Compositions and articles of manufacture containing branched polycarbonate

1. A composition comprising:

a flame retardant comprising a sulfonate salt;

15 to 50 weight percent of a first polycarbonate, wherein the first polycarbonate comprises structural units of formula (I)

wherein at least 60 percent of the total number of R 1 groups comprise aromatic groups and the balance thereof are aliphatic or alicyclic groups, and terminal groups derived from an end-capping agent, wherein the first polycarbonate has a branching level of greater than or equal to 2%, a weight average molecular weight of 20,000 to 55,000 g/mol as measured by gel permeation chromatography using polycarbonate standards, and a peak melt viscosity greater than or equal to 25,000 poise when measured using a parallel plate melt rheology test at a heating rate of 10 degrees C./minute at a temperature of 350 to 450° C. at a frequency of 3 radians/second and a strain amplitude of 9%;

20 to 50 weight percent of a second polycarbonate having a glass transition temperature greater than or equal to 170° C., wherein the second polycarbonate comprises structural units derived from HO-A 1 -Y 1 -A 2 -OH and structural units derived from HO-A 1 -Y 2 -A 2 -OH wherein each of A 1 and A 2 is a monocyclic divalent aryl group, Y 1 is an aliphatic bridging group or bridging group comprising one to three atoms with the proviso that at least one of the atoms is a hetero atom, and Y 2 is an aromatic group having 6 to 30 carbon atoms, and

15 to 50 weight percent of a third polycarbonate comprising structural units derived from bisphenol A and having a branching level of 0 to less than 2%, and a molecular weight of 17,000 to 40,000 g/mol as measured by gel permeation chromatography using polycarbonate standards,

wherein weight percent is based on the combined weight of the first, second and third polycarbonates and the composition has a heat distortion temperature greater than or equal to 145° C., a ductility greater than or equal to 90% at 23 degrees C., a multi-axial impact greater than or equal to 50 J/m at 23° C., and a molded article of the composition has a UL 94 V0 rating at a thickness of 1.5 mm; and

wherein the branching levels are determined by dividing a number of moles of branching agent by a total moles of bisphenol from which the respective polycarbonate is derived times 100.

2. The composition of claim 1 , wherein the flame retardant comprises potassium perfluorobutane sulfonate.

3. The composition of claim 1 , wherein the end-capping agent comprises phenol or a phenol containing one or more substitutions comprising aliphatic groups, olefinic groups, aromatic groups, halogens, ester groups, ether groups, halogens, cyano groups, or combinations thereof.

4. The composition of claim 3 , wherein the end-capping agent consists essentially of phenol, p-t-butylphenol, p-cumylphenol, or combinations thereof.

5. The composition of claim 1 , wherein the end-capping agent has a pKa of 8.3 to 11.

6. The composition of claim 1 , wherein the first polycarbonate has an MVR of 10 to 200 cm 3 /10 min.

7. The composition of claim 1 , wherein the branching level of the first polycarbonate is greater than or equal to 3%.

8. The composition of claim 1 , wherein the flame-retardant comprises a potassium perfluorobutane sulfonate salt greater in an amount greater than about 0.04 wt. % based upon the total weight of polycarbonate resin in the composition.

9. The composition of claim 1 , wherein the flame-retardant excludes a chlorine or bromine containing composition.

10. The composition of claim 1 , wherein the branching agent comprises tris-p-hydroxy phenyl ethane, trimellitic trichloride, isatin-bis-phenol, or combinations thereof.

11. The composition of claim 1 , wherein the weight-average molecular weight of the first polycarbonate has is 20,000 g/mole to 40,000 g/mole as measured by gel permeation chromatography using polycarbonate standards.

12. The composition of claim 1 , wherein the first polycarbonate is a homopolycarbonate derived from a bisphenol A or a copolycarbonate derived from more than one bisphenol.

13. The composition of claim 1 , wherein the second polycarbonate comprises units derived from bisphenol A and 3,3-bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)-2-phenylisoindolin-1-one.

14. The composition of claim 13 , wherein the structural units derived from 3,3-bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)-2-phenylisoindolin-1-one are present in an amount of 20-40 mol %, based on the total moles of structural units.

15. The composition of claim 1 , wherein the composition has a haze value of less than 1.5% at 3.2 mm thickness as determined by ASTM D1003.

16. The composition of claim 1 , further comprising one or more additives.

17. The composition of claim 16 , wherein the additives comprise UV stabilizing additives, thermal stabilizing additives, mold release agents, colorants, organic fillers, inorganic fillers, gamma-stabilizing agents, or combinations thereof.

18. The composition of claim 1 , wherein the composition is free of fluorine.

19. The composition of claim 1 , having a transmission value greater than or equal to 85% at 3.2 mm thickness as determined by ASTM D1003.

20. An article comprising the composition of claim 1 .

21. A composition comprising:

potassium perfluorobutane sulfonate;

15 to 50 weight percent of a first polycarbonate, wherein the first polycarbonate comprises structural units of formula (I)

wherein at least 60 percent of the total number of R 1 groups comprise aromatic groups and the balance thereof are aliphatic or alicyclic groups, and terminal groups derived from an end-capping agent, wherein the first polycarbonate has a branching level of greater than or equal to 3%, a weight average molecular weight of 20,000 to 55,000 g/mol as measured by gel permeation chromatography using polycarbonate standards, and a peak melt viscosity greater than or equal to 25,000 poise when measured using a parallel plate melt rheology test at a heating rate of 10 degrees C./minute at a temperature of 350 to 450 degree C. at a frequency of 3 radians/second and a strain amplitude of 9%;

20 to 50 weight percent of a second polycarbonate having a glass transition temperature greater than or equal to 170° C., wherein the second polycarbonate comprises structural units derived from HO-A 1 -Y 1 -A 2 -OH and structural units derived from HO-A 1 -Y 2 -A 2 -OH wherein each of A 1 and A 2 is a monocyclic divalent aryl group, Y 1 is an aliphatic bridging group or bridging group comprising one to three atoms with the proviso that at least one of the atoms is a hetero atom, and Y 2 is an aromatic group having 6 to 30 carbon atoms, and

15 to 50 weight percent of a third polycarbonate comprising structural units derived from bisphenol A and having a branching level of 0 to less than 2%, and a molecular weight of 17,000 to 40,000 g/mol as measured by gel permeation chromatography using polycarbonate standards

wherein weight percent is based on the combined weight of the first, second and third polycarbonates and the composition has a heat distortion temperature greater than or equal to 145° C., a ductility greater than or equal to 90% at 23° C., a multi-axial impact greater than or equal to 50 J/m at 23° C., and a molded article of the composition has a UL 94 V0 rating at a thickness of 1.0 mm; and

wherein the branching levels are determined by dividing a number of moles of branching agent by a total moles of bisphenol from which the respective polycarbonate is derived times 100.

22. A composition comprising:

potassium sulfone sulfonate;

15 to 50 weight percent of a first polycarbonate, wherein the first polycarbonate comprises structural units of formula (I)

wherein at least 60 percent of the total number of R 1 groups comprise aromatic groups and the balance thereof are aliphatic or alicyclic groups, and terminal groups derived from an end-capping agent, wherein the first polycarbonate has a branching level of greater than or equal to 2%, a weight average molecular weight of 20,000 to 55,000 g/mol as measured by gel permeation chromatography using polycarbonate standards, and a peak melt viscosity greater than or equal to 25,000 poise when measured using a parallel plate melt rheology test at a heating rate of 10 degrees C./minute at a temperature of 350 to 450 degree C. at a frequency of 3 radians/second and a strain amplitude of 9%;

20 to 50 weight percent of a second polycarbonate having a glass transition temperature greater than or equal to 170° C., wherein the second polycarbonate comprises structural units derived from HO-A 1 -Y 1 -A 2 -OH and structural units derived from HO-A 1 -Y 2 -A 2 -OH wherein each of A 1 and A 2 is a monocyclic divalent aryl group, Y 1 is an aliphatic bridging group or bridging group comprising one to three atoms with the proviso that at least one of the atoms is a hetero atom, and Y 2 is an aromatic group having 6 to 30 carbon atoms, and

15 to 50 weight percent of a third polycarbonate comprising structural units derived from bisphenol A and having a branching level of 0 to less than 2%, and a molecular weight of 17,000 to 40,000 g/mol as measured by gel permeation chromatography using polycarbonate standards,

wherein weight percent is based on the combined weight of the first, second and third polycarbonates and the composition has a heat distortion temperature greater than or equal to 145° C., a ductility greater than or equal to 90% at 23 degrees C., a multi-axial impact greater than or equal to 50 J/m at 23° C., and a molded article of the composition has a UL 94 V0 rating at a thickness of 1.2 mm; and

wherein the branching levels are determined by dividing a number of moles of branching agent by a total moles of bisphenol from which the respective polycarbonate is derived times 100.

23. A composition comprising:

potassium perfluorobutane sulfonate;

15 to 50 weight percent of a first polycarbonate, wherein the first polycarbonate comprises structural units of derived from bisphenol A, wherein the first polycarbonate has a branching level of greater than or equal to 2%, a weight average molecular weight of 20,000 to 55,000 g/mol as measured by gel permeation chromatography using polycarbonate standards, and a peak melt viscosity greater than or equal to 25,000 poise when measured using a parallel plate melt rheology test at a heating rate of 10 degrees C./minute at a temperature of 350 to 450 degree C. at a frequency of 3 radians/second and a strain amplitude of 9%;

20 to 50 weight percent of a second polycarbonate having a glass transition temperature greater than or equal to 170° C., wherein the second polycarbonate comprises structural units derived from bisphenol A and 3,3-bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)-2-phenylisoindolin-1-one and the structural units derived from 3,3-bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)-2-phenylisoindolin-1-one are present in an amount of 20-40 mol % based on the total number of moles of structural units, and

15 to 50 weight percent of a third polycarbonate comprising structural units derived from bisphenol A and having a branching level of 0 to less than 2%, and a molecular weight of 17,000 to 40,000 g/mol as measured by gel permeation chromatography using polycarbonate standards

wherein weight percent is based on the combined weight of the first, second and third polycarbonates and the composition has a heat distortion temperature greater than or equal to 145° C., a ductility greater than or equal to 90% at 23° C., a multi-axial impact greater than or equal to 50 J/m at 23° C., and a molded article of the composition has a UL 94 V0 rating at a thickness of 1.0 mm; and

wherein the branching levels are determined by dividing a number of moles of branching agent by a total moles of bisphenol from which the respective polycarbonate is derived times 100.

24. A composition comprising:

potassium sulfone sulfonate;

15 to 50 weight percent of a first polycarbonate, wherein the first polycarbonate comprises structural units of derived from bisphenol A, wherein the first polycarbonate has a branching level of greater than or equal to 2%, a weight average molecular weight of 20,000 to 55,000 g/mol as measured by gel permeation chromatography using polycarbonate standards, and a peak melt viscosity greater than or equal to 25,000 poise when measured using a parallel plate melt rheology test at a heating rate of 10 degrees C./minute at a temperature of 350 to 450 degree C. at a frequency of 3 radians/second and a strain amplitude of 9%;

20 to 50 weight percent of a second polycarbonate having a glass transition temperature greater than or equal to 170° C., wherein the second polycarbonate comprises structural units derived from bisphenol A and 3,3-bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)-2-phenylisoindolin-1-one and the structural units derived from 3,3-bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)-2-phenylisoindolin-1-one are present in an amount of 20-40 mol % based on the total number of moles of structural units, and

15 to 50 weight percent of a third polycarbonate comprising structural units derived from bisphenol A and having a branching level of 0 to less than 2%, and a molecular weight of 17,000 to 40,000 g/mol as measured by gel permeation chromatography using polycarbonate standards;

wherein weight percent is based on the combined weight of the first, second and third polycarbonates and the composition has a heat distortion temperature greater than or equal to 145° C., a ductility greater than or equal to 90% at 23° C., a multi-axial impact greater than or equal to 50 Jim at 23° C., and a molded article of the composition has a UL 94 V0 rating at a thickness of 1.2 mm; and

wherein the branching levels are determined by dividing a number of moles of branching agent by a total moles of bisphenol from which the respective polycarbonate is derived times 100.

25. The composition of claim 1 , wherein the composition comprises 25 to 45 weight percent of the first polycarbonate, 20 to 40 weight percent of the second polycarbonate, and 20 to 35 weight percent of the third polycarbonate.