US4447595A
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Polyterephthalates and copolymers thereof having high clarity and process for making same
Assignee: Corpus Christi Polymers LLC
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Filing: 1982-09-07
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Granted: 1984-05-08
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Expires: 2002-09-07
Abstract
Abstract This invention relates to polyethylene terephthalate and copolymers thereof having high clarity and process for making the same. The invention provides a process for making PET using protonic acid catalysts which result in a polymer having a level of haze which is lower than has heretofore been attainable, using conventional metallic catalysts. Further, the polyesters so produced have a lower melt temperature which improves the processability.
Inventors
- 👤 Richard R. Smith
- 👤 Mellis M. Kelley
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 12:11
CPC Classifications
C; C08; C08G; C08G63/00; C08G63/78; C08G63/82; C08G63/87
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 24
Claim 1
Independent Claim
153 words
A process for making a polyester having high clarity, comprising: providing a quantity of one or more dicarboxylic compounds selected from the group consisting of a dicarboxylic acid or alkyl ester thereof having from 4 to 40 carbon atoms, and combinations thereof; providing a quantity of one or more glycols selected from the group consisting of ethylene glycol, glycols having from 3 to 12 carbon atoms, glycol ethers having from 4 to 12 carbon atoms, and combinations thereof; providing a protonic acid catalyst; and reacting said dicarboxylic compound and said glycol in the presence of said protonic acid catalyst to form the polyesters; wherein at least 50 mole percent of said dicarboxylic quantity is selected from the group consisting of terephthalic acid and alkyl esters thereof having from 10 to 20 carbon atoms; wherein at least 50 mole percent of said glycol quantity is ethylene glycol; and wherein said polyester has high clarity.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
153 words
A process for making a polyester having high clarity, comprising: providing a quantity of one or more dicarboxylic compounds selected from the group consisting of a dicarboxylic acid or alkyl ester thereof having from 4 to 40 carbon atoms, and combinations thereof; providing a quantity of one or more glycols selected from the group consisting of ethylene glycol, glycols having from 3 to 12 carbon atoms, glycol ethers having from 4 to 12 carbon atoms, and combinations thereof; providing a protonic acid catalyst; and reacting said dicarboxylic compound and said glycol in the presence of said protonic acid catalyst to form the polyesters; wherein at least 50 mole percent of said dicarboxylic quantity is selected from the group consisting of terephthalic acid and alkyl esters thereof having from 10 to 20 carbon atoms; wherein at least 50 mole percent of said glycol quantity is ethylene glycol; and wherein said polyester has high clarity.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
154 words
A process according to claim 1, wherein said dicarboxylic quantity includes dicarboxylic compounds selected from the group consisting of alkyl substituted terephthalic acid having from 9 to 16 carbon atoms, alkyl diesters of alkyl substituted terephthalic acid having from 11 to 20 carbon atoms, alkyl dicarboxylic acids having from 4 to 20 carbon atoms, aryl or alkyl substituted aryl dicarboxylic acids having from 8 or 9 respectively to 16 carbon atoms, dimer acids having from 34 to 40 carbon atoms, alkyl diesters of alkyl dicarboxylic acids having from 6 to 20 carbon atoms, and alkyl diesters of aryl or alkyl substituted aryl dicarboxylic acids having from 10 or 11 respectively to 20 carbon atoms; and wherein said glycol quantity includes from 0 to 50 mole percent of a non-ethylene glycol selected from the group consisting of glycols having from 3 to 10 carbon atoms and glycol ethers having from 4 to 8 carbon atoms.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
99 words
A process according to claim 2, wherein said terephthalic compound is selected from the group consisting of terephthalic acid, dimethyl terephthalate, and diethyl terephthalate, and wherein said glycol other than said ethylene glycol has from 3 to 8 carbon atoms, and wherein said non-ethylene glycol comprises less than 35 mole percent of said glycol quantities; and wherein said dicarboxylic compound other than said terephthalic compound is selected from the group consisting of isophthalic acid, dimethylisophthalate, dimer acid having 36 carbon atoms, 2,6-naphthalene dicarboxylic acid, and azelaic acid, the amount of said non-terephthalic compound being 10 mole percent or less.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
51 words
A process according to claim 3, wherein said glycol other than said ethylene glycol is a glycol selected from the group consisting of cyclohexanedimethanol, tetramethalene glycol and propylene glycol, wherein the amount of said glycol is 15 mole percent or less; and wherein said non-terephthalic compound is isophthalic acid or dimethylisophthalate.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
21 words
A process according to claim 4, wherein said protonic acid catalyst has a pK a less than or equal to 2.5.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
31 words
A process according to claim 5, wherein said protonic acid catalyst is present in said reaction in an amount from about 0.001 to about 3 weight percent of the polyester formed.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
27 words
A process according to claim 6, wherein said protonic acid catalyst is selected from the group consisting of sulfuric, phosphoric, p-toluene sulfonic, sulfurous, sulfamic and trichloroacetic acids.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
22 words
A process according to claim 7, wherein said polymer consists of polyethyelene terephthalate and wherein said protonic acid catalyst is sulfuric acid.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
24 words
A process according to claim 8, wherein said sulfuric acid catalyst ranges from about 0.01 to about 1.0 weight percent of the polyester formed.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
20 words
A process according to claim 9, wherein said process further comprises using a cobalt acetate or a solvaperm blue toner.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
19 words
A process according to claims 1, 2, 4, or 10, wherein said polyester is suitable for making a film.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
19 words
A process according to claims 1, 2, 4, or 10, wherein said polyester is suitable for making a container.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
131 words
A polyester having high clarity, comprising the reaction product of; a quantity of one or more dicarboxylic compounds selected from the group consisting of a dicarboxylic acid or alkyl ester thereof having from 4 to 40 carbon atoms, and combinations thereof; a quantity of one or more glycols selected from the group consisting of ethylene glycol, glycols having from 3 to 12 carbon atoms, glycol ethers having from 4 to 12 carbon atoms, and combinations thereof; and a protonic acid catalyst; wherein at least 50 mole percent of said dicarboxylic quantity is selected from the group consisting of terephthalic acid and alkyl esters thereof having from 10 to 20 carbon atoms; wherein at least 50 mole percent of said glycol quantity is ethylene glycol; and wherein said polyester has high clarity.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
131 words
A polyester having high clarity, comprising the reaction product of; a quantity of one or more dicarboxylic compounds selected from the group consisting of a dicarboxylic acid or alkyl ester thereof having from 4 to 40 carbon atoms, and combinations thereof; a quantity of one or more glycols selected from the group consisting of ethylene glycol, glycols having from 3 to 12 carbon atoms, glycol ethers having from 4 to 12 carbon atoms, and combinations thereof; and a protonic acid catalyst; wherein at least 50 mole percent of said dicarboxylic quantity is selected from the group consisting of terephthalic acid and alkyl esters thereof having from 10 to 20 carbon atoms; wherein at least 50 mole percent of said glycol quantity is ethylene glycol; and wherein said polyester has high clarity.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
154 words
A polyester according to claim 13, wherein said dicarboxylic quantity includes dicarboxylic compounds selected from the group consisting of alkyl substituted terephthalic acid having from 9 to 16 carbon atoms, alkyl esters of alkyl substituted terephthalic acid having from 11 to 20 carbon atoms, alkyl dicarboxylic acids having from 4 to 20 carbon atoms, aryl or alkyl substituted aryl dicarboxylic acids having from 8 or 9 respectively to 16 carbon atoms, dimer acids having from 34 to 40 carbon atoms, alkyl diesters of alkyl dicarboxylic acids having from 6 to 20 carbon atoms, and alkyl diesters of aryl or alkyl substituted aryl dicarboxylic acids having from 10 to 11 respectively to 20 carbon atoms; and wherein said glycol quantity includes from 0 to 50 mole percent of a non-ethylene glycol selected from the group consisting of glycols having from 3 to 10 carbon atoms and glycol ethers having from 4 to 8 carbon atoms.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
99 words
A polyester according to claim 14, wherein said terephthalic compound is selected from the group consisting of terephthalic acid, dimethyl terephthalate, and diethyl terephthalate, and wherein said glycol other than said ethylene glycol has from 3 to 8 carbon atoms, and wherein said non-ethylene glycol comprises less than 35 mole percent of said glycol quantities; and wherein said dicarboxylic compound other than said terephthalic compound is selected from the group consisting of isophthalic acid, dimethylisophthalate, dimer acid having 36 carbon atoms, 3,6-naphthalene dicarboxylic acid, and azelaic acid, the amount of said non-terephthalic compound being 10 mole percent or less.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
51 words
A polyester according to claim 15, wherein said glycol other than said ethylene glycol is a glycol selected from the group consisting of cyclohexanedimethanol, tetramethylene glycol and propylene glycol wherein the amount of said glycol is 15 mole percent or less; and wherein said non-terephthalic compound is isophthalic acid or dimethylisophthalate.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
45 words
A polyester according to claim 16, wherein said protonic acid catalyst has a pK a less than or equal to 2.5; and wherein said protonic acid catalyst is present in said reaction in an amount between 0.001 and 3 weight percent of the polyester formed.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
27 words
A polyester according to claim 17, wherein said protonic acid catalyst is selected from the group consisting of sulfuric, phosphoric, p-toluene sulfonic, sulfurous, sulfamic and trichloroacetic acids.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
38 words
A polyester according to claim 18, wherein said polyester consists of polyethylene terephthalate and wherein said protonic acid catalyst is sulfuric acid ranging in an amount from about 0.01 to about 1.0 weight percent of the polyester formed.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
20 words
A polyester according to claim 19, wherein said process further comprises using a cobalt acetate or a solvaperm blue toner.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
19 words
A polyester according to claim 13, 14, 16 or 20, wherein said polyester is suitable for making a film.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
19 words
A polyester according to claim 13, 14, 16, or 20, wherein said polyester is suitable for making a container.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1987-05-08 | 1987-11-07 | 1988-05-08 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1991-05-08 | 1991-11-07 | 1992-05-08 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1995-05-08 | 1995-11-07 | 1996-05-08 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |