Process

Abstract

A process for the manufacture of a modified poly(alkylene carbonate) comprising compounding i) at least one poly(alkylene carbonate) and at least one modifying agent having at least three carboxylic acid groups, or ii) at least one carboxylic acid group and at least one anhydride group, or iii) at least two anhydride groups, at a temperature of 120 to 240° C.

1 . A process for the manufacture of a modified poly(alkylene carbonate), comprising:
 compounding a poly(alkylene carbonate) and a modifying agent at a temperature of from 120 to 240° C. to form the modified poly(alkylene carbonate),   wherein the modifying agent has i) at least three carboxylic acid groups, ii) at least one carboxylic acid group and at least one anhydride group, or iii) at least two anhydride groups; and   subsequently, combining the modified poly(alkylene carbonate) with a filler.   
     
     
         2 . (canceled) 
     
     
         3 . (canceled) 
     
     
         4 . The process as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said poly(alkylene carbonate) is combined with a filler before compounding with the modifying agent. 
     
     
         5 . The process as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the modifying agent comprises two anhydride units. 
     
     
         6 . The process as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the modifying agent is present in an amount of from 0.05 to 5 wt % relative to the amount of poly(alkylene carbonate) and modifying agent present in total. 
     
     
         7 . The process as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the poly(alkylene carbonate) is formed from the copolymerisation of an epoxide and carbon dioxide. 
     
     
         8 . The process as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the filler is inorganic. 
     
     
         9 . The process as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the filler is carbon based. 
     
     
         10 . The process as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said filler is combined with said modified poly(alkylene carbonate) in an extruder. 
     
     
         11 . The process as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said filler is combined with said modified poly(alkylene carbonate) in a solvent. 
     
     
         12 . The process as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the filler is present in an amount of from 1 to 70 wt % relative to the amount of modified poly(alkylene carbonate). 
     
     
         13 . The process as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising combining the modified poly(alkylene carbonate) with a fluoroelastomer. 
     
     
         14 . The process as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising combining the modified poly(alkylene carbonate) with a second polymer. 
     
     
         15 . The process as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the poly(alkylene carbonate) has an Mw of 5,000 D or more. 
     
     
         16 . The process as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein a dispersion aid is used to enhance the combination of the filler and the modified poly(alkylene carbonate) in the solvent. 
     
     
         17 . (canceled) 
     
     
         18 . (canceled) 
     
     
         19 . An article comprising the composition as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the article is a film, moulded article, extrusion coated article, foamed article or laminate. 
     
     
         20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . The process as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said poly(alkylene carbonate) is combined with the filler and the modifying agent simultaneously. 
     
     
         22 . The process as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the modifying agent comprises pyromellitic dianhydride or benzophenone-3,3′,4,4′-tetracarboxylic dianhydride. 
     
     
         23 . The process as claimed in  claim 7 , wherein the epoxide is propylene oxide, ethylene oxide, cyclohexene oxide, or mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         24 . The process as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the filler comprises a multiwalled nanotube, a graphitic filler, calcium carbonate, a montmorillonite nanoclay, a magnesium oxide, a zinc oxide, a zirconium oxide, or a polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane. 
     
     
         25 . The process as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the poly(alkylene carbonate) is combined with a fluoroelastomer before being compounded with the modifying agent. 
     
     
         26 . The process as claimed in  claim 14 , wherein the second polymer is a polyolefin, polylactic acid, starch, or polyhydroxy acid. 
     
     
         27 . The process as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the poly(alkylene carbonate) is combined with a second polymer before being compounded with the modifying agent. 
     
     
         28 . The process as claimed in  claim 27 , wherein the second polymer is a polyolefin, polylactic acid, starch, or polyhydroxy acid. 
     
     
         29 . The article of  claim 19 , wherein the article is a moulded article and the moulded article is a bottle.