ABSTRACT
Although organic phosphonates offer many advantages over organic phosphates in numerous commercial applications, extensive use of these agents has been hindered by their higher price compared to organic phosphates and their limited commercial availability. With the exception of insecticides and herbicides, the two principle industrial uses of phosphonates are as lubricant additives, and as fire retardant agents. The producers of most of the phosphonates used industrially furnish product safety information which is very helpful to the safety of the users. Some phosphonates have found application as extractive solvents in the concentration and purification of uranium and thorium for use in atomic energy applications. Phosphonates can be used in the treatment of cooling waters to control oxygen corrosion. The phosphonates are applied to fabric from an organic solvent or a mixture of solvents, using a pad-dry-cure procedure. Several US patents have been issued in which phosphonates have been shown to act as catalysts.
