PROCESS FOR THE PREPARATION OF POLY(ALKYLENE TEREPHTHALATE) EMPLOYING IN SITU TITANIUM-CONTAINING CATALYST AND COMPOSITIONS DERIVED THEREFROM
Disclosed is a process for the manufacture of a polyalkylene terephthalate such as polybutylene terephthalate. In particular, the process comprises employing a titanium-containing catalyst formed by the reaction product of tctraalkyl titanate and a complexing agent comprising a phosphorous, nitrogen or boron atom. The process is used to prepare polyalkylene terephthalates characterized by improved hydrostability, as well as compositions derived therefrom.
1 . A thermoplastic composition with improved hydrostability, comprising:
from 10 to 90 percent by weight of a polyalkylene terephthalate, wherein the polyalkylene terephthalate 50 to 300 ppm of tetra(C 1 -C 8 alkyl) titanate and 100 to 600 ppm of a phosphorous containing compound, both based on the total amount of titanium present, wherein the phosphorous containing compound is selected from the group consisting of phosphoric acid, poly(phosphoric acid), phosphorus acid, monobutyl phosphate, dibutyl phosphate, monoalkyl phosphates, dialkyl phosphates, and combinations thereof; and
from 10 to 90 percent by weight of a polycarbonate; and
wherein the polyalkylene terephthalate is not produced from recycled polyethylene terephthalate;
wherein all weight percents are based on the total weight of the composition; and
wherein no quencher for the catalyst complex is added to the compounded thermoplastic composition.
2 . The thermoplastic composition of claim 1 , wherein the polyalkylene terephthalate is a polybutylene terephthalate.
3 . The thermoplastic composition of claim 1 , wherein the tetra(C 1 -C 8 alkyl) titanate is tetraisopropyl titanate and the phosphorous containing compound is phosphoric acid.
4 . The thermoplastic composition of claim 1 , wherein the polycarbonate is a bisphenol A polycarbonate.
5 . The thermoplastic composition of claim 4 , comprising about 20 to about 80 percent by weight of a bisphenol A polycarbonate.
6 . The thermoplastic composition of claim 1 further comprising 0.01 to 1 percent by weight of a stabilizer.
7 . The thermoplastic composition of claim 1 further comprising 0.01 to 20 percent by weight of an impact modifier.
8 . The thermoplastic composition of claim 7 wherein the impact modifier comprises methylmethacrylate-butadiene-styrene copolymer alone or with linear low density polyethylene.
9 . The thermoplastic composition of claim 1 , further comprising a stabilizer.
10 . The thermoplastic composition of claim 9 , comprising 0.01 to 3 percent by weight of a stabilizer which is pentaerythritol tetrakis (3-(3,5-di-tert-butyl-4-hydroxy-phenyl-)propionate) alone or in combination with pentaerythritol betalaurylthiopropionate.
11 . The thermoplastic composition of claim 1 , comprising:
from 20 to 80 percent by weight of a polyalkylene terephthalate, wherein the polyalkylene terephthalate 50 to 300 ppm of tetra(C 1 -C 8 alkyl) titanate and 100 to 600 ppm of a phosphorous containing compound, both based on the total amount of titanium present, wherein the phosphorous containing compound is selected from the group consisting of phosphoric acid, poly(phosphoric acid), phosphorus acid, monobutyl phosphate, dibutyl phosphate, monoalkyl phosphates, dialkyl phosphates, and combinations thereof; and
from 20 to 80 percent by weight of a polycarbonate; and
0.01 to 30 percent by weight of an impact modifier; and
wherein the polyalkylene terephthalate is not produced from recycled polyethylene terephthalate;
wherein all weight percents are based on the total weight of the composition; and
wherein no quencher for the catalyst complex is added to the compounded thermoplastic composition.
12 . The thermoplastic composition of claim 11 , comprising:
from 25 to 35 percent by weight of a polyalkylene terephthalate, wherein the polyalkylene terephthalate contains 50 to 300 ppm of tetra(C 1 -C 8 alkyl) titanate and 100 to 600 ppm of a phosphorous containing compound, both based on the total amount of titanium present, wherein the phosphorous containing compound is selected from the group consisting of phosphoric acid, poly(phosphoric acid), phosphorus acid, monobutyl phosphate, dibutyl phosphate, monoalkyl phosphates, dialkyl phosphates, and combinations thereof;
40 to 60 percent by weight of a polycarbonate;
1 to 20 percent by weight of an impact modifier; and
0.01 to 5 percent by weight of a stabilizer;
wherein the polyalkylene terephthalate is not produced from recycled polyethylene terephthalate;
wherein all weight percents are based on the total weight of the composition; and
wherein no quencher for the catalyst complex is added to the compounded thermoplastic composition.
13 . The thermoplastic composition of claim 12 , comprising:
from 20 to 50 percent by weight of a polybutylene terephthalate, wherein the polybutyene terephthalate contains 50 to 300 ppm of tetraisopropyl titanate and 100 to 600 ppm of phosphoric acid;
40 to 60 percent by weight of a bisphenol A polycarbonate;
1 to 20 percent by weight of an impact modifier which is a methylmethacrylate-butadiene styrene impact modifier; and
01 to 3 percent by weight of a stabilizer;
wherein the polyalkylene terephthalate is not produced from recycled polyethylene terephthalate;
wherein all weight percents are based on the total weight of the composition; and
wherein no quencher for the catalyst complex is added to the compounded thermoplastic composition.
14 . The thermoplastic composition of claim 13 , comprising:
from 25 to 35 percent by weight of a polyalkylene terephthalate, wherein the polyalkylene terephthalate contains 50 to 300 ppm of tetra(C 1 -C 8 alkyl) titanate and 100 to 600 ppm of a phosphorous containing compound, both based on the total amount of titanium present, wherein the phosphorous containing compound is selected from the group consisting of phosphoric acid, poly(phosphoric acid), phosphorus acid, monobutyl phosphate, dibutyl phosphate, monoalkyl phosphates, dialkyl phosphates, and combinations thereof; and
from 40 to 60 percent by weight of a polycarbonate
from 5 to 15 percent by weight of an impact modifier or other polymer; and
from 0.01 to 0.1 percent by weight of pentaerythritol betalaurylthiopropionate; and
from 0.01 to 0.1 percent by weight of pentaerythritol-tetrakis(3-(3,5-di-tert-butyl-4-hydroxy-phenyl-)propionate); and
wherein the polyalkylene terephthalate is not produced from recycled polyethylene terephthalate;
wherein all weight percents are based on the total weight of the composition; and
wherein no quencher for the catalyst complex is added to the compounded thermoplastic composition.
15 . An article prepared from the thermoplastic composition of claim 1 or claim 11 .