Polyester molding compositions having increased crystallization temperatures

Claim 2

A molding composition comprising: a polyester; and sodium citrate, wherein the quantity of sodium citrate is selected such that the crystallization temperature of said composition is greater than the crystallization temperature of said polyester.

Claim 3

A molding composition according to claim 1 wherein said polyester is the condensation product of a benzene based aromatic dicarboxylic acid; and a diol selected from the group consisting of aliphatic diols having from about 2 to about 6 carbon atoms, and cycloaliphatic diols having from about 6 to about 12 carbon atoms.

Claim 4

A composition according to claim 2 wherein said polyester is selected from the group consisting of poly(ethylene terephthalate), poly(butylene terephthalate), poly(1,4-cyclohexane dimethylene terephthalate) or mixtures thereof.

Claim 5

A composition according to claim 3 wherein said polyester had an intrinsic viscosity in the range of from about 0.4 to about 1.0.

Claim 6

A composition according to claim 1 or 4 wherein said polyester is poly(ethylene terephthalate).

Claim 7

A composition according to claim 5 wherein said composition comprises from about 0.01 to about 5.0 weight percent of said sodium citrate based on the total weight of said composition.

Claim 8

A composition according to claim 6 wherein the weight percent of sodium citrate is in the range of from about 0.1 to about 3.0 weight percent.

Claim 9

A composition according to claim 7 wherein said weight percent of sodium citrate is in the range of from about 0.3 to about 2.0.

Claim 10

A composition according to claim 5 wherein the crystallization temperature of said composition is in the range of from about 5 to about 30 Centigrade degrees higher than the crystallization temperature of said polyester.

Claim 11

A composition according to claim 1 wherein said composition includes one or more optional component selected from the group consisting of a filler, impact modifier, plasticizer and chain extender.

Claim 12

A composition according to claim 10 which compares up to 150 weight percent of a filler selected from the group consisting of glass fibers, asbestos fibers and a mixture thereof, wherein all weight percents are based on the total weight of the composition.

Claim 13

A composition according to claim 10 which comprises from about 30 to 90 weight percent of glass fiber, based on the total weight of the polyester.

Claim 14

A composition according to claim 10, 11 or 12 which comprises up to about 15 weight percent of a plasticizer, wherein said weight percent is based on the total weight of the polyester.

Claim 15

A composition according to claim 13 which comprises from about 2 to about 10 weight percent of a plasticizer.

Claim 16

A composition according to claim 14 which comprises up to 10 weight percent of an impact modifier based on the total weight of the polyester.

Claim 17

The composition as recited in claim 15 to wherein there is from about 2% to about 6% of an impact modifier selected from the group consisting of: ethylene acrylic acid copolymer, ethylene methacrylic acid copolymer, ethylene ethylacrylate, ethylene vinyl acetate; and mixtures thereof.

Claim 18

A composition according to claim 10 which comprises up to 3 weight percent of a chain extender based on the total weight of the polyester.

Claim 19

A composition according to claim 12 wherein said chain extender is an epoxy resin.

Claim 20

The composition as recited in claim 14 wherein the plasticizer is selected from the group consisting of: dioctyl adipate, neopentyl glycol dibenzoate, triethylene glycol dibenzoate, trimethylolethylene tribenzoate, and pentaerythretol tetrabenzoate.

Claim 21

A composition comprising: poly(ethylene terephthalate) having an intrinsic viscosity in the range of from about 0.4 to about 1.0; from about 0.01 to about 5.0 weight percent of sodium citrate; from about 30 to about 90 weight percent of a filler; from about 2.0 to about 10.0 weight percent of a plasticizer; from about 2.0 to about 6.0 weight percent of an impact modifier; and from about 0 to about 3.0 weight percent of a chain extender; wherein all weight percents are based on the total weight of poly(ethylene terephthalate) in the composition.

Claim 22

A composition comprising: poly(ethylene terephthalate) having an intrinsic viscosity in the range of from about 0.4 to about 1.0; from about 0.01 to about 5.0 weight percent of sodium citrate; from about 30 to about 90 weight percent of a filler; from about 2.0 to about 10.0 weight percent of a plasticizer; from about 2.0 to about 6.0 weight percent of an impact modifier; and from about 0 to about 3.0 weight percent of a chain extender; wherein all weight percents are based on the total weight of poly(ethylene terephthalate) in the composition.

Claim 23

A molded article of manufacture comprising a composition in accordance with each of claims 1 to 20.