Polyphenylene ether-polyetheramide blends

Claim 2

A blended polymer composition consisting essentially of: (A) at least about 5% by weight of at least one polyphenylene ether having a nitrogen content greater than about 800 ppm; (B) at least one block polyetheramide present in an amount up to about 95% by weight; and (C) from about 0.25% up to about 3% by weight based upon the total weight of components (A), (B) and any other polymers present in the composition of at least one polyepoxide; with the proviso that when said block polyetheramide has a flex modulus greater than about 75 MPa., said composition contains at least about 0.5% by weight based on the total weight of components (A), (B) and any other polymers present in the composition of said polyepoxide.

Claim 3

A blended polymer composition according to claim 1 wherein said polyphenylene ether (A) comprises a plurality of structural units having the following formula (I): ##STR6## wherein each Q 1 is independently halogen, primary or secondary lower alkyl, phenyl, haloalkyl, aminoalkyl, hydrocarbonoxy, or halohydrocarbonoxy wherein at least two carbon atoms separate the halogen and oxygen atoms; and Q 2 is independently hydrogen, halogen, primary or secondary lower alkyl, phenyl, haloalkyl, hydrocarbonoxy or halohydrocarbonoxy as defined for Q 1 .

Claim 4

A blended polymer composition according to claim 2 wherein said polyphenylene ether is a poly(2,6-dimethyl-1,4-phenylene ether).

Claim 5

A blended polymer composition according to claim 1 wherein said block polyetheramide (B) comprises: (i) a hard block of the following formula (VI): --NH--(CH.sub.2).sub.n --(CO)-- (VI) wherein n is a number of about 5-12; and (ii) a soft block of the following formula (VII): --(CH.sub.2).sub.m --O-- (VII) wherein m is a number of about 2-4.

Claim 6

A blended polymer composition according to claim 4 wherein said block polyetheramide comprises a soft block prepared from a polybutylene oxide or a polypropylene oxide and a hard block prepared from a carboxylic acid-terminated nylon 12 or nylon 6.

Claim 7

A blended polymer composition according to claim 1 wherein said polyepoxide (C) comprises an epoxy functionalized triazine, barbiturate, hydantoin, uracil, pyromellitic diimide, piperazinedione or parabanate ring system.

Claim 8

A blended polymer composition according to claim 6 wherein said polyepoxide (C) comprises triglycidyl isocyanurate.

Claim 9

A blended polymer composition resultant from melt blending a mixture consisting essentially of: (A) at least about 30% by weight of at least one polyphenylene ether having a nitrogen content greater than about 800 ppm, and comprising a plurality of structural units having the following formula (I): ##STR7## wherein each Q 1 is independently halogen, primary or secondary lower alkyl, phenyl, haloalkyl, aminoalkyl, hydrocarbonoxy, or halohydrocarbonoxy wherein at least two carbon atoms separate the halogen and oxygen atoms; and Q 2 is independently hydrogen, halogen, primary or secondary lower alkyl, phenyl, haloalkyl, hydrocarbonoxy or halohydrocarbonoxy as defined for Q 1 ; (B) from 50% up to about 60% by weight of at least one block polyetheramide comprising: (i) a hard block comprising a reoccurring moiety of the following formula (VI): --NH--(CH.sub.2).sub.n --(CO)-- (VI) wherein n is a number of about 5-12; and (ii) a soft block comprising a reoccurring moiety of the following formula (VII): --(CH.sub.2).sub.m --O-- (VII) wherein m is a number of about 2-4; and (C) from about 0.25% up to about 3% by weight based on the total weight of components (A), (B) and any other polymers present in the composition of at least one polyepoxide; with the proviso that when said block polyetheramide has a flex modulus of greater than about 75 MPa., said mixture contains at least about 0.5% by weight based on the total weight of components (A), (B) and any other polymers present in the composition of said polyepoxide.

Claim 10

A blended polymer composition resultant from melt blending a mixture consisting essentially of: (A) at least about 30% by weight of at least one polyphenylene ether having a nitrogen content greater than about 800 ppm, and comprising a plurality of structural units having the following formula (I): ##STR7## wherein each Q 1 is independently halogen, primary or secondary lower alkyl, phenyl, haloalkyl, aminoalkyl, hydrocarbonoxy, or halohydrocarbonoxy wherein at least two carbon atoms separate the halogen and oxygen atoms; and Q 2 is independently hydrogen, halogen, primary or secondary lower alkyl, phenyl, haloalkyl, hydrocarbonoxy or halohydrocarbonoxy as defined for Q 1 ; (B) from 50% up to about 60% by weight of at least one block polyetheramide comprising: (i) a hard block comprising a reoccurring moiety of the following formula (VI): --NH--(CH.sub.2).sub.n --(CO)-- (VI) wherein n is a number of about 5-12; and (ii) a soft block comprising a reoccurring moiety of the following formula (VII): --(CH.sub.2).sub.m --O-- (VII) wherein m is a number of about 2-4; and (C) from about 0.25% up to about 3% by weight based on the total weight of components (A), (B) and any other polymers present in the composition of at least one polyepoxide; with the proviso that when said block polyetheramide has a flex modulus of greater than about 75 MPa., said mixture contains at least about 0.5% by weight based on the total weight of components (A), (B) and any other polymers present in the composition of said polyepoxide.

Claim 11

A blended polymer composition consisting essentially of: (A) at least about 5% by weight of at least one polyphenylene ether having a nitrogen content greater than about 800 ppm.; (B) at least one block polyetheramide present in an amount up to about 95% by weight; (C) from about 0.25% up to about 3% by weight based upon the total weight of components (A), (B) and any other polymers present in the composition of at least one polyepoxide; with the proviso that when said block polyetheramide has a flex modulus greater than about 75 MPa., said composition contains at least about 0.5% by weight based on the total weight of components (A), (B) and any other polymers present in the composition of said polyepoxide; and (D) an amount up to about 10% by weight of at least one elastomeric polyphenylene ether-compatible impact modifier.

Claim 12

A blended polymer composition consisting essentially of: (A) at least about 5% by weight of at least one polyphenylene ether having a nitrogen content greater than about 800 ppm.; (B) at least one block polyetheramide present in an amount up to about 95% by weight; (C) from about 0.25% up to about 3% by weight based upon the total weight of components (A), (B) and any other polymers present in the composition of at least one polyepoxide; with the proviso that when said block polyetheramide has a flex modulus greater than about 75 MPa., said composition contains at least about 0.5% by weight based on the total weight of components (A), (B) and any other polymers present in the composition of said polyepoxide; and (D) an amount up to about 10% by weight of at least one elastomeric polyphenylene ether-compatible impact modifier.

Claim 13

A blended polymer composition according to claim 9 wherein component (D) is a triblock polymer wherein the end blocks are derived from styrene and the midblock is derived from at least one of isoprene and butadiene.

Claim 14

A blended polymer composition according to claim 10 wherein the aliphatic unsaturation in said midblock has been removed by selective hydrogenation.

Claim 15

A blended polymer composition resultant from melt blending a mixture consisting essentially of: (A) a least about 30% by weight of at least one polyphenylene ether having a nitrogen content greater than about 800 ppm. and comprising a plurality of structural units having the following formula (I): ##STR8## wherein each Q 1 is independently halogen, primary or secondary lower alkyl, phenyl, haloalkyl, aminoalkyl, hydrocarbonoxy, or halohydrocarbonoxy wherein at least two carbon atoms separate the halogen and oxygen atoms; and Q 2 is independently hydrogen, halogen, primary or secondary lower alkyl, phenyl, haloalkyl, hydrocarbonoxy or halohydrocarbonoxy as defined for Q 1 ; (B) from 50% up to about 60% by weight of at least one block polyetheramide comprising: (i) a hard block comprising a reoccurring moiety of the following formula (VI): --NH--(CH.sub.2).sub.n --(CO)-- (VI) wherein n is a number of about 5-12; and (ii) a soft block comprising a reoccurring moiety of the following formula (VII): --(CH.sub.2).sub.m --O-- (VII) wherein m is a number of about 2-4; and (C) from about 0.25% up to about 3% by weight based on the total weight of components (A), (B) and any other polymers present in the composition of at least one polyepoxide; with the proviso that when said block polyetheramide has a flex modulus of greater than about 75 MPa., said mixture contains at least about 0.5% by weight based on the total weight of components (A), (B) and any other polymers present in the composition of said polyepoxide; and (D) an amount up to about 10% by weight of at least one elastomeric polyphenylene ether-compatible impact modifier.

Claim 16

A blended polymer composition resultant from melt blending a mixture consisting essentially of: (A) a least about 30% by weight of at least one polyphenylene ether having a nitrogen content greater than about 800 ppm. and comprising a plurality of structural units having the following formula (I): ##STR8## wherein each Q 1 is independently halogen, primary or secondary lower alkyl, phenyl, haloalkyl, aminoalkyl, hydrocarbonoxy, or halohydrocarbonoxy wherein at least two carbon atoms separate the halogen and oxygen atoms; and Q 2 is independently hydrogen, halogen, primary or secondary lower alkyl, phenyl, haloalkyl, hydrocarbonoxy or halohydrocarbonoxy as defined for Q 1 ; (B) from 50% up to about 60% by weight of at least one block polyetheramide comprising: (i) a hard block comprising a reoccurring moiety of the following formula (VI): --NH--(CH.sub.2).sub.n --(CO)-- (VI) wherein n is a number of about 5-12; and (ii) a soft block comprising a reoccurring moiety of the following formula (VII): --(CH.sub.2).sub.m --O-- (VII) wherein m is a number of about 2-4; and (C) from about 0.25% up to about 3% by weight based on the total weight of components (A), (B) and any other polymers present in the composition of at least one polyepoxide; with the proviso that when said block polyetheramide has a flex modulus of greater than about 75 MPa., said mixture contains at least about 0.5% by weight based on the total weight of components (A), (B) and any other polymers present in the composition of said polyepoxide; and (D) an amount up to about 10% by weight of at least one elastomeric polyphenylene ether-compatible impact modifier.