Synthetic resins or natural rubbers -- part of the class 520 ser – Synthetic resins – From phenol – phenol ether – or inorganic phenolate
Patent
1996-11-12
2000-05-30
Mullis, Jeffrey C.
Synthetic resins or natural rubbers -- part of the class 520 ser
Synthetic resins
From phenol, phenol ether, or inorganic phenolate
528174, 528206, 528212, 528217, 528219, C08G 6112, C08G 6540, C08G 6548, C08K 500
Patent
active
060692235
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
This invention relates to a process for promoting crystallisation of a polymer and, in particular, an aromatic polymer.
Aromatic polyethers containing ketone and/or sulphone and ether and/or thioether linkages have been known for many years. Such polymers find use in applications where resistance to high temperatures is required, for example, injection moulding of shaped articles. Especially useful are those polymers which exhibit crystallinity since such polymers display resistance to solvents and other environmental hazards as compared to amorphous polymers.
However, the rate at which such polymers crystallise, and, indeed, whether they crystallise from the melt at all, varies considerably, even at times from batch to batch of the same polymer. This variation can cause significant problems in applications, such as injection moulding articles, where consistent, rapid crystallisation is required.
European patent specification 152 161 describes a process for making a crystallisable polyetherketone which comprises modification of a preformed polyetherketone by reaction thereof with a nucleophilic reagent, such as NaOPhSO.sub.3 Na. However, the process described therein is less effective for high molecular weight polyetherketones having a number average molecular weight greater than 12,000.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a method of making crystallisable polyarylethers and polyarylthioethers having improved rates of crystallisation.
According to the invention a process for making a crystallisable aromatic polymer having divalent aromatic units connected by ether and/or thioether linkages comprises polycondensing, under substantially anhydrous conditions in the presence of a base, difunctional monomers having phenolic and/or thiophenolic and/or halogenic end groups and being selected to form a crystallisable polymer and adding to said polycondensation reaction mixture a nucleating agent which comprises a nucleophilic group and a group of formula --A--X, where X is a metal cation and A is an anion and which is selected to give an increase in peak crystallisation temperature, as compared to the peak crystallisation temperature, if obtainable, of the polymer made without said nucleating agent.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIGS. 1a and 1b are polarized light micrographs of the product of example 1(b).
FIG. 2 is a plot of the peak crystallization temperature (T.sub.c) versus inherent viscosity (IV) for examples 5 to 7.
The peak crystallisation temperature is suitably determined using differential scanning calorimetry and a cooling rate of 20.degree. min.
It has been found that adding said nucleating agent to said polycondensation reaction mixture provides a surprising and unexpected increase in peak crystallisation temperature.
As will be understood by those skilled in the art, a true comparison of peak crystallisation temperatures (T.sub.c), can only be made for those polymers having approximately the same inherent viscosity (IV) as hereinafter defined. Preferably, the inherent viscosities will differ by less than 10%.
Preferably, the increase in peak crystallisation temperature is of at least 2.degree. C., preferably at least 5.degree. C. and, more preferably, at least 8.degree. C.
Although the process may be used advantageously for making crystallisable aromatic polymers having any desired IV value, the process may be particularly advantageous for making polymers having relatively high IV values. The IV of the polymer made in the process may be at least 0.75 dlg.sup.-1 ; it is preferably at least 1.0 dlg.sup.-1. The process may be used for making polymers having an IV in the range 0.33-1.33 dlg.sup.-1.
It is believed that T.sub.c increases in the process of the invention because of an increase in the nucleation density of the polymer.
The anion, --A--, is preferably a carboxylate and, most preferably, a sulphonate. The cation, X, is preferably sodium or lithium, sodium being especially preferred.
The nucleophilic group preferably includes an oxygen or sulphur moiety suitably bonded t
REFERENCES:
patent: 4380621 (1983-04-01), Nield et al.
patent: 4657990 (1987-04-01), Daost et al.
patent: 4690972 (1987-09-01), Johnson et al.
patent: 5210128 (1993-05-01), Johnson
Gachter R. Muller H. "Taschenbuch der kunststoff-aditive", 1989, Carl Hanser, p. 898.
Liggat John Jamieson
Staniland Philip Anthony
Wilde Catherine Jane
Mullis Jeffrey C.
Victrex Manufacturing Limited
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