Polyetherimide compositions and methods for the manufacture and use thereof

1. A method of producing a polyetherimide having low estradiol binding activity comprising,

selecting both di-t-butyl hydroquinone and bis-(hydroxy aryl)-N-aryl isoindolinone, or bis-(hydroxy aryl)-N-aryl isoindolinone,

or,

selecting at least two phenolic monomers from one of:

(a) di-t-butyl hydroquinone, spiro biindane bisphenols, resorcinol, hydroquinone, methyl hydroquinone, and biphenols;

(b) di-t-butyl hydroquinone, spiro biindane bisphenols, hydroquinone, and biphenols;

(c) di-t-butyl hydroquinone, spiro biindane bisphenols, methyl hydroquinone, and biphenols;

(d) di-t-butyl hydroquinone, spiro biindane bisphenols, resorcinol, hydroquinone, methyl hydroquinone, and tetramethyl bisphenol-A;

(e) di-t-butyl hydroquinone, spiro biindane bisphenols, hydroquinone, and tetramethyl bisphenol-A; and,

(f) di-t-butyl hydroquinone, spiro biindane bisphenols, methyl hydroquinone, and tetramethyl bisphenol-A;

wherein each of said phenolic monomers do not exhibit a half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) less than 0.00025M for alpha or beta in vitro estradiol receptors, and

preparing a polyetherimide from said phenolic monomers by reacting said phenolic monomers with an anhydride to form a first reaction product, followed by reacting the first reaction product with a diamine, the polyetherimide comprising repeating units derived from the one or more phenolic monomers, and wherein one or more residual phenolic monomers are present at more than zero but less than or equal to 1,000 ppm and do not exhibit a half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) less than 0.00025M for alpha or beta in vitro estradiol receptors.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the polyetherimide is end capped with phenol.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the polyetherimide is a co-polyetherimide comprising repeating units derived from the phenolic monomers.

4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising combining the polyetherimide with one or more additives in order to form a polyetherimide composition, wherein each of the one or more additives does not exhibit a half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) less than 0.00025M for alpha or beta in vitro estradiol receptors.

5. The method of claim 4 , wherein the one or more additive comprises a stabilizer, antioxidant, colorant, impact modifier, flame retardant, anti-drip additive, mold release additive, lubricant, plasticizer, mineral, reinforcement additive, or any combination thereof.

6. The method of claim 4 , wherein the one or more additive comprises a phosphite and wherein when the phosphite, phosphonate or mixture thereof is subjected to conditions effective to provide one or more phosphite, or phosphonate hydrolysis product, each of the one or more phosphite or phosphonate hydrolysis products does not exhibit a half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) less than 0.00025M for alpha or beta in vitro estradiol receptors.

7. The method of claim 6 , wherein the phosphite comprises a diphenyl alkyl phosphite, phenyl dialkyl phosphite, trialkyl phosphite, dialkyl phosphite, triphenyl phosphite, diphenyl pentaerythritol diphosphite, or any combination thereof.

8. The method of claim 6 , wherein the phosphite has a Mw greater than 200 Daltons.

9. The method of claim 1 , further comprising forming a polyetherimide composition that includes the polyetherimide, wherein the polyetherimide composition further comprises:

a) a Mw in the range of from 3,000 to 80,000 Daltons;

b) a phenolic end group content less than 20 meq/kg;

c) a chloride content less than 1000 ppm; and

d) a transition metal content less than 20 ppm; and

wherein the one or more residual phenolic monomers are present in the polyetherimide composition at more than zero but less than 100 ppm.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the polyetherimide has a Tg from 200 to 320° C., a weight gain on immersion in water for 24 hours at 23° C. of less than 3.5%, and a coefficient of expansion from 30 to 50 ppm/° C.

11. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the phenolic monomers in the polyetherimide consist of the selected phenolic monomers.

12. A polyetherimide composition comprising the polyetherimide that is produced according to the method of claim 1 .

13. An article that is prepared from the polyetherimide composition of claim 12 .