THERMOPLASTIC COMPOSITION AND METALLIZED ARTICLES PREPARED THEREFROM

1 . An article comprising:

a composition comprising

30 to 94 weight percent of a high heat amorphous thermoplastic polymer having a glass transition temperature of greater than 180° C.;

0 to 6 weight percent of a poly(phenylene ether) oligomer;

1 to 15 weight percent of a flow promoter comprising a polyester, a poly(carbonate-ester), an aromatic polyketone, poly(phenylene sulfide), or a combination thereof; and

1 to 40 weight percent of a mineral filler;

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

a metal layer disposed on a surface of the composition.

2 . The article of claim 1 , wherein the high heat amorphous thermoplastic polymer comprises a poly(etherimide), a poly(phenylsulfone), a poly(ethersulfone), a poly(sulfone), or a combination thereof.

3 . The article of claim 1 , wherein the high heat amorphous thermoplastic polymer comprises a poly(etherimide).

4 . The article of claim 1 , wherein the poly(phenylene ether) oligomer has an intrinsic viscosity of 0.03 to 0.2 deciliter per gram.

5 . The article of claim 1 , wherein the flow promoter comprises poly(ethylene terephthalate), poly(butylene terephthalate), an (isophthalate-terephthalate-resorcinol)-carbonate copolymer, poly(ether ether ketone), poly(phenylene sulfide), or a combination thereof.

6 . The article of claim 1 , wherein the flow promoter comprises a poly(ethylene terephthalate), a poly(ether ether ketone), a poly(phenylene sulfide), or a combination thereof.

7 . The article of claim 1 , wherein the mineral filler comprises talc, kaolin clay, wollastonite, or a combination thereof.

8 . The article of claim 1 , wherein the mineral filler has an average particle size of less than 10 micrometers.

9 . The article of claim 1 , wherein glass fibers are excluded from the composition.

10 . The article of claim 1 , wherein the composition further includes an additive.

11 . The article of claim 1 , wherein the metal layer is deposited by

electroless plating followed by electroplating followed by physical vapor deposition; or

direct physical vapor deposition.

12 . The article of claim 1 , wherein the metal layer comprises Cr, Ni, Cu, Au, Ti, W, a titanium compound, a chromium compound, a tungsten compound, a silicone compound, or a combination thereof.

13 . The article of claim 1 , wherein the metal layer has a thickness of 1 to 100 micrometers.

14 . The article of claim 1 , where the composition comprises:

50 to 94 weight percent of the high heat amorphous thermoplastic polymer;

greater than 0 to 6 weight percent a poly(phenylene ether) having an intrinsic viscosity of 0.03 to 0.2 deciliter per gram;

1 to 12 weight percent of the flow promoter; and

3 to 30 weight percent of the mineral filler.

15 . The article of claim 1 , wherein the composition exhibits one or more of:

a melt viscosity of less than 320 Pa·s at a temperature of 337° C. and a shear rate of 5000 s 1 ;

a flexural modulus of greater than 3000 MPa;

a heat deflection temperature of greater than 150° C.; and

a surface roughness of less than 0.4 μm.

16 . The article of claim 1 , wherein the metal layer has

a vibration resistance of at least ten minutes;

a cross-hatch adhesion test classification of at least 4B; and

a corrosion resistance of at least 48 hours as determined by a salt spray test according to ASTM B117.

17 . The article of claim 1 , wherein the article is a component of a consumer electronic device or an eyewear frame.

18 . A method of making the article of claim 1 , the method comprising:

melt-mixing the components of the compositions;

molding the composition; and

depositing a metal layer on a surface of the molded composition by electroless plating, electroplating, physical vapor deposition, or a combination thereof.

19 . A composition comprising:

30 to 94 weight percent of a high heat amorphous thermoplastic polymer having a glass transition temperature of greater than 180° C.;

0 to 6 weight percent of a poly(phenylene ether);

1 to 15 weight percent of a flow promoter comprising a polyester, a poly(carbonate-ester), an aromatic polyketone, poly(phenylene sulfide), or a combination thereof; and

1 to 40 weight percent of a mineral filler;

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

20 . The composition of claim 19 , comprising:

50 to 94 weight percent, of the high heat amorphous thermoplastic polymer, wherein the high heat amorphous thermoplastic polymer is a poly(etherimide) or a combination of a poly(etherimide) and a poly(phenylsulfone);

greater than 0 to 6 weight percent of a poly(phenylene ether) having an intrinsic viscosity of 0.03 to 0.2 deciliter per gram;

1 to 12 weight percent of the flow promoter, wherein the flow promoter is poly(ethylene terephthalate), poly(butylene terephthalate), an (isophthalate-terephthalate-resorcinol)-carbonate copolymer, poly(ether ether ketone), poly(phenylene sulfide), or a combination thereof, more preferably wherein the flow promoter is poly(ether ether ketone); and

3 to 30 weight percent of the mineral filler, wherein the mineral filler comprises talc, kaolin clay, wollastonite, or a combination thereof;

and wherein the composition exhibits one or more of:

a melt viscosity of less than 320 Pa·s at a temperature of 337° C. and a shear rate of 5000 s 1 ;

a flexural modulus of greater than 3000 MPa;

a heat deflection temperature of greater than 150° C.; and

a surface roughness of less than 0.4 μm.