Amorphous, high glass transition temperature copolyester compositions, methods of manufacture, and articles thereof

Abstract

An amorphous copolyester comprising the reaction product of: (a) a monomer of formula I wherein R 1 , R 2 , R 3 , and R 5 are each independently hydrogen or a C 1-3 alkyl group, a is 0-1, b is 0-4, c is 0-4 and d is 0-3, and each R 4 is independently hydrogen or a C 1-3 alkyl group; (b) a virgin monomer selected from terephthalic acid, a di(C 1-3 alkyl) terephthalate, and combinations thereof, and (c) 1,4-cyclohexane dimethanol; wherein the residue of monomer (a) is present in an amount from 7 to less than 12 mole % of the copolyester based on moles of repeat units in the polyester; and the copolyester has a glass transition temperature of at least 107° C., an intrinsic viscosity of at least 0.7 dl/g, and a molded sample has a Notched Izod value of at least 290 J/m determined in accordance with ASTM D256.

1 . An amorphous copolyester comprising, based on the total moles of repeat units of the polymer, the polymerization reaction product of:
 (a) from 7 to less than 12 mole % of a monomer of formula I   
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
       
       wherein
 R 1 , R 2 , R 3 , and R 5  are each independently a C 1-3  alkyl group, 
 a is 0-1, b is 0-4, c is 0-4, and d is 0-3, and 
 each R 4  is independently hydrogen or a C 1-3  alkyl group; 
 (b) from 38 to 43 mole % of a virgin monomer selected from terephthalic acid, a di(C 1-3  alkyl) terephthalate, and combinations thereof, and 
 (c) a third monomer consisting essentially of 1,4-cyclohexane dimethanol; 
 
       wherein
 the copolyester has
 a glass transition temperature of at least 107° C., 
 
 an intrinsic viscosity of at least 0.7 dl/g, and 
 a molded sample has a Notched Izod value of at least 290 J/m determined in accordance with ASTM D256. 
 
     
     
         2 . The amorphous polymer of  claim 1 , wherein the monomer (a) is of formula II 
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
         wherein R 1 , R 2 , and R 4  are each independently hydrogen or a C 1-3  alkyl group. 
       
     
     
         3 . The amorphous copolyester of  claim 1  wherein the monomer (a) of formula I is of formula III 
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
         wherein R 4  is each the same and is hydrogen or a C 1-3  alkyl group. 
       
     
     
         4 . The amorphous copolyester of  claim 1 , wherein the virgin monomer is selected from dimethyl terephthalate, diethyl terephthalate, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         5 . The amorphous copolyester of  claim 1 , wherein the 1,4-cyclohexane dimethanol has an isomer distribution of 60 to 80% trans and 20 to 40% cis isomers. 
     
     
         6 . (canceled) 
     
     
         7 . The amorphous copolyester of  claim 1 , comprising reacted 1,4-cyclohexane dimethanol in an amount of 50%, based on the total repeat units of the polymer. 
     
     
         8 . (canceled) 
     
     
         9 . A composition comprising the amorphous copolyester of  claim 1  and an additive. 
     
     
         10 . The composition of  claim 9 , wherein the additive is selected from reinforcing fillers, non-reinforcing fillers, antioxidants, thermal stabilizers, radiation stabilizers, ultraviolet light absorbing additives, mold release agents, plasticizers, quenchers, lubricants, antistatic agents, dyes, pigments, laser marking additives, processing aids, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         11 . The composition of  claim 9 , further comprising a polymer selected from polycarbonate, poly(ethylene terephthalate), poly(butylene terephthalate), poly(butylene naphthalate), poly(1,2-propylene terephthalate), poly(cyclohexylene-1,4-dimethylene terephthalate), poly(ethylene terephthalate), poly(1,3-propylene terephthalate), poly(cyclohexylene-1,4-dimethylene cyclohexylene-1,4-dicarboxylate), poly(cyclohexylene-1,4-dimethylene-co-ethylene terephthalate), poly(cyclohexylene-1,4-dimethylene-co-1,3-cyclobutylene terephthalate), and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         12 . An article comprising the amorphous copolyester composition of  claim 9 . 
     
     
         13 . The article of  claim 10 , wherein the article is in the form of a bottle. 
     
     
         14 . The article of  claim 12 , wherein the bottle has a volume capacity from 250 milliliters to 5 liters. 
     
     
         15 . (canceled) 
     
     
         16 . A composition comprising the amorphous copolyester of  claim 1  and an impact modifier. 
     
     
         17 . The composition of  claim 16 , wherein the impact modifier is selected from acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene, methacrylate-butadiene-styrene, high impact polystyrene, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         18 . An article comprising the composition of  claim 16 . 
     
     
         19 . (canceled) 
     
     
         20 . The article of  claim 18 , wherein the article is in the form of a bottle. 
     
     
         21 . The article of  claim 20 , wherein the bottle has a volume capacity from 250 milliliters to 5 liters. 
     
     
         22 . (canceled) 
     
     
         23 . An amorphous copolyester, consisting essentially of three monomers, which copolyester is the polymerization reaction product of:
 (b) from 7 to less than 12 mole % of a monomer of formula I   
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
       
       wherein
 R 1 , R 2 , R 3 , and R 5  are each independently a C 1-3  alkyl group, 
 a is 0-1, b is 0-4, c is 0-4, and d is 0-3, and 
 each R 4  is independently hydrogen or a C 1-3  alkyl group; 
 (b) from 38 to 43 mole % of a virgin monomer selected from terephthalic acid, a di(C 1-3  alkyl) terephthalate, and combinations thereof, and 
 (c) a third monomer that is 1,4-cyclohexane dimethanol; 
 
       wherein
 the copolyester has
 a glass transition temperature of at least 107° C., 
 
 an intrinsic viscosity of at least 0.7 dl/g, and 
 a molded sample has a Notched Izod value of at least 290 J/m determined in accordance with ASTM D256.