Polyphenylene ether composition improved in processability

Claim 2

A polyphenylene ether composition having improved processability comprising: (a) a polyphenylene ether; and (b) 0.1-25 weight % of the composition, of a diamide compound of the formula ##STR6## wherein R 1 is a C 1-10 linear or branched saturated or unsaturated aliphatic hydrocarbon residue, an alicyclic hydrocarbon residue, or an aromatic hydrocarbon residue; and R 2 and R 3 , which may be the same or different, each is C 1-10 linear or branched saturated or unsaturated aliphatic hydrocarbon residues, alicyclic hydrocarbon residues, or aromatic hydrocarbon residues; wherein R 1 , R 2 and R 3 may have one or more substituents selected from the group consisting of: --R 4 , wherein R 4 is C 1-8 hydrocarbon; --X, wherein X is a halogen selected from the group consisting of Cl, Br, and F; --OR 5 , wherein R 5 is H or C 1-8 hydrocarbon; --NR 6 R 7 , wherein R 6 and R 7 are H or C 1-8 hydrocarbon; --OCOR 8 , wherein R 8 is H or C 1-8 hydrocarbon; --COOH, a metal salt thereof or acid anhydride thereof; --SO 3 H; --NO 2 ; --NO; and --CN.

Claim 3

A polyphenylene ether composition as claimed in claim 1, wherein the diamide compound has a melting point of 105° C. or more.

Claim 4

A polyphenylene ether composition as claimed in claim 1, wherein the amount of the diamide compound is 2 to 10 parts by weight per 100 parts by weight of the total polymer.

Claim 5

The polyphenylene ether composition as claimed in claim 1, wherein R 2 and R 3 in the diamide compound are phenyl, which may have one or more substitutents selected from the group consisting of --R 4 , wherein R 4 is C 1-8 hydrocarbon; --X, wherein X is a halogen selected from the group consisting of Cl, Br, and F; --OR 5 , wherein R 5 is H or C 1-8 hydrocarbon; --NR 6 R 7 , wherein R 6 and R 7 are H or C 1-8 hydrocarbon; --OCOR 8 , wherein R 8 is H or C 1-8 hydrocarbon; --COOH, a metal salt thereof or acid anhydride thereof; --SO 3 H; --NO 2 ; --NO; --CN; and the diamide compound has a melting point of 130° C. or more.

Claim 6

A polyphenylene ether composition as claimed in claim 1, further including a styrene resin in an amount up to 2,000 parts by weight per 100 parts by weight of the polyphenylene ether.

Claim 7

The polyphenylene ether composition as claimed in claim 5, wherein the styrene resin is a high impact polystyrene comprising polystyrene modified with a rubber selected from the group consisting of butadiene rubber, styrene-butadiene copolymer, and ethylene-propylene copolymer, or ethylene-propylene-diene terpolymer.

Claim 8

The polyphenylene ether composition as claimed in claim 1, which further comprises (c) a styrene resin in an amount of 0 to 2,000 parts by weight per 100 parts by weight of the polyphenylene ether; and (d) a rubber polymer selected from the group consisting of natural rubber, polyisoprene, polybutadiene, ethylene-propylene copolymer, and ethylene-propylene-nonconjugated diene terpolymer in an amount of 0.5 to 50 wt % based on the weight of the total polymer.

Claim 9

A polyphenylene ether composition as claimed in claim 1, which comprises the polyphenylene ether, a styrene resin in an amount of 0 to 2,000 parts by weight per 100 parts by weight of the polyphenylene ether, a rubbery polymer in an amount of 0.5 to 50 wt % based on the weight of the total polymer, an inorganic filler in an amount of 0.5 to 60 wt % based on the weight of the composition, and a diamide compound.

Claim 10

The polyphenylene ether composition as claimed in claim 1, which further comprises (c) a styrene resin comprising styrene polymers selected of from the group consisting of homopolymers of styrene, α-methylstyrene and p-methylstyrene; high impact polystyrene comprising polystyrene modified with a rubber selected from the group consisting of butadiene rubber, styrene-butadiene copolymer, ethylene-propylene copolymer, and ethylene-propylenediene terpolymer; styrene-butadiene copolymer; and styrene-acrylonitrile-butadiene copolymer, in an amount of 0 to 2,000 parts by weight per 100 parts by weight of the polyphenylene ether; and (d) a polystyrene-grafted polyolefin selected from the group consisting of a styrene copolymer having a COOH or a cyclic anhydride, grafted onto polyolefins having glycidyl groups of the side chain, in an amount of 1 to 30 wt % based on the weight of the total polymer; (e) a polyphenylene ether-grafted polyolefin selected from the group consisting of glycidated polyphenylene ethers grafted onto polyolefins having a COOH or anhydride and polyphenylene ethers grafted onto polyolefins having a glycidyl group on a side chain, in an amount of 1 to 30 wt % based on the weight of the total polymer.