Wholly aromatic polyester comprising 4-oxy-4'-carboxybiphenyl moiety which is capable of forming an anisotropic melt phase

Claim 2

A melt processable wholly aromatic polyester which is capable of forming an anisotropic melt phase at a temperature below 350° C. consisting essentially of moieties I and II and optionally also including moiety III and/or moieties IV and V which may include substitution of at least some of the hydrogen atoms present upon an aromatic ring wherein: ##STR12## wherein the bonds illustrated are meta and/or para disposed, IV is a dioxyaryl moiety of the formula --O--Ar--O-- where Ar is a divalent radical comprising at least one aromatic ring, and V is a dicarboxyaryl moiety of the formula ##STR13## where Ar' is a divalent radical comprising at least one aromatic ring, and with said optional substitution if present being 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 of the foregoing, and wherein moiety I is present in said wholly aromatic polyester in a concentration of approximately 4 to 65 mole percent, moiety II is present in a concentration of 20 to 65 mole percent, moiety III is present in a concentration of 0 to approximately 65 mole percent, and moiety IV is present in a concentration of 0 to approximately 25 mole percent, with the proviso that the total molar concentration of moieties I and II in said wholly aromatic polyester is approximately 50 to 100 mole percent.

Claim 3

A melt processable wholly aromatic polyester according to claim 1 which is capable of exhibiting a differential scanning calorimeter melting temperature at a temperature within the range of approximately 250° to 345° C.

Claim 4

A melt processable wholly aromatic polyester according to claim 1 wherein moieties I, II, III, IV and V are free of ring substitution.

Claim 5

A melt processable wholly aromatic polyester according to claim 1 wherein moieties IV and V are symmetrically disposed.

Claim 6

A melt processable wholly aromatic polyester according to claim 1 wherein moiety III is substantially absent and moieties IV and V are each present in a concentration of approximately 15 to 25 mole percent.

Claim 7

A melt processable wholly aromatic polyester according to claim 6 wherein the moieties IV and V are symmetrically disposed.

Claim 8

A melt processable wholly aromatic polyester according to claim 1 wherein the bonds of moiety III are para disposed.

Claim 9

A melt processable wholly aromatic polyester according to claim 1 wherein moiety III is p-oxybenzoyl moiety.

Claim 10

A melt processable wholly aromatic polyester according to claim 1 wherein moiety IV is a 1,4-dioxyphenylene moiety.

Claim 11

A melt processable wholly aromatic polyester according to claim 1 wherein moiety V is a terephthaloyl moiety.

Claim 12

A melt processable wholly aromatic polyester according to claim 1 which exhibits an inherent viscosity of at least 4 when dissolved in a concentration of 0.1 percent by weight in pentafluorophenol at 60° C.

Claim 13

A melt processable wholly aromatic polyester according to claim 1 which exhibits an inherent viscosity of approximately 4 to 15 when dissolved in a concentration of 0.1 percent by weight in pentafluorophenol at 60° C.

Claim 14

A fiber which has been melt spun from the wholly aromatic polyester of claim 1.

Claim 15

A film which has been melt extruded from the wholly aromatic polyester of claim 1.

Claim 16

A molded article comprising the wholly aromatic polyester of claim 1.

Claim 17

A molding compound comprising the wholly aromatic polyester of claim 1 which incorporates approximately 1 to 60 percent by weight of a solid filler and/or reinforcing agent.

Claim 18

A melt processable wholly aromatic polyester which is capable of forming an anisotropic melt phase at a temperature below 350° C. consisting essentially of moieties I and II and optionally also including moiety III and/or moieties IV and V which may include substitution of at least some of the hydrogen atoms present upon an aromatic ring wherein: ##STR14## wherein the bonds illustrated are meta and/or para disposed IV is a dioxyaryl moiety of the formula --O--Ar--O-- where Ar is a divalent radical comprising at least one aromatic ring, and V is a dicarboxyaryl moiety of the formula ##STR15## where Ar' is a divalent radical comprising at least one aromatic ring, and with said optional substitution if present being 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 of the foregoing, and wherein moiety I is present in said wholly aromatic polyester in a concentration of approximately 20 to 60 mole percent, moiety II is present in a concentration of 20 to 60 mole percent, moiety III is present in a concentration of 0 to approximately 40 mole percent, and moiety IV is present in a concentration of 0 to approximately 25 mole percent, and moiety V is present in a concentration of 0 to approximately 25 mole percent, with the proviso that the total molar concentration of moieties I and II in said wholly aromatic polyester is approximately 50 to 100 mole percent.

Claim 19

A melt processable wholly aromatic polyester which is capable of forming an anisotropic melt phase at a temperature below 350° C. consisting essentially of moieties I and II and optionally also including moiety III and/or moieties IV and V which may include substitution of at least some of the hydrogen atoms present upon an aromatic ring wherein: ##STR14## wherein the bonds illustrated are meta and/or para disposed IV is a dioxyaryl moiety of the formula --O--Ar--O-- where Ar is a divalent radical comprising at least one aromatic ring, and V is a dicarboxyaryl moiety of the formula ##STR15## where Ar' is a divalent radical comprising at least one aromatic ring, and with said optional substitution if present being 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 of the foregoing, and wherein moiety I is present in said wholly aromatic polyester in a concentration of approximately 20 to 60 mole percent, moiety II is present in a concentration of 20 to 60 mole percent, moiety III is present in a concentration of 0 to approximately 40 mole percent, and moiety IV is present in a concentration of 0 to approximately 25 mole percent, and moiety V is present in a concentration of 0 to approximately 25 mole percent, with the proviso that the total molar concentration of moieties I and II in said wholly aromatic polyester is approximately 50 to 100 mole percent.

Claim 20

A melt processable wholly aromatic polyester according to claim 17 which is capable of forming an anisotropic melt phase at a temperature below 325° C.

Claim 21

A melt processable wholly aromatic polyester according to claim 17 which is capable of exhibiting a differential scanning calorimeter melting temperature at a temperature within the range of approximately 250° to 345° C.

Claim 22

A melt processable wholly aromatic polyester according to claim 17 wherein moieties I, II, III, IV and V are free of ring substitution.

Claim 23

A melt processable wholly aromatic polyester according to claim 17 wherein moieties IV and V are symmetrically disposed.

Claim 24

A melt processable wholly aromatic polyester according to claim 17 wherein moiety III is substantially absent and moieties IV and V are each present in a concentration of approximately 15 to 25 mole percent.

Claim 25

A melt processable wholly aromatic polyester according to claim 22 wherein the moieties IV and V are symmetrically disposed.

Claim 26

A melt processable wholly aromatic polyester according to claim 17 wherein the bonds of moiety III are para disposed.

Claim 27

A melt processable wholly aromatic polyester according to claim 17 wherein moiety III is p-oxybenzoyl moiety.

Claim 28

A melt processable wholly aromatic polyester according to claim 17 wherein moiety IV is a 1,4-dioxyphenylene moiety.

Claim 29

A melt processable wholly aromatic polyester according to claim 17 wherein moiety V is a terephthaloyl moiety.

Claim 30

A melt processable wholly aromatic polyester according to claim 17 which exhibits an inherent viscosity of at least 4 when dissolved in a concentration of 0.1 percent by weight in pentafluorophenol at 60° C.

Claim 31

A melt processable wholly aromatic polyester according to claim 17 which exhibits an inherent viscosity of approximately 4 to 15 when dissolved in a concentration of 0.1 percent by weight in pentafluorophenol at 60° C.

Claim 32

A fiber which has been melt spun from the wholly aromatic polyester of claim 17.

Claim 33

A film which has been melt extruded from the wholly aromatic polyester of claim 17.

Claim 34

A molded article comprising the wholly aromatic polyester of claim 17.

Claim 35

A molding compound comprising the wholly aromatic polyester of claim 17 which incorporates approximately 1 to 60 percent by weight of a solid filler and/or reinforcing agent.

Claim 36

A melt processable wholly aromatic polyester which is capable of forming an anisotropic melt phase at a temperature below 350° C. which consists of moieties I and II which may include substitution of at least some of the hydrogen atoms present upon an aromatic ring wherein: ##STR16## with said optional substitution if present being selected from the group consisting of an alkyl group of 1 to 4 carbon atoms, and alkoxy group of 1 to 4 carbon atoms, halogen, phenyl, and mixtures of the foregoing wherein moiety I is present in said wholly aromatic polyester in a concentration of approximately 35 to 65 mole percent, and moiety II is present in said wholly aromatic polyester in a concentration of approximately 35 to 65 mole percent.

Claim 37

A melt processable wholly aromatic polyester which is capable of forming an anisotropic melt phase at a temperature below 350° C. which consists of moieties I and II which may include substitution of at least some of the hydrogen atoms present upon an aromatic ring wherein: ##STR16## with said optional substitution if present being selected from the group consisting of an alkyl group of 1 to 4 carbon atoms, and alkoxy group of 1 to 4 carbon atoms, halogen, phenyl, and mixtures of the foregoing wherein moiety I is present in said wholly aromatic polyester in a concentration of approximately 35 to 65 mole percent, and moiety II is present in said wholly aromatic polyester in a concentration of approximately 35 to 65 mole percent.

Claim 38

A melt processable wholly aromatic polyester according to claim 34 which is capable of forming an anisotropic melt phase at a temperature below 325° C.

Claim 39

A melt processable wholly aromatic polyester according to claim 34 which is capable of exhibiting a differential scanning calorimeter melting temperature at a temperature within the range of approximately 300° to 345° C.

Claim 40

A melt processable wholly aromatic polyester according to claim 34 wherein moieties I and II are free of ring substitution.

Claim 41

A melt processable wholly aromatic polyester according to claim 34 wherein moiety I is present in a concentration of approximately 40 to 60 mole percent, and moiety II is present in a concentration of approximately 40 to 60 mole percent.

Claim 42

A fiber which has been melt spun from the wholly aromatic polyester of claim 34.

Claim 43

A film which has been melt extruded from the wholly aromatic polyester of claim 34.

Claim 44

A molded article comprising the wholly aromatic polyester of claim 34.

Claim 45

A molding compound comprising the wholly aromatic polyester of claim 34 which incorporates approximately 1 to 60 percent by weight of a solid filler and/or reinforcing agent.

Claim 46

A melt processable wholly aromatic polyester which is capable of forming an anisotropic melt phase at a temperature below 325° C. which consists of moieties I, II and III which may include substitution of at least some of the hydrogen atoms present upon an aromatic ring wherein: ##STR17## with said optional substitution if present being 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 of the foregoing wherein moiety I is present in said wholly aromatic polyester in a concentration of approximately 20 to 60 mole percent, moiety II is present in a concentration of approximately 20 to 60 mole percent, and moiety III is present in a concentration of approximately 10 to 40 mole percent, with the proviso that the total molar concentration of moieties I and II in said wholly aromatic polyester is approximately 50 to 90 mole percent.

Claim 47

A melt processable wholly aromatic polyester which is capable of forming an anisotropic melt phase at a temperature below 325° C. which consists of moieties I, II and III which may include substitution of at least some of the hydrogen atoms present upon an aromatic ring wherein: ##STR17## with said optional substitution if present being 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 of the foregoing wherein moiety I is present in said wholly aromatic polyester in a concentration of approximately 20 to 60 mole percent, moiety II is present in a concentration of approximately 20 to 60 mole percent, and moiety III is present in a concentration of approximately 10 to 40 mole percent, with the proviso that the total molar concentration of moieties I and II in said wholly aromatic polyester is approximately 50 to 90 mole percent.

Claim 48

A melt processable wholly aromatic polyester according to claim 43 which is capable of forming an anisotropic melt phase at a temperature below 300° C.

Claim 49

A melt processable wholly aromatic polyester according to claim 43 which is capable of exhibiting a differential scanning calorimeter melting temperature at a temperature within the range of approximately 250° to 325° C.

Claim 50

A melt processable wholly aromatic polyester according to claim 43 wherein moieties I, II and III are free of ring substitution.

Claim 51

A melt processable wholly aromatic polyester according to claim 43 wherein moiety I is present in a concentration of approximately 20 to 60 mole percent, moiety II is present in a concentration of approximately 20 to 60 mole percent, and moiety III is present in a concentration of approximately 15 to 40 mole percent, with the proviso that the total molar concentration of moieties I and II in said wholly aromatic polyester is approximately 50 to 85 mole percent.

Claim 52

A fiber which has been melt spun from the wholly aromatic polyester of claim 43.

Claim 53

A film which has been melt extruded from the wholly aromatic polyester of claim 43.

Claim 54

A molded article comprising the wholly aromatic polyester of claim 43.

Claim 55

A molding compound comprising the wholly aromatic polyester of claim 43 which incorporates approximately 1 to 60 percent by weight of a solid filler and/or reinforcing agent.