Use Of Poly(Biphenyl Ether Sulfone)s

Abstract

Use of an effective amount (ε) of a poly(biphenyl ether sulfone) (P2) for diluting a poly(aryl ether ketone) (P1) contained in a polymer composition (C1) consisting of the poly(aryl ether ketone) (P1) and, optionally in addition, one or more ingredients (A) other than the poly(aryl ether ketone) (P1) and the poly(biphenyl ether sulfone) (P2), while at least substantially maintaining the chemical resistance of the polymer composition (C1) in a chemical environment (E) which is more aggressive against the poly(biphenyl ether sulfone) (P2) than against the poly(aryl ether ketone) (P1).

1 - 16 . (canceled) 
   
   
       17 . A method for diluting a poly(aryl ether ketone) (P1) contained in a polymer composition (C1) while at least substantially maintaining the chemical resistance of the polymer composition (C1) in the need thereof,
 said polymer composition (C1) consisting of the poly(aryl ether ketone) (P1) and, optionally in addition, one or more ingredients (A) other than the poly(aryl ether ketone) (P1) and a poly(biphenyl ether sulfone) (P2),   said chemical resistance of the polymer composition (C1) being at least substantially maintained in a chemical environment (E) which is more aggressive against the poly(biphenyl ether sulfone) (P2) than against the poly(aryl ether ketone) (P1),   said method comprising diluting the poly(aryl ether ketone) (P1) by an effective amount (ε) of the poly(biphenyl ether sulfone) (P2).   
   
   
       18 . The method according to  claim 17 , wherein the effective amount (ε) of the poly(biphenyl ether sulfone) (P2) is below 50 parts by weight (pbw.),
 said effective amount (ε) of the poly(biphenyl ether sulfone) (P2) diluting the poly(aryl ether ketone) (P1) contained in the polymer composition (C1) in an amount of 100 pbw., by replacing, in said polymer composition (C1), ε pbw. of the poly(aryl ether ketone) (P1) by ε pbw. of the poly(biphenyl ether sulfone) (P2),   thereby obtaining a polymer composition (C2) consisting of (100-ε) pbw. of the poly(aryl ether ketone) (P1), ε pbw. of the poly(biphenyl ether sulfone) (P2), and, optionally in addition, the one or more ingredients (A).   
   
   
       19 . The method according to  claim 18 , wherein the effective amount (ε) of the poly(biphenyl ether sulfone) (P2) is below 30 pbw. 
   
   
       20 . The method according to  claim 18 , wherein the effective amount (ε) of the poly(biphenyl ether sulfone) (P2) ranges between 5 and 25 pbw. 
   
   
       21 . The method according to  claim 17 , wherein the chemical resistance of the polymer composition (C1) is at least essentially maintained. 
   
   
       22 . The method according to  claim 17 , wherein the poly(biphenyl ether sulfone) (P2) is a polymer of which essentially all the recurring units are recurring units (R2) of one or more formulae containing at least one p-biphenylene group: 
     
       
         
         
             
             
         
       
     
     at least one ether group (—O—) and at least one sulfone group (—SO 2 —). 
   
   
       23 . The method according to  claim 17 , wherein the poly(biphenyl ether sulfone) (P2) is a polymer of which more than 50 wt. % of the recurring units are recurring units (R2) of formula 
     
       
         
         
             
             
         
       
     
   
   
       24 . The method according to  claim 17 , wherein the poly(biphenyl ether sulfone) (P2) is a polyphenylsulfone (PPSU) homopolymer of which essentially all the recurring units are recurring units (R2) of formula 
     
       
         
         
             
             
         
       
     
   
   
       25 . The method according to  claim 17 , wherein the poly(aryl ether ketone) (P1) is a polymer of which essentially all the recurring units are recurring units (R1) of one or more formulae containing at least one arylene group, at least one ether group (—O—) and at least one ketone group [—C(═O)—], 
   
   
       26 . The method according to  claim 17 , wherein the poly(aryl ether ketone) (P1) is a polymer of which more than 50 wt, % of the recurring units are recurring units (R1) of formula 
     
       
         
         
             
             
         
       
     
   
   
       27 . The method according to  claim 17 , wherein the poly(aryl ether ketone) (P1) is a PEEK homopolymer of which essentially all the recurring units are recurring units (R1) of formula 
     
       
         
         
             
             
         
       
     
   
   
       28 . The method according to  claim 17 , wherein the chemical environment (E) contains a chemical compound (cE) chosen from carboxylic acid esters, carboxylic acids, glycol ethers, aliphatic hydrocarbons, aromatic hydrocarbons, monostyrene, phenols, epoxies, epoxy precursors, ketones, chlorinated hydrocarbons and aqueous solutions of inorganic acids such as nitric acid and sulfuric acid. 
   
   
       29 . The method according to  claim 18 , wherein the chemical resistance of the polymer compositions (C1) and (C2) in the environment (E) is assessed by a retention ratio parameter,
 said retention ratio parameter being the ratio of the value of a property of the polymer compositions (C1) and (C2) before they are contacted, temporarily or permanently, with the chemical environment (E), to the value of the same property of the polymer compositions (C1) and (C2) after they have been contacted with the same chemical environment (E),   said property being a mechanical property selected from the group consisting of a tensile strength, a tensile modulus, a flexural strength and a flexural modulus,   said tensile strength and said tensile modulus being determined according to ASTM method D-638, and   said flexural strength and said flexural modulus being determined according to ASTM method D-790.   
   
   
       30 . The method according to  claim 29 , wherein the property is the flexural strength as determined according to ASTM method D-790. 
   
   
       31 . The method according to  claim 17 , wherein the polymer composition (C1) is in the form of a shaped article or a part of shaped article (S1). 
   
   
       32 . A polymer composition (C2) consisting of;
 a poly(aryl ether ketone) (P1)   an effective amount (ε) of a poly(biphenyl ether sulfone) (P2), and   optionally in addition, one or more ingredients (A) other than the poly(aryl ether ketone) (P1) and the poly(biphenyl ether sulfone) (P2).   
     wherein the chemical resistance of said polymer composition (C2) in a chemical environment (E) which is more aggressive against the poly(biphenyl ether sulfone) (P2) than against the poly(aryl ether ketone) (P1), is at least substantially maintained, when compared to that of a polymer composition (C1) identical to the polymer composition (C2), except the poly(biphenyl ether sulfone) (P2) contained in the polymer composition (C2) has been completely replaced, weight pro weight, by the poly(aryl ether ketone) (P1). 
   
   
       33 . A shaped article (S2) composed of the polymer composition (C2) according to  claim 32 . 
   
   
       34 . A part of a shaped article (S2) composed of the polymer composition (C2) according to  claim 32 . 
   
   
       35 . An article assembly comprising the part according to  claim 34 . 
   
   
       36 . A method for diluting a poly(aryl ether ketone) (P1) contained in a polymer composition (C1) in an amount of 100 parts by weight (pbw.), while at least substantially maintaining the chemical resistance of the polymer composition (C1) in the need thereof,
 said polymer composition (C1) consisting of the poly(aryl ether ketone) (P1) and, optionally in addition, one or more ingredients (A) other than the poly(aryl ether ketone) (P1) and a poly(biphenyl ether sulfone) (P2).   said poly(aryl ether ketone) (P1) being a PEEK homopolymer of which essentially all the recurring units are recurring units (R1) of formula   
     
       
         
         
             
             
         
       
       said poly(biphenyl ether sulfone) (P2) being a polyphenylsulfone (PPSU) homopolymer of which essentially all the recurring units are recurring units (R2) of formula 
     
     
       
         
         
             
             
         
       
       said chemical resistance of the polymer composition (C1) being at least substantially maintained in a chemical environment (E) which is more aggressive against the poly(biphenyl ether sulfone) (P2) than against the poly(aryl ether ketone) (P1), 
       said chemical environment (E) containing a chemical compound (cE) chosen from carboxylic acid esters, carboxylic acids, glycol ethers, aliphatic hydrocarbons, aromatic hydrocarbons, monostyrene, phenols, epoxies, epoxy precursors, ketones, chlorinated hydrocarbons and aqueous solutions of inorganic acids such as nitric acid and sulfuric acid, 
       said method comprising diluting the poly(aryl ether ketone) (P1) by an effective amount (ε) of the poly(biphenyl ether sulfone) (P2) by replacing, in said polymer composition (C1), ε pbw. of the poly(aryl ether ketone) (P1) by ε pbw. of the poly(biphenyl ether sulfone) (P2), said effective amount (ε) being below 50 pbw., thereby obtaining a polymer composition (C2) consisting of (100-ε) pbw. of the poly(aryl ether ketone) (P1), ε pbw. of the poly(biphenyl ether sulfone) (P2), and, optionally in addition, the one or more ingredients (A), 
       wherein the chemical resistance of the polymer compositions (C1) and (C2) in the environment (E) is assessed by a retention ratio parameter, 
       said retention ratio parameter being the ratio of the value of a property of the polymer compositions (C1) and (C2) before they are contacted, temporarily or permanently, with the chemical environment (E), to the value of the same property of the polymer compositions (C1) and (C2) after they have been contacted with the same chemical environment (E), 
       said property being a mechanical property selected from the group consisting of a tensile strength, a tensile modulus, a flexural strength and a flexural modulus, 
       said tensile strength and said tensile modulus being determined according to ASTM method D-638, 
       said flexural strength and said flexural modulus being determined according to ASTM method D-790.