Articles comprising isosorbide and processes for their manufacture

Abstract

The invention is generally directed to sports bottles and other articles produced by blow molding from polymeric materials containing isosorbide having glass transition temperatures ranging from 90° C. to 130° C., as well as to processes for producing them. These articles can be exposed to water at high tempeatures and can be produced by using a suitable combination of a stretch ratio of less than 3× and a preform temperature at least 20° C. greater than the glass transition temperature (Tg) of the polymeric material.

1 .- 29 . (canceled) 
     
     
         30 . A molded article comprising a polymeric material,
 wherein the polymeric material comprises at least one polyester, which comprises   (a) a dicarboxylic acid component comprising:
 i) 70 to 100 mole % of terephthalic acid residues; 
 ii) 0 to 30 mole % of aromatic dicarboxylic acid residues having up to 20 carbon atoms; and 
 iii) 0 to 10 mole % of aliphatic dicarboxylic acid residues having up to 16 carbon atoms; and 
   (b) a glycol component comprising:
 i) 5 to 35 mole % of isosorbide residues; 
 ii) 40 to 65 mole % of 1,4-cyclohexanedimethanol residues, 
 iii) 20 to 40 mole % of ethylene glycol residues; 
   wherein the total mole % of the dicarboxylic acid component is 100 mole %, and the total mole % of the glycol component is 100 mole %;   wherein the inherent viscosity of the polyester is from 0.45 to 1.0 dL/g as determined in 60/40 (wt/wt) phenol/tetrachloroethane at a concentration of 0.5 g/100 ml at 25° C.; and   wherein the polyester has a Tg in the range from 90° C. to 130° C.   
     
     
         31 . The article according to  claim 30 , wherein the glycol component comprises 10 to 35 mole % of isosorbide residues. 
     
     
         32 . The article according to  claim 31 , wherein the glycol component comprises 10 to 30 mole % of isosorbide residues. 
     
     
         33 . The article according to  claim 32 , wherein the glycol component comprises 20 to 30 mole % of isosorbide residues. 
     
     
         34 . The article according to  claim 30 , wherein the glycol component comprises 45 to 65 mole % of 1,4-cyclohexanedimethanol residues. 
     
     
         35 . The article according to  claim 34 , wherein the glycol component comprises 45 to 60 mole % of 1,4-cyclohexanedimethanol residues. 
     
     
         36 . The article according to  claim 35 , wherein the glycol component comprises 45 to 55 mole % of 1,4-cyclohexanedimethanol residues. 
     
     
         37 . The article according to  claim 30 , wherein the inherent viscosity of the polyester is from 0.50 to 0.80 dL/g as determined in 60/40 (wt/wt) phenol/tetrachloroethane at a concentration of 0.5 g/100 ml at 25° C. 
     
     
         38 . The article according to  claim 37 , wherein the inherent viscosity of the polyester is from 0.50 to 0.75 dL/g as determined in 60/40 (wt/wt) phenol/tetrachloroethane at a concentration of 0.5 g/100 ml at 25° C. 
     
     
         39 . The article according to  claim 38 , wherein the inherent viscosity of the polyester is from 0.50 to 0.65 dL/g as determined in 60/40 (wt/wt) phenol/tetrachloroethane at a concentration of 0.5 g/100 ml at 25° C. 
     
     
         40 . The article according to  claim 30 , wherein the polyester has a Tg in the range from 95° C. to 120° C. 
     
     
         41 . The article according to  claim 40 , wherein the polyester has a Tg in the range from 100° C. to 120° C. 
     
     
         42 . The article according to  claim 30 , wherein the article is a container. 
     
     
         43 . The article according to  claim 42 , wherein the container is a bottle. 
     
     
         44 . The article according to  claim 42 , wherein the container is a foodstuff container. 
     
     
         45 . A molded article comprising a polymeric material,
 wherein the polymeric material comprises at least one polyester, which comprises   (a) a dicarboxylic acid component comprising:
 i) 70 to 100 mole % of terephthalic acid residues; 
 ii) 0 to 30 mole % of aromatic dicarboxylic acid residues having up to 20 carbon atoms; and 
 iii) 0 to 10 mole % of aliphatic dicarboxylic acid residues having up to 16 carbon atoms; and 
   (b) a glycol component comprising:
 i) 10 to 30 mole % of isosorbide residues; 
 ii) 45 to 55 mole % of 1,4-cyclohexanedimethanol residues, 
 iii) 20 to 40 mole % of ethylene glycol residues; 
   wherein the total mole % of the dicarboxylic acid component is 100 mole %, and the total mole % of the glycol component is 100 mole %;   wherein the inherent viscosity of the polyester is from 0.50 to 0.75 dL/g as determined in 60/40 (wt/wt) phenol/tetrachloroethane at a concentration of 0.5 g/100 ml at 25° C.; and   wherein the polyester has a Tg in the range from 90° C. to 130° C.   
     
     
         46 . The article according to  claim 45 , wherein the article is a blow molded article. 
     
     
         47 . The article according to  claim 46 , wherein the blow molded article is a container. 
     
     
         48 . The article according to  claim 45 , wherein the dicarboxylic acid component comprises 95 to 100 mole % of terephthalic acid residues. 
     
     
         49 . The article according to  claim 45 , wherein the polymeric material has a Tg from 100 to 130° C. and the article has a shrinkage of 5% or less after being immersed in boiling water for one hour.