Polyether ester elastomer composition

Abstract

Disclosed are polyether ester elastomer compositions having polytrimethylene ether ester soft segments and polyethylene ester hard segments and containing a nucleating agent. Shaped articles can be made from these compositions, particularly molded articles, films and fibers.

1 . A polyether ester elastomer composition comprising (i) a polyether ester elastomer based on a polytrimethylene ether ester soft segment and a polyethylene ester hard segment; and (ii) a nucleating agent selected from the group consisting of an alkali metal salt, an alkaline earth metal salt and mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         2 . The polyether ester elastomer composition of  claim 1 , comprising from about 10 to about 90 wt % polytrimethylene ether ester soft segment, and from about 10 to about 90 wt % polyethylene ester hard segment, based on the weight of the polyether ester elastomer. 
     
     
         3 . The polyether ester elastomer composition of  claim 1 , wherein the nucleating agent is present at a level of from about 0.005 to about 2 wt %, based on the weight of the polyethylene ester hard segment. 
     
     
         4 . The polyether ester elastomer composition of  claim 1 , wherein the nucleating agent comprises a metal cation selected from the group consisting of lithium, sodium, potassium and calcium, and a anion selected from the group consisting of phosphate, sulfate and carboxylate. 
     
     
         5 . The polyether ester elastomer composition of  claim 4 , wherein the nucleating agent comprises trisodium phosphate and/or sodium acetate. 
     
     
         6 . The polyether ester elastomer composition of  claim 1 , wherein the polytrimethylene ether ester soft segment is the reaction product of a polymeric ether glycol and a dicarboxylic acid equivalent, via ester linkage, wherein at least about 50 wt % of the polymeric ether glycol used to form the soft segment is a polytrimethylene ether glycol. 
     
     
         7 . The polyether ester elastomer composition of  claim 1 , wherein from about 95 to 100 wt % of the polymeric ether glycol used to form the soft segment is a polytrimethylene ether glycol. 
     
     
         8 . The polyether ester elastomer composition of  claim 6 , wherein the polytrimethylene ether glycol is an oligomeric and/or polymeric ether glycol in which at least 50% of the repeating units are trimethylene ether units. 
     
     
         9 . The polyether ester elastomer composition of  claim 8 , wherein the polytrimethylene ether glycol is an oligomeric and/or polymeric ether glycol in which about 99 to 100% of the repeating units are trimethylene ether units. 
     
     
         10 . The polyether ester elastomer of  claim 6 , wherein the polytrimethylene ether glycol is prepared by the acid catalyzed polycondensation of monomers comprising at least 50 mole % 1,3-propane diol. 
     
     
         11 . The polyether ester elastomer of  claim 10 , wherein the 1,3-propane diol is derived from a fermentation process using a renewable biological source. 
     
     
         12 . The polyether ester elastomer composition of  claim 6 , wherein the polytrimethylene ether glycol has number average molecular weight of from about 250 to about 5000. 
     
     
         13 . The polyether ester elastomer composition of  claim 1 , wherein the polyethylene ester hard segment is the reaction product of a diol and a dicarboxylic acid equivalent, via ester linkage, wherein greater than about 50 mole % of the diol used to form the hard segment is ethylene glycol. 
     
     
         14 . The polyether ester elastomer composition of  claim 1 , wherein the dicarboxylic acid equivalent is selected from the group consisting of terephthalic acid, dimethyl terephthalate and mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         15 . The polyether ester elastomer composition of  claim 1 , having an inherent viscosity of at least about 0.6 dl/g up to about 2.4 dl/g. 
     
     
         16 . The polyether ester elastomer composition of  claim 1 , prepared by the steps of providing and reacting:
 (a) a polymeric ether glycol component comprising at least about 50 wt % of a polytrimethylene ether glycol;   (b) a diol component comprising at least about 50 mole % ethylene glycol; and   (c) a dicarboxylic acid equivalent,   
       in the presence of the nucleating agent. 
     
     
         17 . The polyether ester elastomer composition of  claim 16 , prepared by the steps of:
 (a) heating
 (i) a polymeric ether glycol component comprising at least about 50 wt % of a polytrimethylene ether glycol, 
 (ii) terephthalic acid and/or dimethyl terephthalate, 
 (iii) a molar excess of a diol component comprising at least about 75 mole % ethylene glycol, and 
 (iv) the nucleating agent, 
   
       in the presence of a catalyst at a temperature in the range of from about 150° C. to about 250° C. while removing water or methanol by-product to form a precondensation product; and
 (b) polymerizing the precondensation product under vacuum at temperature in the range of from about 220° C. to about 290° C. while removing excess diol component to form a polyether ester having polytrimethylene ether terephthalate soft segment and polyethylene terephthalate hard segment. 
 
     
     
         18 . The polyether ester elastomer of  claim 16 , prepared by the steps of:
 (a) heating
 (i) a polymeric ether glycol component comprising at least about 50 wt % of a polytrimethylene ether glycol, 
 (ii) terephthalic acid and/or dimethyl terephthalate, and 
 (iii) a molar excess of a diol component comprising at least about 75 mole % ethylene glycol, 
   
       in the presence of a catalyst at temperature in the range of from about 150° C. to about 250° C. while removing water and/or methanol by-product to form a precondensation product;
 (b) adding the nucleating agent to the precondensation product; and 
 (c) polymerizing the precondensation product under vacuum at a temperature in the range of from about 220° C. to about 290° C. while removing excess diol to form a polyether ester having polytrimethylene ether terephthalate soft segment and polyethylene terephthalate hard segment. 
 
     
     
         19 . A fiber made from the polyether ester elastomer composition of  claim 1 . 
     
     
         20 . A flexible film made from the polyether elastomer composition of  claim 1 .