/or nitrogen-containing flame retardant; as component F 0% to 10% by weight of an inorganic synergist selected from zinc borate, zinc stannate, boehmite and/or hydrotalcite; as component G 0% to 3% by weight of an organic phosphonite and/or a mixture of an organic phosphonite and an organic phosphite and as component H 0% to 3% by weight of an ester and/or salt of long-chain aliphatic carboxylic acids (fatty acids) typically having chain lengths of C.sub.14 to C.sub.40, where the sum total of the components is always 100% by weight.

##STR00001##

The invention provides a flame retardant-stabilizer combination for thermoplastic polymers, comprising as component A 20% to 99.7% by weight of phosphinic salt of the formula (I), (I), in which R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 are each ethyl, M is Al and m is 3; as component B 0.2% to 16% by weight of aluminium salts of ethylbutylphosphinic acid, of dibutylphosphinic acid, of ethylhexylphosphinic acid, of butylhexylphosphinic acid and/or of dihexylphosphinic acid; as component C 0.1% to 80% by weight of a salt of phosphorous acid having the general formula (II) [HP(═O)O.sub.2].sup.2−M.sup.m+(II) in which M is Zn and m is 2; as component D 0% to 80% by weight of a salt of phosphorous acid having the general formula (III) [HP(═O)O.sub.2].sup.2−.sub.3 M.sup.m+.sub.2 (III) in which M is Al and m is 3; as component E 0% to 30% by weight of a nitrogen-containing synergist and/or of a phosphorus-containing and/or nitrogen-containing flame retardant; as component F 0% to 10% by weight of an inorganic synergist selected from zinc borate, zinc stannate, boehmite and/or hydrotalcite; as component G 0% to 3% by weight of an organic phosphonite and/or a mixture of an organic phosphonite and an organic phosphite and as component H 0% to 3% by weight of an ester and/or salt of long-chain aliphatic carboxylic acids (fatty acids) typically having chain lengths of C.sub.14 to C.sub.40, where the sum total of the components is always 100% by weight.

##STR00001##

The present disclosure relates to a novel flame retardant and stabilizer additive composition for thermoplastic polymers, the additive composition including at least one phosphorus-containing flame retardant and at least one epoxide, as described herein. The presently disclosed additive compositions are useful over a wide range of thermoplastic applications, particularly in thermoplastic polymers that are processed and/or used at high temperatures.

The present disclosure relates to a novel flame retardant and stabilizer additive composition for thermoplastic polymers, the additive composition including at least one phosphorus-containing flame retardant and at least one epoxide, as described herein. The presently disclosed additive compositions are useful over a wide range of thermoplastic applications, particularly in thermoplastic polymers that are processed and/or used at high temperatures.

The present invention provides a water-soluble polymer composition which is suppressed in decrease of the viscosity over time if formed into an aqueous solution that contains iron ions. A water-soluble polymer composition which contains a water-soluble polymer, a phenolic antioxidant and an inorganic salt other than a transition metal salt, wherein the content of the inorganic salt is from 0.001 part by mass to 10 parts by mass relative to 100 parts by mass of the water-soluble polymer.

The present invention provides a water-soluble polymer composition which is suppressed in decrease of the viscosity over time if formed into an aqueous solution that contains iron ions. A water-soluble polymer composition which contains a water-soluble polymer, a phenolic antioxidant and an inorganic salt other than a transition metal salt, wherein the content of the inorganic salt is from 0.001 part by mass to 10 parts by mass relative to 100 parts by mass of the water-soluble polymer.