Transparent compositions, methods for the preparation thereof, and articles derived therefrom
View Patent ↗A reaction product comprises a polyester-polycarbonate comprising a polyester unit and a polycarbonate unit, and a transesterification catalyst. The reaction product has a haze of less than 5.0%, specifically less than 3.5% as measured at a thickness of 3.2 mm according to ASTM D1003-00. A thermoplastic composition comprising the reaction product and articles formed from therefrom are disclosed. A method of forming the reaction product is also disclosed.
1. A reaction product obtained by melt blending a combination comprising:
a polymer comprising
aromatic ester units of formula
wherein T is a divalent aromatic radical and D 1 is a divalent aromatic radical, and
carbonate units of formula
wherein at least 60% of the total number of D 2 groups are divalent aromatic radicals and the balance thereof are divalent aliphatic, alicyclic, or aromatic radicals; and
a transesterification catalyst,
wherein the reaction product has a haze of less than 5.0% measured at a thickness of 3.2 mm according to ASTM D1003-00; and wherein the polymer is selected such that, in the absence of the transesterification catalyst, the similarly melt blended combination has a haze of greater than 5.0% measured at a thickness of 3.2 mm according to ASTM D1003-00.
2. The reaction product of claim 1 , wherein the polymer further comprises a second carbonate unit, and wherein the second carbonate unit is a resorcinol carbonate unit.
3. The reaction product of claim 1 , wherein T is a residue of a mixture of isophthalic acid and terephthalic acid, and wherein each D 1 is independently a resorcinol.
4. The reaction product of claim 1 , wherein the polymer comprises greater than or equal to 30 mole % aromatic ester units, and less than 70 mole % carbonate units.
5. The reaction product of claim 1 , wherein the transesterification catalyst is a tetra C 1 -C 6 alkyl phosphonium hydroxide, C 1 -C 6 alkyl phosphonium phenoxide, or a combination comprising one or more of the foregoing catalysts.
6. The reaction product of claim 1 , wherein the number of polyester repeat units (x) of Formula III
after melt blending is more than the number of polyester repeat units (x) of Formula III of a similarly melt blended combination without a transesterification catalyst.
7. The reaction product of claim 1 , wherein the number of polyester repeat units (r) of Formula I
after melt blending is less than the number of polyester repeat units (r) of Formula I of a similarly melt blended combination without a transesterification catalyst.
8. The reaction product of claim 1 , wherein the reaction product has a haze of less than 3.5% measured at a thickness of 3.2 mm according to ASTM D1003-00; and wherein the polymer is selected such that, in the absence of the transesterification catalyst, the similarly melt blended combination has a haze of greater than 3.5% measured at a thickness of 3.2 mm according to ASTM D1003-00.
9. A method for forming a reaction product, comprising melt blending a combination comprising:
a polymer comprising
aromatic ester units of formula
wherein T is a divalent aromatic radical and D 1 is a divalent aromatic radical, and
carbonate units of formula
wherein at least 60% of the total number of D 2 groups are divalent aromatic radicals and the balance thereof are divalent aliphatic, alicyclic, or aromatic radicals; and
a transesterification catalyst,
to provide the reaction product with a haze of less than 5.0%, measured at a thickness of 3.2 mm according to ASTM D1003-00; and wherein the polymer is selected such that, in the absence of the transesterification catalyst, the similarly melt blended combination has a haze of greater than 5.0% measured at a thickness of 3.2 mm according to ASTM D1003-00.
10. The method of claim 8 wherein the transesterification catalyst is present in an amount of 40 to 220 ppm.
11. A reaction product made by the method of claim 8 .
12. A thermoplastic composition comprising:
a reaction product obtained by melt blending a combination comprising:
a polymer comprising
aromatic ester units of formula
wherein T is a divalent aromatic radical and D 1 is a divalent aromatic radical, and
carbonate units of formula
wherein at least 60% of the total number of D 2 groups are divalent aromatic radicals and the balance thereof are divalent aliphatic, alicyclic, or aromatic radicals; and
a transesterification catalyst,
wherein the reaction product has a haze of less than 5.0% measured at a thickness of 3.2 mm according to ASTM D1003-00; and wherein the polymer is selected such that, in the absence of the transesterification catalyst, the similarly melt blended combination has a haze of greater than 5.0% measured at a thickness of 3.2 mm according to ASTM D1003-00.
13. The thermoplastic composition of claim 12 , wherein the reaction product has a haze of less than 3.5% measured at a thickness of 3.2 mm according to ASTM D1003-00; and wherein the polymer is selected such that, in the absence of the transesterification catalyst, the similarly melt blended combination has a haze of greater than 3.5% measured at a thickness of 3.2 mm according to ASTM D1003-00.
14. An article comprising the thermoplastic composition of claim 12 .
15. The thermoplastic composition of claim 12 , wherein the number of polyester repeat units (x) of Formula III
after melt blending is more than the number of polyester repeat units (x) of Formula III of a similarly melt blended combination without a transesterification catalyst.
16. The thermoplastic composition of claim 12 , wherein the number of polyester repeat units (r) of Formula I
after melt blending is less than the number of polyester repeat units (r) of Formula I of a similarly melt blended combination without a transesterification catalyst.
17. The thermoplastic composition of claim 12 , further comprising an additive selected from the group consisting of additional polymers, impact modifiers, fillers, reinforcing agents, thermal stabilizers, antioxidants, light stabilizers, gamma-irradiation stabilizers, plasticizers, colorants, antistatic agents, lubricants, mold releasing agents, flame retardants, anti-drip agents, and a combination comprising one or more of the foregoing additives.
18. The thermoplastic composition of claim 17 , wherein the additional polymers comprise polyesters, polysiloxane-polycarbonates, or a combination comprising one or more of the foregoing polymers.
19. The thermoplastic composition of claim 17 , wherein the reaction product separated from the additive has a haze of less than 3.5% at a thickness of 3.2 mm, according to ASTM D1003-00.
20. A reaction product obtained by melt blending a combination comprising:
a polymer comprising
aromatic ester units of formula
wherein T is a divalent aromatic radical and D 1 is a divalent aromatic radical, and carbonate units of formula
wherein at least 60% of the total number of D 2 groups are divalent aromatic radicals and the balance thereof are divalent aliphatic, alicyclic, or aromatic radicals; and
a transesterification catalyst,
wherein the number of polyester repeat units (x) of Formula III
after melt blending is more than the number of polyester repeat units (x) of Formula III of a similarly melt blended combination without a transesterification catalyst.
21. The reaction product of claim 20 , wherein the reaction product has a haze of less than 5.0% measured at a thickness of 3.2 mm according to ASTM D1003-00; and wherein the polymer is selected such that, in the absence of the transesterification catalyst, the similarly melt blended combination has a haze of greater than 5.0% measured at a thickness of 3.2 mm according to ASTM D1003-00.
22. The reaction product of claim 21 , wherein the reaction product has a haze of less than 3.5% measured at a thickness of 3.2 mm according to ASTM D1003-00; and wherein the polymer is selected such that, in the absence of the transesterification catalyst, the similarly melt blended combination has a haze of greater than 3.5% measured at a thickness of 3.2 mm according to ASTM D1003-00.
23. The reaction product of claim 20 , wherein the polymer comprises greater than or equal to 30 mole % aromatic ester units, and less than 70 mole % carbonate units.
24. The reaction product of claim 20 , wherein the transesterification catalyst is present in an amount of 40 to 220 ppm.
25. The reaction product of claim 20 , wherein the number of polyester repeat units (r) of Formula I
after melt blending is less than the number of polyester repeat units (r) of Formula I of a similarly melt blended combination without a transesterification catalyst.