Modified polyesters and processes for manufacturing the same

Abstract

Disclosed herein are processes for manufacturing modified polyesters. An esterification reaction of diacid, diol and a branching agent having at least three carboxyl groups is carried out at a temperature of about 180 to 300° C. and a pressure of about 1 to 4 bar to obtain a product of esterification. A polycondensation reaction of the product of esterification and a diamine is carried out at a pressure below about 0.01 bars to obtain the modified polyester.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A modified polyester, comprising:
 diacid moieties derived from diacid;   diol moieties derived from diol, wherein the molar ratio of the diacid to the diol is about 0.9:1 to 1.1:1,   branching agent moieties derived from a branching agent having at least three carboxyl groups, wherein the branching agent moieties is present in amount of about 0.01 to 4 mole % based upon the total moles of the diacid moieties and the diol moieties; and   diamine moieties derived from diamine, wherein the diamine moieties is present in amount of about 0.01 to 6 mole % based upon the total moles of the diacid moieties and the diol moieties;   wherein the diacid is at least one aliphatic diacid or a combination of at least one aliphatic diacid and at least one aromatic diacid, wherein the aromatic diacid is present in an amount no greater than about 10 mol % based upon the total moles of the diacid and the diol.   
     
     
         2 . The modified polyester of  claim 1 , wherein the aliphatic diacid is at least one substance selected from a group consisting of:
 succinic acid, glutaric acid, adipic acid, pimelic acid, suberic acid, azelaic acid, sebacic acid, undecanedioic acid, and dodecanedioic acid.   
     
     
         3 . The modified polyester of  claim 1 , wherein the aromatic diacid is at least one substance selected from a group consisting of:
 terephthalic acid, isophthalic acid, and 2,6-naphthalene dicarboxylic acid.   
     
     
         4 . The modified polyester of  claim 1 , wherein the diol is at least one substance selected from a group consisting of:
 1,2-ethanediol, 1,2-propanediol, 1,3-propanediol, 1,4-butanediol, 1,5-pentanediol, 1,6-hexanediol, 1,7-heptanediol, and 1,8-octanediol.   
     
     
         5 . The modified polyester of  claim 1 , wherein the branching agent is at least one substance selected from a group consisting of:
 trimellitic acid, trimesic acid, trimethylolpropane triacrylate, ethoxylated trimethylolpropane triacrylate, propoxylated trimethylolpropane triacrylate, glyceryl triacrylate, ethoxylated glyceryl triacrylate, propoxylated glyceryl triacrylate, glyceryl trimethacrylate, ethoxylated glyceryl trimethacrylate, propoxylated glyceryl trimethacrylate, trimethylolpropane trimethacrylate, ethoxylated trimethylolpropane trimethacrylate, and propoxylated trimethylolpropane trimethacrylate.   
     
     
         6 . The modified polyester of  claim 1 , wherein the diamine is an aliphatic diamine. 
     
     
         7 . The modified polyester of  claim 6 , wherein the aliphatic diamine is at least one substance selected from a group consisting of:
 hexamethylenediamine, heptamethylenediamine, octylenediamine, nonamethylenediamine, and decamethylenediamine.   
     
     
         8 . The modified polyester of  claim 1 , wherein the modified polyester is a shape memory polymer having a phase transformation temperature of about 40 to 99° C. 
     
     
         9 . The modified polyester of  claim 1 , wherein the modified polyester has a melting temperature of about 40 to 90° C.