POLYESTER COMPOSITIONS WITH LOW GEL CONTENT AND METHOD OF MAKING THEM

1 . A composition of matter comprising a polyester resin derived from:

i. a polyester having end groups and at least about 20 percent of acid end groups relative to a total number of the end groups;

ii. at least one bis epoxy compound having two epoxy groups, and wherein the bis epoxy compound does not have an ester or a carbonate group; and

wherein the polyester has a gel content ranging from 0 to about 10 weight percent.

2 . The composition of claim 1 , wherein the bis epoxy compound comprises a compound having formula (II):

wherein R 3 , R 5 , R 9 and R 11 are independently at each occurrence a hydrogen, a C 1 -C 20 aliphatic, a C 3 -C 20 cycloaliphatic or a C 3 -C 20 aromatic radical, R 4 , R 6 , R 8 and R 10 are independently at each occurrence a C 1 -C 20 aliphatic, a C 3 -C 20 cycloaliphatic or a C 3 -C 20 aromatic radical, and R 4 and R 6 , R 8 and R 10 , R 4 and R 10 are taken together to form part of a cyclic structure and R 7 is a C 1 -C 20 aliphatic, a C 3 -C 20 cycloaliphatic or a C 3 -C 20 aromatic radical, X and Y are a functional group other than an ester or a carbonate group and m and n are integers between 0 and 5.

3 . The composition of claim 1 , wherein the polyester is derived from a diacid selected from the group consisting of linear acids, terephthalic acids, isophthalic acids, phthalic acids, naphthalic acids, cycloaliphatic acids, bicyclo aliphatic acids, decahydro naphthalene dicarboxylic acids, norbornene dicarboxylic acids, bicyclo octane dicarboxylic acids, 1,4-cyclohexanedicarboxylic acid, adipic acid, azelaic acid, dicarboxyl dodecanoic acid, stilbene dicarboxylic acid, succinic acid, chemical equivalents of the foregoing, and combinations thereof.

4 . The composition of claim 1 , wherein the polyester is derived from a diol selected from the group consisting of ethylene glycol; propylene glycol, butanediol, pentane diol; dipropylene glycol; 2-methyl-1,5-pentane diol; 1,6-hexane diol; dimethanol decalin, dimethanol bicyclo octane; cis-1,4-cyclohexane dimethanol, trans-1,4-cyclohexane dimethanol; triethylene glycol; 1,10-decane diol; tricyclodecane dimethanol; hydrogenated bisphenol-A, tetramethyl cyclobutane diol chemical equivalents of the foregoing, and combinations thereof

5 . The composition of claim 1 , wherein the polyester has an acid end groups ranging from about 20 percent to about 100 percent relative to the total number of end groups.

6 . The composition of claim 1 , wherein the bis epoxy compound has a boiling point of at least about 150° C.

7 . The composition of claim 1 , wherein the epoxy group and the acid group are at mole ratio in a range from about 0.8 to about 1.2.

8 . The composition of claim 1 , wherein the bis epoxy compound is present in an amount from about 0.5 weight percent to about 35 weight percent based on the total weight of the composition.

9 . The composition of claim 1 , wherein the composition further comprises an additive.

10 . The composition of claim 9 , wherein the additive is selected from the group consisting of anti-oxidants, flame retardants, flow modifiers, impact modifiers, colorants, mold release agents, UV light stabilizers, heat stabilizers, lubricants, antidrip agents and combinations thereof.

11 . The composition of claim 9 , wherein the additive is present ranging from about 0 to 40 weight percent, based on the total weight of the thermoplastic resin.

12 . The composition of claim 1 , wherein the composition further comprises a filler.

13 . The composition of claim 12 wherein the filler is selected from the group consisting of calcium carbonate, mica, kaolin, talc, glass fibers, carbon fibers, carbon nanotubes, magnesium carbonate, sulfates of barium, calcium sulfate, titanium, nano clay, carbon black, silica, hydroxides of aluminum or ammonium or magnesium, zirconia, nanoscale titania, or a combination thereof.

14 . The composition of claim 1 , wherein the resin has a molecular weight in the range from about 5000 to about 50000.

15 . An article molded from the composition of claim 1 .

16 . A process comprising:

1. mixing a polyester and a bis epoxy compound to form a first mixture;

2. heating the first mixture at a temperature sufficiently high to form a composition of matter comprising a polyester resin derived from:

i. a polyester having end groups and at least about 20 percent of acid end groups relative to a total number of the end groups;

ii. at least one bis epoxy compound having two epoxy groups, and wherein the bis epoxy compound does not have an ester or carbonate groups; and

wherein the polyester has a gel content ranging from 0 to about 10 weight percent.

17 . The process of claim 16 , wherein the first mixture is heated to a temperature ranging from about 150 to 280° C.

18 . The process of claim 16 , wherein the process is carried out in presence of a catalyst.

19 . The process of claim 18 , wherein the catalyst is selected from the group consisting of alkali metal and alkaline earth metal salts of aromatic dicarboxylic acids, alkali metal and alkaline earth metal salts of aliphatic dicarboxylic acids, Lewis acids, metal oxides, coordination complexes of the foregoing and combinations thereof.

20 . The process of claim 18 , wherein the catalyst is not a tertiary amine or an alkali metal hydroxide.

21 . The process of claim 16 , wherein the process is carried out in presence of a solvent.

22 . The process of claim 16 , wherein the process is carried out in presence of an inert atmosphere.

23 . The process of claim 16 , wherein the process is carried out in vacuum.

24 . The process of claim 16 , wherein the process is carried out at a pressure in the range from about 0.01 atmosphere to about 1 atmosphere.

25 . A composition of matter comprising a polyester resin derived from:

i. a polyester having end groups and at least about 20 percent of acid end groups relative to a total number of the end groups; wherein the polyester is derived from a diol selected from the group consisting of ethylene glycol; propylene glycol, butanediol, pentane diol; dipropylene glycol; 2-methyl-1,5-pentane diol; 1,6-hexane diol; dimethanol decalin, dimethanol bicyclo octane; cis-1,4-cyclohexane dimethanol, trans-1,4-cyclohexane dimethanol; triethylene glycol; 1,10-decane diol; tricyclodecane dimethanol; hydrogenated bisphenol-A, tetramethyl cyclobutane diol chemical equivalents of the foregoing, and combinations thereof, and a diacid is selected from the group consisting of linear acids, terephthalic acids, isophthalic acids, phthalic acids, naphthalic acids, cycloaliphatic acids, bicyclo aliphatic acids, decahydro naphthalene dicarboxylic acids, norbornene dicarboxylic acids, bicyclo octane dicarboxylic acids, 1,4-cyclohexanedicarboxylic acid, adipic acid, azelaic acid, dicarboxyl dodecanoic acid, stilbene dicarboxylic acid, succinic acid, chemical equivalents of the foregoing, and combinations thereof;

ii. a bis epoxy compound comprising a compound having formula (II):

wherein R 3 , R 5 , R 9 and R 11 are independently at each occurrence a hydrogen, a C 1 -C 20 aliphatic, a C 3 -C 20 cycloaliphatic or a C 3 -C 20 aromatic radical, R 4 , R 6 , R 8 and R 10 are independently at each occurrence a C 1 -C 20 aliphatic, a C 3 -C 20 cycloaliphatic or a C 3 -C 20 aromatic radical, and R 4 and R 6 , R 8 and R 10 , R 4 and R 10 are taken together to form part of a cyclic structure and R 7 is a C 1 -C 20 aliphatic, a C 3 -C 20 cycloaliphatic or a C 3 -C 20 aromatic radical, X and Y are a functional group other than an ester or a carbonate group and m and n are integers between 0 and 5;

wherein the polyester has a gel content ranging from 0 to about 10 weight percent.