Polycarbonate made from low sulfur bisphenol a and containing converions material chemistry, and articles made therefrom

Abstract

In one embodiment, a process for producing a bisphenol A product comprises: reacting phenol with acetone in the presence of a sulfur containing promoter to obtain a reaction mixture comprising bisphenol A, phenol, and the promoter; after reacting the phenol with the acetone, cooling to form a crystal stream comprising crystals of bisphenol A and phenol; separating the crystals from the crystal steam; melting the crystals to form a molten stream of bisphenol A, phenol, and sulfur; contacting the molten stream with a base to reduce a sulfur concentration in the molten stream and form a reduced sulfur stream; and removing phenol from the reduced sulfur stream to form a bisphenol A product.

1 . A process for producing a bisphenol A product comprising:
 reacting phenol with acetone in the presence of a sulfur containing promoter to obtain a reaction mixture comprising bisphenol A, phenol, and the promoter;   after reacting the phenol with the acetone, cooling the reaction mixture to form a crystal stream comprising crystals of bisphenol A and phenol;   separating the crystals from the crystal steam;   melting the crystals to form a molten stream of bisphenol A, phenol, and sulfur;   contacting the molten stream with a base to reduce a sulfur concentration in the molten stream and form a reduced sulfur stream; and   removing phenol from the reduced sulfur stream to form a bisphenol A product.   
     
     
         2 . The process according to  claim 1 , wherein the molten stream is contacted with the base at a temperature of 70° C. to 120° C. 
     
     
         3 . The process according to  claim 2 , wherein the temperature is 80° C. to 100° C. 
     
     
         4 . The process according to  claim 1 , wherein the promoter comprises a catalyst selected from 3-mercaptopropionic acid, methyl mercaptan, ethyl mercaptan, 2,2-bis(methylthio)propane, mercaptocarboxylic acid, and combinations comprising at least one of the foregoing promoters. 
     
     
         5 . The process according to  claim 1 , wherein the promoter comprises 3-mercaptopropropionic acid. 
     
     
         6 . The process according to  claim 1 , wherein the base comprises an alkali solution. 
     
     
         7 . The process according to  claim 1 , wherein the base comprises an anion exchange resin. 
     
     
         8 . The process according to  claim 7 , wherein the anion exchange resin comprises a tert-amine divinylbenzene/styrene ion exchange copolymer. 
     
     
         9 . The process according to  claim 1 , further comprising adding additional phenol to the molten stream prior to contacting the stream with a base. 
     
     
         10 . The process according to  claim 1 , wherein the sulfur concentration is reduced to 0.5 ppm to 15 ppm based upon the weight of the bisphenol A. 
     
     
         11 . The process according to  claim 10 , wherein the sulfur concentration is reduced to 2 ppm to 10 ppm based upon the weight of the bisphenol A. 
     
     
         12 . The process according to  claim 11 , wherein the sulfur concentration is reduced to 3 ppm to 8 ppm based upon the weight of the bisphenol A. 
     
     
         13 . The process according to  claim 1 , further comprising, prior to forming the crystal stream,
 cooling the reaction mixture to form an initial crystal stream comprising initial crystals of bisphenol A and phenol;   separating the initial crystals from the initial crystal steam;   melting the initial crystals to form an initial molten stream; and   then performing the initial molten stream to form the crystal steam in accordance with  claims 1 .   
     
     
         14 . The process according to  claim 1 , further comprising melt crystallizing the bisphenol A product. 
     
     
         15 . A process for making polycarbonate, comprising:
 reacting, in the presence of a transesterification catalyst, a diaryl carbonate ester and the bisphenol A of  claim 1 .   
     
     
         16 . A process for making polycarbonate, comprising:
 forming a mixture of the bisphenol A of  claim 1  in aqueous caustic material;   adding the mixture to a water-immiscible solvent medium; and   contacting the reactants with a carbonate precursor in the presence of a catalyst to form the polycarbonate.   
     
     
         17 . A process for making polycarbonate, comprising:
 reacting, in the presence of a transesterification catalyst, a diaryl carbonate ester and a bisphenol A, wherein the bisphenol A has a sulfur concentration of 1 ppm to 15 ppm, based upon a weight of the bisphenol A.   
     
     
         18 . A process for making polycarbonate, comprising:
 forming a mixture of bisphenol A in aqueous caustic material, wherein the bisphenol A has a sulfur concentration of 1 ppm to 15 ppm, based upon a weight of the bisphenol A;   adding the mixture to a water-immiscible solvent medium; and   contacting the reactants with a carbonate precursor in the presence of a catalyst to form the polycarbonate.   
     
     
         19 . A light emitting device, comprising:
 a lighting element located in a housing, wherein the housing is formed from a plastic composition comprising:   a polycarbonate formed from the process of  claim 15 ; and   a conversion material, wherein the conversion material is selected from yttrium aluminum garnet (YAG) doped with a rare earth element, terbium aluminum garnet doped with a rare earth element, silicate (BOSE) doped with a rare earth element; nitrido silicates doped with a rare earth element; nitride orthosilicate doped with a rare earth element, oxonitridoaluminosilicates doped with a rare earth element, and combinations comprising at least one of the foregoing;   wherein after the conversion material has been exposed to an excitation source, the conversion material has a luminescence lifetime of less than 10 −4  seconds when the excitation source is removed.   
     
     
         20 . A plastic molded device having a transparency of greater than or equal to 30% measured according to ASTM D1003-00, Procedure B, illuminant C, on a spectrophotometer, and at a thickness of 1.04 mm, wherein the article is formed from the plastic composition comprising
 a polycarbonate formed from the process of  claim 15 ; and   a conversion material, wherein the conversion material comprises yttrium aluminum garnet (YAG) doped with a rare earth element, terbium aluminum garnet doped with a rare earth element, silicate (BOSE) doped with a rare earth element; nitrido silicates doped with a rare earth element; nitride orthosilicate doped with a rare earth element, oxonitridoaluminosilicates doped with a rare earth element, and combinations comprising at least one of the foregoing;   wherein after the conversion material has been exposed to an excitation source, the conversion material has a luminescence lifetime of less than 10 −4  seconds when the excitation source is removed.   
     
     
         21 . A light emitting device, comprising:
 a radiation source; and   an emitting portion in optical communication with the radiation source, wherein the emitting portion is formed from a plastic composition, wherein the plastic composition comprises:
 a polycarbonate formed from the process of  claim 15 ; 
 a conversion material, wherein the conversion material comprises yttrium aluminum garnet (YAG) doped with a rare earth element, terbium aluminum garnet doped with a rare earth element, silicate (BOSE) doped with a rare earth element; nitrido silicates doped with a rare earth element; nitride orthosilicate doped with a rare earth element, oxonitridoaluminosilicates doped with a rare earth element, and combinations comprising at least one of the foregoing; 
 wherein after the conversion material has been exposed to an excitation source, the conversion material has a luminescence lifetime of less than 10 −4  seconds when the excitation source is removed. 
   
     
     
         22 . A lighting device, comprising:
 a radiation source configured to emit radiation having a first wavelength range;   an optical component comprising the plastic composition comprising:
 a polycarbonate formed from the process of  claim 15 ; and 
 a conversion material, wherein the conversion material comprises yttrium aluminum garnet (YAG) doped with a rare earth element, terbium aluminum garnet doped with a rare earth element, silicate (BOSE) doped with a rare earth element; nitrido silicates doped with a rare earth element; nitride orthosilicate doped with a rare earth element, oxonitridoaluminosilicates doped with a rare earth element, and combinations comprising at least one of the foregoing; 
 wherein the conversion material is configured to absorb at least a portion of the first wavelength range radiation and emit radiation having a second wavelength range; 
 wherein the optical component is configured such that at least the first wavelength range radiation passes though the optical component; and 
 wherein after the conversion material has been exposed to an excitation source, the conversion material has a luminescence lifetime of less than 10 −4  seconds when the excitation source is removed. 
   
     
     
         23 . The device of  claim 19 , wherein the conversion material is coated with 0.05 wt % to 20 wt % silicone oil based upon the weight of the conversion material and silicone oil. 
     
     
         24 . The device of  claim 19 , wherein the plastic composition comprises 0.1 to 40 pbw of the conversion material based on 100 pbw of polycarbonate. 
     
     
         25 . The device of  claim 19 , wherein the plastic composition comprises 4 to 20 pbw of the conversion material based on 100 pbw of polycarbonate. 
     
     
         26 . The device of  claim 19 , wherein the plastic composition has a 6 min MVR that is less than or equal to 30% greater than a polycarbonate 6 min MVR. 
     
     
         27 . The device of  claim 19 , wherein the plastic composition, after extrusion, has a 6 minute dwell time MVR and an 18 minute dwell time MVR, and wherein a difference between the 6 minute dwell time MVR and the 18 minute dwell time MVR is less than or equal to 30% of the 6 minute dwell time MVR. 
     
     
         28 . The device of  claim 27 , wherein the plastic composition has a 6 min MVR that is less than or equal to 5% greater than a polycarbonate 6 min MVR. 
     
     
         29 . The device of  claim 19 , wherein the plastic composition further comprises greater than 0 to 1 pbw particles, based upon 100 pbw of polycarbonate, wherein the particles are selected from at least one of the following scattering particles, interference particles, and color absorbing particles. 
     
     
         30 . The device of  claim 19 , wherein the plastic composition comprises 0.001 pbw to 0.3 pbw scattering particles, based upon 100 pbw of polycarbonate. 
     
     
         31 . The device of  claim 19 , wherein the conversion material comprises a luminescent material having the formula:
   (A 3 ) 2 SiO 4 :Eu 2+ D 1      
       wherein A 3  is a divalent metal selected from at least one of the following Sr, Ca, Ba, Mg, Zn, Cd, and combinations comprising at least one of the foregoing; and D 1  is a dopant selected from at least one of the following F, Cl, Br, I, P, S and N and combinations comprising at least one of the foregoing. 
     
     
         32 . The device of  claim 19 , wherein the conversion material comprises a luminescent material having formula:
   (YA 5 ) 3 (AlB 1 ) 5 (OD 3 ) 12 :Ce 3+     
       where A 5  is a trivalent metal selected from at least one of the following Gd, Tb, La, Sm, luminescence, or a divalent metal ion selected from Sr, Ca, Ba, Mg, Zn and Cd, and combinations comprising at least one of the foregoing; B 1  is selected from at least one of the following Si, B, P, and Ga, and combinations comprising at least one of the foregoing; and D 3  is a dopant selected from F, Cl, Br, I, P, S, and N, and combinations comprising at least one of the foregoing. 
     
     
         33 . The device of  claim 19 , wherein the conversion material comprises an orange-red silicate-based conversion material having formula:
   (SrM1) 3 Si(OD 4 ) 5 :Eu   
       wherein M1 is selected from at least one of the following Ba, Ca, Mg, Zn, and combinations comprising at least one of the foregoing; and D 4  is selected from F, Cl, S, N, and combinations comprising at least one of the foregoing. 
     
     
         34 . The device of  claim 19 , wherein the conversion material comprises an Eu 2+  and/or Dy 3+  doped conversion material having formula:
   M 3 MgSi 2 O 8    
 
       wherein M is selected from at least one of the following Ca, Sr, Ba, and combinations comprising at least one of the foregoing. 
     
     
         35 . The device of  claim 19 , wherein the conversion material comprises a rare earth doped a red silicon nitride based conversion material having a formula:
   (SrM2) 2 Si 5 N 8      
       wherein M2 is selected from at least one of the following Sr, Ca, Mg, Zn, and combinations comprising at least one of the foregoing. 
     
     
         36 . The device of  claim 19 , wherein the conversion material comprises a rare earth doped a red sulfate based conversion material having formula:
   (SrM3)S   
       wherein M3 is selected from at least one of the following Ca, Ba, Mg, and combinations comprising at least one of the foregoing. 
     
     
         37 . The device of  claim 19 , wherein the conversion material is a green sulfate based conversion material having formula:
   (SrM3)(GaM4) 2 S 4 :Eu   
       wherein M3 is selected from at least one of the following Ca, Ba, Mg, and combinations comprising at least one of the foregoing; and M4 is selected from at least one of the following Al and In, and combinations comprising at least one of the foregoing. 
     
     
         38 . The device of  claim 19 , wherein the conversion material is selected from at least one of the following: a strontium silicate yellow conversion material; yttrium aluminum garnet doped with rare earth element; terbium aluminum garnet doped with a rare earth element; silicate conversion materials; nitride conversion materials; nitrido silicates; nitride orthosilicate; oxonitridoaluminosilicates; and combinations comprising at least one of the foregoing. 
     
     
         39 . The device of  claim 19 , wherein the conversion material is a selected from at least one of the following: combinations of yellow conversion material with a red conversion material; combinations of green and red conversion material; a semiconductor nanocrystals of cadmium sulfide mixed with manganese; and combinations comprising at least one of the foregoing. 
     
     
         40 . The device of  claim 19 , wherein the conversion material comprises a silicone oil coating. 
     
     
         41 . The device of  claim 40 , wherein the silicone oil is selected from at least one of the following hydrogen-alkyl siloxane oil; polydialkyl siloxance oil; polydimethyl siloxane codiphenyl siloxane, dihydroxy terminated, and combinations comprising at least one of the foregoing. 
     
     
         42 . The device of  claim 19 , wherein the conversion material comprises an amorphous silica coating. 
     
     
         43 . The device of  claim 19 , wherein the polycarbonate has a glass transition temperature of greater than 170° C. as measured using a differential scanning calorimetry method, wherein the polycarbonate is derived from:
 (i) a monomer having the structure
   HO-A 1 -Y 1 -A 2 -OH 
 
 
       wherein each of A 1  and A 2  comprise a monocyclic divalent arylene group, and Y 1  is a bridging group; or
 (ii) polyester monomer units having the structure 
 
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
       
       wherein D comprises an alkyl containing C 6 -C 20  aromatic group, or a C 6 -C 20  aromatic group, and T comprises a C 6 -C 20  aromatic group. 
     
     
         44 . The device of  claim 43 , wherein carbonate units of the polycarbonate are derived from a monomer selected from 3,3-bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)-2-phenylisoindolin-1-one (PPPBP), 1,1-bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)-1-phenyl-ethane(Bisphenol-AP), and 1,1-bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)-3,3,5-trimethyl-cyclohexane (Bisphenol-TMC), adamantyl containing aromatic dihydroxy compound, flourene containing aromatic dihydroxy compound, 3,3-bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)-2-methylisoindolin-1-one, and combinations comprising at least one of the foregoing. 
     
     
         45 . The device of  claim 19 , wherein the polycarbonate comprises carbonate units derived from the polysiloxane block copolymer derived from
 (iii) the structure   
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
       
       wherein R comprises a C 1 -C 30  aliphatic, a C 6 -C 30  aromatic group, or a combination thereof, wherein Ar comprises a C 6 -C 30  aromatic group, or an alkyl containing a C 6 -C 30  aromatic group, and wherein E has an average value of 20-200, or
 (iv) the structure 
 
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
       
       wherein R comprises a C 1 -C 30  aliphatic, a C 6 -C 30  aromatic group, or a combination thereof, wherein R 6  comprise C 6 -C 30  aromatic group, or a combination of a C 6 -C 30  aromatic group and a C 1 -C 30  aliphatic group; wherein E has an average value of 20-200;
 wherein the weight % siloxane of (iv) is 1-25%. 
 
     
     
         46 . The device of  claim 45 , wherein the weight % siloxane of (iv) is 8-15%. 
     
     
         47 . The device of  claim 45 , wherein the plastic composition comprises polycarbonate further comprises carbonate units derived from 2,2-bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)propane. 
     
     
         48 . The device of  claim 45 , wherein the carbonate units are derived from the polysiloxane blocks having the structure 
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
       
       wherein E has an average value of between 20 and 200. 
     
     
         49 . The device of  claim 45 , wherein the carbonate units are derived from the polysiloxane blocks are derived from repeating units that are derived from dihydroxy aromatic compounds of formula: 
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
       
       or, wherein the dihydroxy aromatic compounds have a formula: 
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
       
       wherein E has an average value of between 20 and 200. 
     
     
         50 . The device of  claim 19 , wherein the plastic composition comprises polycarbonate comprising carbonate units derived from one or more polycarbonates wherein at least one of the polycarbonates is a polyesterpolycarbonate having at least one unit derived from sebacic acid and at least one unit is derived from an aromatic dihydroxy carbonate or 2,2-bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)propane; formula 
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
       
     
     
         51 . The device of  claim 50 , wherein the sebacic acid derived polycarbonate biocontent is greater than or equal to 7% (±3%) in accordance with ASTM D6866-11. 
     
     
         52 . The device of  claim 19 , wherein the plastic composition comprises polycarbonate having a repeating structural background of the following formula 
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
       
       wherein greater than or equal to 60 percent of the total number of R 1  groups contain aromatic organic groups and the balance thereof are aliphatic, alicyclic, or aromatic groups;
 wherein the polycarbonate comprises an end capping agent; and wherein the polycarbonate comprises a branching agent. 
 
     
     
         53 . The device of  claim 52 , wherein the polycarbonate containing the branching agent and the end-capping agent has a peak melt viscosity of greater than or equal to 8,000 poise when measured using a parallel plate melt rheology test at a heating rate of 10° C./min at a temperature of 350° C. to about 450° C.; and wherein a molded article of the composition has a UL 94 V0 rating at a thickness of 1 mm, and a flame retardant. 
     
     
         54 . The device of  claim 52 , wherein the end-capping agent has a peak melt viscosity of greater than or equal to 7,000. 
     
     
         55 . The device of  claim 52 , wherein the end-capping agent has a pKa of 8.0 to 11. 
     
     
         56 . The device of  claim 52 , wherein the end-capping agent has a pKa of 8.2 to 10.2. 
     
     
         57 . The device of  claim 52 , wherein the end-capping agent is selected based upon the molecular weight of said polycarbonate and said branching level imparted by said branching agent. 
     
     
         58 . The device of  claim 52 , wherein the end-capping agent comprises phenol or a phenol containing one or more substitutions comprising aliphatic groups, olefinic groups, aromatic groups, halogens, ester groups, ether groups, or halogens, or combinations comprising at least one of the foregoing. 
     
     
         59 . The device of  claim 52 , wherein the end-capping agent comprises phenol, p-t-butylphenol, p-cumylphenol, p-cyanophenol, and combinations comprising at least one of the foregoing. 
     
     
         60 . The device of  claim 52 , wherein the polycarbonate has an MVR of greater than or equal to 3 cm 3 /10 min. 
     
     
         61 . The device of  claim 52 , wherein the polycarbonate has a branching level of greater than or equal to 1%. 
     
     
         62 . The device of  claim 52 , wherein the polycarbonate has a branching level of greater than or equal to 2%. 
     
     
         63 . The device of  claim 52 , wherein the polycarbonate has a branching level of greater than or equal to 3%. 
     
     
         64 . The device of  claim 52 , wherein the flame-retardant comprises alkali metal salts of perfluorinated C 1-16  alkyl sulfonates; potassium perfluorobutane sulfonate; potassium perfluoroctane sulfonate; tetraethylammonium perfluorohexane sulfonate; potassium diphenylsulfone sulfonate, and combinations comprising at least one of the foregoing. 
     
     
         65 . The device of  claim 52 , wherein the flame-retardant comprises a potassium perfluorobutane sulfonate salt greater than about 0.04 wt % based upon the total weight of polycarbonate resin in the composition. 
     
     
         66 . The device of  claim 52 , wherein the flame-retardant excludes a chlorine or bromine containing composition. 
     
     
         67 . The device of  claim 52 , wherein the branching agent comprises THPE, TMTC, isatin-bis-phenol, and combinations comprising at least one of the foregoing. 
     
     
         68 . The device of  claim 52 , wherein the polycarbonate containing said branching agent and said end-capping agent has a weight-average molecular weight of between about 20,000 g/mole to about 40,000 g/mole as measured by gel permeation chromatography using polycarbonate standards. 
     
     
         69 . The device of  claim 52 , wherein the polycarbonate is a homopolycarbonate derived from a bisphenol. 
     
     
         70 . The device of  claim 52 , wherein the polycarbonate is a copolycarbonate derived from more than one bisphenol. 
     
     
         71 . The device of  claim 52 , wherein the polycarbonate is a copolymer derived from one or more bisphenols and containing one or more aliphatic ester units or aromatic ester units or siloxane units. 
     
     
         72 . The device of  claim 52 , further comprising a second polycarbonate, wherein said second polycarbonate comprises the formula: 
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
       
       wherein said second polycarbonate is different from said polycarbonate and wherein at least 60 percent of the total number of R 1  groups contain aromatic organic groups and the balance thereof are aliphatic, alicyclic, or aromatic groups. 
     
     
         73 . The device of  claim 72 , wherein the second polycarbonate comprises units derived from bisphenol A. 
     
     
         74 . The device of  claim 52 , wherein the composition has a haze value of less than 1.5% at 3.2 mm thickness by ASTM D1003-00. 
     
     
         75 . The device of  claim 52 , further comprising one or more additives. 
     
     
         76 . The device of  claim 75 , wherein the additives comprise UV stabilizing additives, thermal stabilizing additives, mold release agents, colorants, organic fillers, inorganic fillers, gamma-stabilizing agents, or combinations thereof. 
     
     
         77 . The device of  claim 52 , wherein the polycarbonate containing said branching agent and said end-capping agent has a peak melt viscosity of at least 7000 poise when calculated from the equation of wherein said peak melt viscosity equals: −57135.91+36961.39*BL+14001.13*MW 1/3 −46944.24*pKa−322.51*BL*MW 1/3 −2669.19*BL*pKa+215.83*MW 1/3 *pKa+1125.63*BL 2 −200.11*MW 2/3 +2231.15*pKa 2 , wherein BL is the mole ratio of the branching agent in the formulation determined by dividing the number of moles of branching agent by the total number of moles of bisphenol or bisphenols in the composition, the MW is the weight-averaged molecular weight of said polycarbonate containing said branching agent and said end-capping agent as determined by gel permeation chromatography using polycarbonate standards, and the pKa is the pKa of the end-capping agent; and wherein a molded article of the composition has a UL94 V0 rating at a thickness of 1 mm, 1.5 mm, 2.0 mm, or between 1.0 mm and 2.0 mm. 
     
     
         78 . The device of  claim 52 , wherein the composition has a haze value of less than 1.5% at 3.2 mm thickness by ASTM D1003. 
     
     
         79 . The device of  claim 52 , wherein the device has a UL94 V0 rating at a thickness of 1.5 mm. 
     
     
         80 . The device of  claim 79 , wherein the device has a UL94 V0 rating at a thickness of 1.0 mm. 
     
     
         81 . The device of  claim 19 , further comprising an additional polycarbonate, wherein said additional polycarbonate is linear and/or branched polycarbonate. 
     
     
         82 . The device of  claim 19 , further comprising one or more additives, wherein said additives do not have an adverse effect on a required emission profile of said device. 
     
     
         83 . The device of  claim 19 , further comprising an LED, and wherein the device is a lighting element. 
     
     
         84 . The device according to  claim 19 , wherein the device is at least one of the following: a lamp, illumination device, lighting device for applications in the interior and exterior area, vehicle lighting, internal lighting of residential and work rooms, backlight units of LCD screens, and accent lighting. 
     
     
         85 . The device of  claim 19 , wherein the molded device, housing, optical component, and/or emitting portion, has a transparency of greater than or equal to 30% measured according to ASTM D1003-00, Procedure B, illuminant C, on a spectrophotometer, at a thickness of 1.04 mm. 
     
     
         86 . The device of  claim 19 , wherein the plastic composition further comprises a light diffusing material selected from crosslinked polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA), polytetrafluoroethylene, and methylsesquioxane, and combinations comprising at least one of the foregoing. 
     
     
         87 . A light-emitting device, comprising:
 a means for emitting radiation having a first wavelength range, wherein the means for emitting radiation is located in a housing, wherein the housing is formed from a plastic composition comprising:   a polycarbonate formed from the process of  claim 15 ; and   means for absorbing at least a portion of the first wavelength range radiation and emitting radiation having a second wavelength range;   wherein after the means for absorbing has been exposed to the radiation, the means for absorbing has a luminescence lifetime of less than 10 −4  seconds when the radiation exposure stops;   wherein the means for absorbing comprises   greater than 0 ppm of a first material selected from at least one of the following Si, Sr, Ba, Ca, Eu, and combinations comprising at least one of the foregoing first materials; and   less than 50 ppm of a second material selected from at least one of the following Al, Co, Fe, Mg, Mo, Na, Ni, Pd, P, Rh, Sb, Ti, Zr, and combinations comprising at least one of the foregoing second materials.   
     
     
         88 . The use of a plastic composition as a housing for a light emitting element, wherein the plastic composition comprises
 a polycarbonate formed from the process of  claim 15 ; and   a conversion material, wherein the conversion material comprises   greater than 0 ppm of a first material selected from Si, Sr, Ba, Ca, Eu, and combinations comprising at least one of the foregoing first materials; and   less than 50 ppm of a second material selected from Al, Co, Fe, Mg, Mo, Na, Ni, Pd, P, Rh, Sb, Ti, Zr, and combinations comprising at least one of the foregoing second materials;   wherein after the conversion material has been exposed to an excitation source, the conversion material has a luminescence lifetime of less than 10-4 seconds when the excitation source is removed.   
     
     
         89 . A light-emitting device containing a light diffusing thermoplastic composition comprising a thermoplastic polymer, and
 a is 0.001 to 2 wt % of an inorganic particle having an average particle diameter of 0.1 to 1 micrometers and a refractive index of 1.9 to 3.2;   b is 0.01 to 10 wt % of a polymeric particle having an average particle size in the range if from 0.2 to 20 microns that differs in refractive index at 589 nm by at least 0.05 from that of the thermoplastic resin polymer and one or mixtures of c, d, or a mixture thereof wherein   c is 0.1 to 1,000 ppm of wavelength downshifting material, and   d is 0.005 to 2 weight percent of an interference pigment.   
     
     
         90 . A lighting device, comprising:
 a radiation source configured to emit radiation having a first wavelength range;   an optical component comprising the plastic composition comprising:
 a polycarbonate formed from the process of  claim 15 ; and 
 a conversion material, wherein the conversion material comprises
 greater than 0 ppm of a first material selected from Si, Sr, Ba, Ca, Eu, and combinations comprising at least one of the foregoing first materials; and 
 less than 50 ppm of a second material selected from Al, Co, Fe, Mg, Mo, Na, Ni, Pd, P, Rh, Sb, Ti, Zr, and combinations comprising at least one of the foregoing second materials; 
 
   wherein after the conversion material has been exposed to an excitation source, the conversion material has a luminescence lifetime of less than 10 −4  seconds when the excitation source is removed.   
     
     
         91 . A lighting device, comprising:
 a radiation source configured to emit radiation having a first wavelength range;   an optical component comprising the plastic composition comprising:
 a polycarbonate formed from the process of  claim 15 ; and 
 a conversion material, yttrium aluminum garnet (YAG) doped with a rare earth element, terbium aluminum garnet doped with a rare earth element; nitrido silicates doped with a rare earth element; nitride orthosilicate doped with a rare earth element, oxonitridoaluminosilicates doped with a rare earth element, and combinations comprising at least one of the foregoing; 
   wherein after the conversion material has been exposed to an excitation source, the conversion material has a luminescence lifetime of less than 10 −4  seconds when the excitation source is removed.