Thermoplastic composition, method for the manufacture thereof, and articles prepared therefrom

1. A thermoplastic composition, comprising

10 to 30 wt % of a poly(etherimide);

5 to 15 wt % of a poly(ester-carbonate);

30 to 55 wt % of a poly(carbonate-siloxane);

5 to 25 wt % of a flow promoter comprising units derived from styrene and acrylonitrile; and

1 to 5 wt % of a hydrogenated block copolymer of an alkenyl aromatic compound and a conjugated diene, wherein the hydrogenated block copolymer comprises a ply(styrene-(ethylene-butylene)-styrene) triblock copolymer having a weight average molecular weight of 10,000 to 100,000 grams per mole;

wherein the weight percent of each component is based on the total weight of the composition.

2. The composition of claim 1 , wherein a molded sample of the thermoplastic composition exhibits one or more of:

a tensile modulus of greater than or equal to 2000 MPa, determined according to ASTM D638;

a melt volume-flow rate of greater than or equal to 40 cm 3 /10 minutes, determined according to ASTM D1238 at 295° C. under a 6.7 kilogram load;

a notched Izod impact strength of greater than or equal to 100 J/m, determined according to ASTM D256 at 23° C. using a 5 lb-f hammer on 75×12.5×3.2 millimeter injection molded bars; and

a heat deflection temperature of greater than or equal to 100° C., determined according to ASTM D648.

3. The composition of claim 1 , wherein a molded sample of the thermoplastic composition does not exhibit cracking during tensile testing at 1% strain after being immersed in a chemical reagent comprising sunscreen for a period of 72 hours at a temperature of 65° C. or for a period of 120 hours at a temperature of 23° C.

4. The composition of claim 1 , wherein the poly(etherimide) comprises units of the formula

wherein

each R is independently a substituted or unsubstituted C 6-20 aromatic hydrocarbon group, a substituted or unsubstituted, straight or branched chain C 4-20 alkylene group, a substituted or unsubstituted C 3-8 cycloalkylene group, or a combination comprising at least one of the foregoing; and

each Z is independently an aromatic C 6-24 monocyclic or polycyclic group optionally substituted with 1 to 6 C 1-8 alkyl groups, 1 to 8 halogen atoms, or a combination comprising at least one of the foregoing.

5. The composition of claim 4 , wherein each R is independently a divalent group of the formula

wherein Q 1 is — 0 —, —S—, —C(O)—, —SO 2 —, —SO—, —P(R a )(═O)— wherein R a is a C 1-8 alkyl or C 6-12 aryl, —C y H 2y — or a halogenated derivative thereof wherein y is an integer from 1 to 5, or —(C 6 H 10 )z— wherein z is an integer from 1 to 4; and

Z is a group of the formula

wherein

R a and R b are each independently a halogen atom or a monovalent C 1-6 alkyl group,

p and q are each independently integers of 0 to 4,

c is 0 to 4, and

X a is a single bond, — 0 —, —S—, —S(O)—, —SO 2 —, —C(O)—, or a C 1-18 organic bridging group.

6. The composition of claim 1 , wherein the poly(ester-carbonate) is a poly(ester-carbonate-siloxane).

7. The composition of claim 1 , wherein the poly(carbonate-siloxane) is transparent, and comprises bisphenol A carbonate units and less than 10 wt % siloxane units, based on the total weight of the poly(carbonate-siloxane).

8. The composition of claim 1 , wherein the flow promoter comprises an acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene graft copolymer.

9. The composition of claim 1 , wherein the flow promoter comprises a styrene-acrylonitrile copolymer.

10. The composition of claim 9 , wherein the flow promoter further comprises a high rubber graft acrylonitrile-styrene-butyl acrylate copolymer.

11. The composition of claim 1 , wherein the poly (styrene-(ethylene-butylene)-styrene) triblock copolymer has a polystyrene content of 40 to 70 wt %.

12. The composition of claim 1 , wherein the composition further comprises 5 to 12 wt % of an impact modifier.

13. The composition of claim 1 , wherein the composition further comprises an additive composition comprising a filler, reinforcing agent, antioxidant, heat stabilizer, light stabilizer, ultraviolet light stabilizer, ultraviolet light absorbing additive, plasticizer, lubricant, release agent, antistatic agent, anti-fog agent, antimicrobial agent, colorant, surface effect additive, radiation stabilizer, flame retardant, anti-drip agent, or a combination comprising at least one of the foregoing.

14. The thermoplastic composition of claim 1 , comprising

15 to 21 wt % of a poly(etherimide);

8 to 12 wt % of a poly(ester-carbonate-siloxane);

35 to 50 wt % of a transparent poly(carbonate-siloxane)comprising less than 10 wt % siloxane units, based on the total weight of the poly(carbonate-siloxane);

10 to 20 wt % of an acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene graft copolymer, a styrene-acrylonitrile copolymer, or a combination comprising at least one of the foregoing; and

2.5 to 3.5 wt % of the hydrogenated block copolymer comprising poly(styrene-(ethylene-butylene)-styrene) triblock copolymer;

wherein the weight percent of each component is based on the total weight of the composition; and

wherein a molded sample of the thermoplastic composition exhibits one or more of:

a tensile modulus of greater than or equal to 2000 MPa, determined according to ASTM D638;

a melt volume-flow rate of greater than or equal to 40 cm 3 /10 minutes, determined according to ASTM D1238 at 295° C. under a 6.7 kilogram load;

a notched Izod impact strength of greater than or equal to 100 J/m, determined according to ASTM D256 at 23° C. using a 5 lb-f hammer on 75×12.5×3.2 millimeter injection molded bars; and

a heat deflection temperature of greater than or equal to 100° C., determined according to ASTM D648.

15. The composition of claim 14 , further comprising

5 to 10 wt % of an impact modifier; and

5 to 15 wt % of an additive composition.

16. A method of making the thermoplastic composition of claim 1 , the method comprising,

melt-mixing the components of the composition; and

optionally, extruding the composition.

17. An article comprising the thermoplastic composition of claim 1 .

18. The article of claim 17 , wherein the article is an electronic device or a component of an electronic device.

19. The article of claim 17 , wherein the electronic device is an antenna, an antenna housing, a computer, a monitor, a hand-held electronic device, or a cellular telephone.