Anisotropic melt phase forming poly(ester-amide) derived from p-hydroxybenzoic acid, 2,6-naphthalenedicarboxylic acid, aromatic monomer capable of forming an amide linkage, and, optionally, hydroquinone and additional carbocyclic dicarboxylic acid

Claim 2

A melt processable poly(ester-amide) capable of forming an anisotropic melt phase at a temperature below approximately 400° C. consisting essentially of recurring moieties I, II, III, and, optionally, IV and V wherein: I is ##STR11## II is ##STR12## III is --Y--Ar--Z--, where Ar is a divalent radical comprising at least one aromatic ring, Y is O, NH, or NR, and Z is NH or NR, where R is an alkyl group of 1 to 6 carbon atoms or an aryl group; IV is ##STR13## V is ##STR14## where A is a divalent carbocyclic radical other than naphthylene, wherein at least some of the hydrogen atoms present upon the rings optionally may be replaced by substitution selected from the group consisting of an alkyl group of 1 to 4 carbon atoms, an alkoxy group of 1 to 4 carbon atoms, halogen, phenyl, and mixtures thereof, and wherein moiety I is present in a concentration within the range of approximately 20 to 70 mole percent, moiety II is present in a concentration within the range of approximately 5 to 35 mole percent, moiety III is present in a concentration within the range of approximately 5 to 35 mole percent, moiety IV is present in a concentration within the range of approximately 0 to 35 mole percent, and moiety V is present in a concentration within the range of approximately 0 to 30 mole percent, and with said poly(ester-amide) being wholly aromatic with the possible exception of said carbocyclic moiety V in the sense that each moiety present contributes at least one aromatic ring.

Claim 3

The melt processable poly(ester-amide) of claim 1 which is capable of forming an anisotropic melt phase at a temperature below approximately 350° C.

Claim 4

The melt processable poly(ester-amide) of claim 1 which exhibits an inherent viscosity of at least approximately 1.0 dl./g. when measured at a concentration of 0.1 weight/volume percent in pentafluorophenol at 60° C.

Claim 5

The melt processable poly(ester-amide) of claim 3 which exhibits an inherent viscosity of at least approximately 2.0 dl./g. when measured at a concentration of 0.1 weight/volume percent in pentafluorophenol at 60° C.

Claim 6

The melt processable poly(ester-amide) of claim 1 wherein the total molar concentration of moieties II and V is substantially equal to the total molar concentration of moieties III and IV and the total molar concentration of moieties II and V and the total molar concentration of moieties III and IV each is substantially equal to one-half of the difference between 100 mole percent and the molar concentration of moiety I.

Claim 7

The melt processable poly(ester-amide) of claim 1 wherein the total molar concentration of moieties II and V and the total molar concentration of moieties III and IV is each within the range of approximately 15 to 40 mole percent.

Claim 8

The melt processable poly(ester-amide) of claim 1 wherein moiety I is present in a concentration within the range of approximately 30 to 60 mole percent.

Claim 9

The melt processable poly(ester-amide) of claim 1 wherein moiety II is present in a concentration within the range of approximately 5 to 25 mole percent.

Claim 10

The melt processable poly(ester-amide) of claim 1 wherein moiety III is present in a concentration within the range of approximately 5 to 25 mole percent.

Claim 11

The melt processable poly(ester-amide) of claim 1 wherein moiety IV is present in a concentration within the range of approximately 0 to 20 mole percent.

Claim 12

The melt processable poly(ester-amide) of claim 10 wherein moiety IV is present in a concentration within the range of approximately 5 to 15 mole percent.

Claim 13

The melt processable poly(ester-amide) of claim 1 wherein the divalent carbocyclic radical of moiety V comprises at least one aromatic ring or a trans-1,4-cyclohexylene radical.

Claim 14

The melt processable poly(ester-amide) of claim 12 wherein the divalent carbocyclic radical of moiety V comprises at least one armoatic ring.

Claim 15

The melt processable poly(ester-amide) of claim 1 wherein moiety V is present in a concentration within the range of approximately 0 to 25 mole percent.

Claim 16

The melt processable poly(ester-amide) of claim 14 wherein moiety V is present in a concentration within the range of approximately 5 to 15 mole percent.

Claim 17

A molding compound comprising the melt processable poly(ester-amide) of claim 1 which incorporates approximately 1 to 60 percent by weight of a solid filler and/or reinforcing agent.

Claim 18

A molded article comprising the melt processable poly(ester-amide) of claim 1.

Claim 19

A fiber which has been melt spun from the melt processable poly(ester-amide) of claim 1.

Claim 20

A film which has been melt extruded from the melt processable poly(ester-amide) of claim 1.

Claim 21

A melt processable poly(ester-amide) capable of forming an anisotropic melt phase at a temperature below approximately 400° C. consisting essentially of recurring moieties I, II, III, and, optionally, IV and V wherein: I is ##STR15## II is ##STR16## III is --Y-Ar-Z--, where Ar is a divalent radical comprising at least one aromatic ring, Y is 0, NH, or NR, and Z is NH or NR, where R is an alkyl group of 1 to 6 carbon atoms or an aryl group; IV is ##STR17## V is ##STR18## where A is a divalent radical comprising at least one aromatic ring, other than naphthylene; wherein at least some of the hydrogen atoms present upon the aromatic rings optionally may be replaced by substitution selected from the group consisting of an alkyl group of 1 to 4 carbon atoms, an alkoxy group of 1 to 4 carbon atoms, halogen, phenyl, and mixtures thereof, and wherein moiety I is present in a concentration within the range of approximately 30 to 60 mole percent, moiety II is present in a concentration within the range of approximately 5 to 25 mole percent, moiety III is present within the range of approximately 5 to 25 mole percent, moiety IV is present in a concentration within the range of approximately 0 to 20 mole percent, and moiety V is present in a concentration within the range of approximately 0 to 25 mole percent and with said poly(ester-amide) being wholly aromatic in the sense that each moiety present contributes at least one aromatic ring.

Claim 22

A melt processable poly(ester-amide) capable of forming an anisotropic melt phase at a temperature below approximately 400° C. consisting essentially of recurring moieties I, II, III, and, optionally, IV and V wherein: I is ##STR15## II is ##STR16## III is --Y-Ar-Z--, where Ar is a divalent radical comprising at least one aromatic ring, Y is 0, NH, or NR, and Z is NH or NR, where R is an alkyl group of 1 to 6 carbon atoms or an aryl group; IV is ##STR17## V is ##STR18## where A is a divalent radical comprising at least one aromatic ring, other than naphthylene; wherein at least some of the hydrogen atoms present upon the aromatic rings optionally may be replaced by substitution selected from the group consisting of an alkyl group of 1 to 4 carbon atoms, an alkoxy group of 1 to 4 carbon atoms, halogen, phenyl, and mixtures thereof, and wherein moiety I is present in a concentration within the range of approximately 30 to 60 mole percent, moiety II is present in a concentration within the range of approximately 5 to 25 mole percent, moiety III is present within the range of approximately 5 to 25 mole percent, moiety IV is present in a concentration within the range of approximately 0 to 20 mole percent, and moiety V is present in a concentration within the range of approximately 0 to 25 mole percent and with said poly(ester-amide) being wholly aromatic in the sense that each moiety present contributes at least one aromatic ring.

Claim 23

The melt processable poly(ester-amide) of claim 20 which is capable of forming an anisotropic melt phase at a temperature below approximately 350° C.

Claim 24

The melt processable poly(ester-amide) of claim 20 which exhibits an inherent viscosity of at least approximately 1.0 dl./g. when measured at a concentration of 0.1 weight/volume percent in pentafluorophenol at 60° C.

Claim 25

The melt processable poly(ester-amide) of claim 22 which exhibits an inherent viscosity within the range of approximately 3.0 to 8.0 dl./g. when measured at a concentration of 0.1 weight/volume percent in pentafluorophenol at 60° C.

Claim 26

The melt processable poly(ester-amide) of claim 20 wherein the total molar concentration of moieties II and V is substantially equal to the total molar concentration of moieties III and IV and the total molar concentration of moieties II and V and the total molar concentration of moieties III and IV each is substantially equal to one-half of the difference between 100 mole percent and the molar concentration of moiety I.

Claim 27

The melt processable poly(ester-amide) of claim 20 wherein the total molar concentration of moieties II and V and the total molar concentration of moieties III and IV each is within the range of approximately 20 to 35 mole percent.

Claim 28

The melt processable poly(ester-amide) of claim 20 wherein moiety I is present in a concentration within the range of approximately 40 to 60 mole percent.

Claim 29

The melt processable poly(ester-amide) of claim 20 wherein moiety II is present in a concentration within the range of approximately 10 to 25 mole percent.

Claim 30

The melt processable poly(ester-amide) of claim 20 wherein moiety III is present in a concentration within the range of approximately 10 to 15 mole percent.

Claim 31

The melt processable poly(ester-amide) of claim 20 wherein moiety IV is present in a concentration within the range of approximately 0 to 15 mole percent.

Claim 32

The melt processable poly(ester-amide) of claim 29 wherein moiety IV is present in a concentration within the range of approximately 5 to 15 mole percent.

Claim 33

The melt processable poly(ester-amide) of claim 20 wherein moiety V is present in a concentration within the range of approximately 5 to 15 mole percent.

Claim 34

A molding compound comprising the melt processable poly(ester-amide) of claim 20 which incorporates approximately 1 to 60 percent by weight of a solid filler and/or reinforcing agent.

Claim 35

A molded article comprising the melt processable poly(ester-amide) of claim 20.

Claim 36

A fiber which has been melt spun from the melt processable poly(ester-amide) of claim 20.

Claim 37

A film which has been melt extruded from the melt processable poly(ester-amide) of claim 20.

Claim 38

A melt processable poly(ester-amide) capable of forming an anisotropic melt phase at a temperature below approximately 400° C. consisting essentially of recurring moieties I, II, III, IV (optional), and V wherein: I is ##STR19## II is ##STR20## III is --Y--Ar--Z--, where Ar is a divalent radical comprising at least one aromatic ring, Y is O, NH, or NR, and Z is NH or NR, where R is an alkyl group of 1 to 6 carbon atoms or an aryl group; IV is ##STR21## V is ##STR22## where A is a divalent radical comprising at least one aromatic ring other than naphthylene, wherein at least some of the hydrogen atoms present upon the aromatic rings optionally may be replaced by substitution selected from the group consisting of an alkyl group of 1 to 4 carbon atoms, an alkoxy group of 1 to 4 carbon atoms, halogen, phenyl, and mixtures thereof, and wherein moiety I is present in a concentration within the range of approximately 40 to 60 mole percent, moiety II is present in a concentration within the range of approximately 10 to 25 mole percent, moiety III is present in a concentration within the range of approximately 10 to 15 mole percent, moiety IV is present in a concentration within the range of approximately 0 to 15 mole percent, and moiety V is present in a concentration within the range of approximately 5 to 15 mole percent, with the total molar concentration of moieties II and V being substantially equal to the total molar concentration of moieties III and IV and with the total molar concentration of moieties II and V and the total molar concentration of moieties III and IV each being within the range of approximately 20 to 30 mole percent.

Claim 39

A melt processable poly(ester-amide) capable of forming an anisotropic melt phase at a temperature below approximately 400° C. consisting essentially of recurring moieties I, II, III, IV (optional), and V wherein: I is ##STR19## II is ##STR20## III is --Y--Ar--Z--, where Ar is a divalent radical comprising at least one aromatic ring, Y is O, NH, or NR, and Z is NH or NR, where R is an alkyl group of 1 to 6 carbon atoms or an aryl group; IV is ##STR21## V is ##STR22## where A is a divalent radical comprising at least one aromatic ring other than naphthylene, wherein at least some of the hydrogen atoms present upon the aromatic rings optionally may be replaced by substitution selected from the group consisting of an alkyl group of 1 to 4 carbon atoms, an alkoxy group of 1 to 4 carbon atoms, halogen, phenyl, and mixtures thereof, and wherein moiety I is present in a concentration within the range of approximately 40 to 60 mole percent, moiety II is present in a concentration within the range of approximately 10 to 25 mole percent, moiety III is present in a concentration within the range of approximately 10 to 15 mole percent, moiety IV is present in a concentration within the range of approximately 0 to 15 mole percent, and moiety V is present in a concentration within the range of approximately 5 to 15 mole percent, with the total molar concentration of moieties II and V being substantially equal to the total molar concentration of moieties III and IV and with the total molar concentration of moieties II and V and the total molar concentration of moieties III and IV each being within the range of approximately 20 to 30 mole percent.

Claim 40

The melt processable poly(ester-amide) of claim 36 which exhibits an inherent viscosity of at least approximately 1.0 dl./g. when measured at a concentration of 0.1 weight/volume percent in pentafluorophenol at 60° C.

Claim 41

The melt processable poly(ester-amide) of claim 37 which exhibits an inherent viscosity within the range of approximately 3.0 to 8.0 dl./g. when measured at a concentration of 0.1 weight/volume percent in pentafluorophenol at 60° C.

Claim 42

The melt processable poly(ester-amide) of claim 36 wherein moiety IV is present in a concentration within the range of approximately 5 to 15 mole percent.

Claim 43

The melt processable poly(ester-amide) of claim 36 wherein moiety III is derived from p-aminophenol or p-phenylenediamine.

Claim 44

The melt processable poly(ester-amide) of claim 36 wherein moiety V is a terephthaloyl moiety.

Claim 45

A molding compound comprising the melt processable poly(ester-amide) of claim 36 which incorporates approximately 1 to 60 percent by weight of a solid filler and/or reinforcing agent.

Claim 46

A molded article comprising the melt processable poly(ester-amide) of claim 36.

Claim 47

A fiber which has been melt spun from the melt processable poly(ester-amide) of claim 36.

Claim 48

A film which has been melt extruded from the melt processable poly(ester-amide) of claim 36.