Abstract: Disclosed herein is an esterification process characterized by the high dilution in situ addition of antimony catalyst compound and phosphorus stabilizer compound to the esterification reaction mixture. A high dilution polymerization process for producing antimony phosphate derivative-containing polymer is also disclosed. Further disclosed are high clarity polyesters containing sub visual antimony phosphate derivative particles.

Abstract: An apparatus for detecting an invisible, near infrared fluorescing mark disposed on a background comprises: includes an excitation source for exciting the mark, having sufficient power to excite the mark and provide a fluorescent signal the mark from a; a signal detector for detecting the fluorescent signal from the mark; a and power modulator means for varying the power if the excitation source between zero and the maximum power level to produce a decodable fluorescent signal from the mark disposed on the background. A process for decoding an invisible mark having a near infrared fluorescing material includes the steps of: providing at least one invisible, near infrared fluorescing mark disposed on at least one portion of a background; exciting the mark with a laser having a maximum power level sufficient to provide a fluorescent signal from the mark; detecting the fluorescent signal and concurrently varying the power of the laser between zero and its maximum power, to obtain a decodable fluorescent signal.

Abstract: This invention relates to new blue anthraquinone colorants having Formula I ##STR1## wherein R and R1 are the same or different and are selected from hydrogen and unsubstituted or substituted C1-C6 alkyl, C3-C7 cycloalkyl 2-furyl, 2-thienyl, or phenyl; R2 is aryl; X is a group selected from hydroxy, C1-C6 alkanolyloxy, carboxy, C1-C6 carbalkoxy and carbamoyloxy.The colorants are useful for copolymerizing into polymers such as polyesters and polyurethanes. In particular, they are advantageous for preparing colored sulfopolyesters which are useful for coloring human hair.

Abstract: A process for producing polyester articles, which generates little or no polyester waste. The process provides esterification or transesterification of one or more dicarboxylic acids or their dialkyl esters, polycondensation to produce a high molecular weight polyester, and molding or shaping of the polyester for produce the desired product. Scrap produced during the molding process is recycled back to the esterification or transesterification or polycondensation portion of the process. Optionally, the scrap may also be recycled to intermediate steps prior to the molding operation.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process comprising polymerizing repeat units derived from an acid component comprising terephthalic acid and naphthalenedicarboxylic acid and at least one glycol in the presence of less than about 10 ppm sodium carbonate and between about 10 and about 60 ppm phosphorus. Polyesters formed via the process of the present invention display surprisingly good clarity and color.

Abstract: A process and apparatus for distributing molten thermoplastic material supplied directly from melt polymerization to a plurality of molding machines operating in timed sequence is disclosed. The invention is particularly applicable to transferring molten polyester (normally polyethylene terephthalate or a copolymer thereof) directly from a melt polymerization reactor to injection molding machines for producing molded plastic articles.

Abstract: This invention relates to homopolyester compositions having fluorescence quenchers polymerized therein ("poly quenchers"). Specifically the "poly quencher" polymeric compositions comprises repeating units from(a) a dicarboxylic acid component and(b) a diol component, wherein at least one of (a) and (b) is comprised of at least one fluorescence polyquencher capable of reducing fluorescence of a polymer below the fluorescence displayed when said polyquencher is not included.

Abstract: The catalytic asymmetric hydrogenation of enol esters with a vinyllic or acetylenic substituent proceeds with extremely high enantioselectivity using a Rhodium-chiral bisphosphine catalyst. This is at variance with the hydrogenation of enol esters bearing a saturated substituent, which are hydrogenated with only marginal enantioselectivity under the same conditions.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for producing a high molecular weight polyester having less than about 0.5 weight % diethylene glycol comprising adding at least one carbonate compound to the ester exchange reaction product produced from reaction of a glycol component comprising ethylene glycol and an ester component comprising dimethylterephthalate, dimethylnaphthalenedicarboxylate and mixtures thereof wherein said reaction product is formed without a Ti catalyst.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a process for producing a fibrillated cellulose acetate fiber comprising contacting cellulose acetate fiber with a strong base solution at conditions sufficient to remove greater than about 5% of bulk acetyl groups from said cellulose acetate fiber. Modified cellulose acetate staple fiber comprising an outer layer of regenerated cellulose in which at least about 5% of the acetyl groups are removed on an overall fiber basis are also disclosed. Paper products incorporating said fibers are also disclosed.

Abstract: A novel technique to treat post-consumer polyester for reuse in food-contact applications is described. The process comprises contacting contaminated post consumer polyester flake with at least one extraction solvent which is soluble in said contaminated flake at a temperature sufficient to allow rapid diffusion of contaminants from said polyester flake; and removing said extraction solvent containing said contaminants from said polyester flake.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a method comprising the steps of;a) forming in an aqueous solution a hydroxamic acid from a hydroxylamine free base and anhydride having the formula (RCO).sub.2 O wherein R is H or a substituted or unsubstituted C.sub.2-6 alkyl, C.sub.2-6 alkenyl, C.sub.6-10 aryl, or C.sub.4-10 heteroaryl; andb) treating said hydroxamic acid with an alkylating agent in the presence of at least one proton scavenger under conditions sufficient to consume substantially all of said alkylating agent to form an O-substituted hydroxamate.The protection and alkylation are readily effected in water (with no alcohol co-solvent) without the need for phase-transfer catalysis and with little hydrolysis of the alkylating agent.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a polymerization system having at least two reaction chambers wherein vacuum is used to remove vapors therefrom comprising a single vacuum system for supplying vacuum in increasing amounts to successive reaction chambers. Also disclosed is a polymerization process having at least first and second reaction chambers in which the pressure is decreased successively from said first chamber to a final chamber.

Abstract: Disclosed are poly(ethylene-co-diethylene terephthalate) polyesters useful for making thin films. The polyesters have a diethylene glycol repeat unit component of about 10-30 mol %. These polymers can be converted into thin films and are useful as protective barrier films, especially in packaging applications. These copolyesters can be used to make biaxially oriented films for metal lamination.

Abstract: The present invention relates to blends of a polyester, polyamide or polyester/amide containing a copolymerizable fluorescence quenching compound and a second polymer. The blends of the present invention display reduced fluorescence. Specifically the blends comprise(a) a polyester/amide comprising:(1) a dicarboxylic acid component which comprises at least 0.1 mol % of a dicarboxylic acid selected from the group consisting of terephthalic acid and/or terephthalate ester;(2) a diol and/or diamine component;(3) 0.1 to 99.9 mol %, based on 100 mol % dicarboxylic acid and 100 mol % diol, of a copolymerizable fluorescence quenching compound;(b) a second polymer selected from the group poly(alkylene terephthalate) homo and copolyesters, poly(alkylene naphthalate) homo and copolyesters, poly(cycloalkylene terephthalate) homo and copolyesters, poly(alkylene 1,4-cyclohexanedicarboxylate) homo and copolyesters, and polycarbonate homo and copolymers.

Abstract: Provided are new compounds useful as near infrared fluorophoric markers. In the practice of this invention a method is also provided for tagging thermoplastic containers using near infrared fluorescing compounds or copolymerized residues readily capable of detection. The new compounds are phthalocyanine and naphthalocyanine derivatives which are covalently bonded to substituted silicon and aluminum compounds. The methods, compositions, and compounds described herein thus provide a total system useful for marking, for identification purposes, the various classes of thermoplastic wastes, so that they can be identified, sorted, and subsequently recycled.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process comprising solid state polymerizing an immiscible polyester blend which has not been substantially melt esterified under conditions sufficient to produce a polyester blend which when remelted becomes clear. Polyester blends having improved I.V., color and low acetaldehyde are also disclosed.

Abstract: New polyesteramides having glass transition temperatures (Tg's) of up to 130.degree. C. and heat deflection temperatures that are in the 100.degree. C. to 110.degree. C. range are disclosed. The new polyesteramides of this invention are made by sequential addition of selected diamines to the diacid/glycol melt. The polyesteramides comprise:--?--A--G--!.sub.x --?--A--NH--R--NH--!.sub.y --wherein A is an organic dicarboxylic acid; G is a glycol selected from linear aliphatic diols and cycloaliphatic diols having 5 to 20 carbon atoms; R is selected from alkyl, cycloalkyl, arylkyl, or aryl; and x and y are whole numbers having an x/y ratio between about 9 to about 0.5 and sum of X and Y is from about 2 to about 500.

Abstract: The present invention provides inks which contain a near infrared fluorophoric compound incorporated into a water-dissipatible polyester backbone. The inks of the present invention are preferably colorless or "invisible" but could be made slightly colored if desirable. Specifically, the inks of the present invention comprise:A. between about 1 and 10 weight percent of at least one water-dissipatable polyester having from about 0.1 ppm by weight to about 10% by weight of a thermally stable near infrared fluorophoric compound copolymerized therein;B. between about 5 and 75 weight percent of at least aliphatic humectant;C. between about 0 and 15 weight percent of at least one lower aliphatic alcohol of no more than 3 carbon atoms;D. water and optionally up to about 2 weight percent of one or more additives;wherein the weight percentages of components A-D equal 100%.

Abstract: A novel process has been developed for the crystallization of poly(ethylenenaphthalenedicarboxylate) (PEN) and its copolymers. The process comprises the step of maintaining the amount of water in said poly(ethylenenaphthalenedicarboxylate) below a critical moisture content ceiling throughout processing such that a separate drying step is not required.