Abstract: Disclosed are blends of aliphatic-aromatic copolyesters with poly(ethylene-co-vinyl acetate) copolymers and shaped articles prepared therefrom. These blends have higher melt strength than the aliphatic-aromatic copolyester alone and exhibit increased melt strength and better processability. In addition, the blends and shaped articles show bio-disintegration and/or biodegradability in a composting environment.

Abstract: Disclosed are oriented, shaped articles such as, for example, film, fibers, bottles, and tubes, with excellent strength, toughness, clarity, chemical resistance, and UV resistance. The articles can be prepared from cycloaliphatic polyesters and from compositions comprising cycloaliphatic polyesters and cycloaliphatic polyester elastomers. The articles may be oriented by stretching in at least one direction and have a modulus which results in a soft feel. Also disclosed are polyester compositions comprising cycloaliphatic polyesters and polyester elastomers.

Abstract: A new process for making a labeled container using a stretch blow molding process wherein a label sleeve is positioned over at least a portion of the exterior surface of a preform to produce a sleeved preform and the sleeved preform is stretch blow molded to produce a labeled container having a snug-fit label.

Abstract: A method for determining the temperature distribution throughout the thickness of a preform used in a container reheat stretch blow molding process by measuring the outside surface temperature of a preform or series of preforms at least two times during the period the preform is cooling down after exiting the heat station and before entering the blow molding station in the blow molding machine and calculating the temperature distribution throughout the thickness of the preform based upon the measured outside surface temperatures using a novel algorithm.

Abstract: In a process for producing a profile by profile extrusion, a melt of a polyester composition is extruded through a die to form a profile. The processability of the polyester composition is improved by the addition of a branching agent, which provides increased melt strength and increased high shear thinning. The polyester composition has an inherent viscosity of at least 0.65 dl/g. The diacid component of the polyester composition has from 100 to 98.0 mole percent of residues of a primary acid selected from terephthalic acid, naphthalenedicarboxylic acid, isophthalic acid and mixtures thereof. The glycol component of the polyester composition has from 100 to 98.0 mole percent of residues of a primary glycol selected from ethylene glycol, 1,4-cyclohexanedimethanol, diethylene glycol, neopentyl glycol, and mixtures thereof. The polyester composition has from 0.05 to 2.

Abstract: A method for determining the temperature distribution throughout the thickness of a preform used in a container reheat stretch blow molding process by measuring the outside surface temperature of a preform or series of preforms at least two times during the period the preform is cooling down after exiting the heat station and before entering the blow molding station in the blow molding machine and calculating the temperature distribution throughout the thickness of the preform based upon the measured outside surface temperatures using a novel algorithm.

Abstract: In a process for producing a profile by profile extrusion, a melt of a polyester composition is extruded through a die to form a profile. The processability of the polyester composition is improved by the addition of a branching agent, which provides increased melt strength and increased high shear thinning. The polyester composition has an inherent viscosity of at least 0.65 dl/g. The diacid component of the polyester composition has from 100 to 98.0 mole percent of residues of a primary acid selected from terephthalic acid, naphthalenedicarboxylic acid, isophthalic acid and mixtures thereof. The glycol component of the polyester composition has from 100 to 98.0 mole percent of residues of a primary glycol selected from ethylene glycol, 1,4-cyclohexanedimethanol, diethylene glycol, neopentyl glycol, and mixtures thereof. The polyester composition has from 0.05 to 2.

Abstract: In a process for producing a profile by profile extrusion, a melt of a polyester composition is extruded through a die to form a profile. The processability of the polyester composition is improved by the addition of a branching agent, which provides increased melt strength and increased high shear thinning. The polyester composition has an inherent viscosity of at least 0.65 dl/g. The diacid component of the polyester composition has from 100 to 98.0 mole percent of residues of a primary acid selected from terephthalic acid, naphthalenedicarboxylic acid, isophthalic acid and mixtures thereof. The glycol component of the polyester composition has from 100 to 98.0 mole percent of residues of a primary glycol selected from ethylene glycol, 1,4-cyclohexanedimethanol, diethylene glycol, neopentyl glycol, and mixtures thereof. The polyester composition has from 0.05 to 2.

Abstract: A method for determining the temperature distribution throughout the thickness of a preform used in a container reheat stretch blow molding process by measuring the outside surface temperature of a preform or series of preforms at least two times during the period the preform is cooling down after exiting the heat station and before entering the blow molding station in the blow molding machine and calculating the temperature distribution throughout the thickness of the preform based upon the measured outside surface temperatures using a novel algorithm.

Abstract: A process for coextrusion-molding a multilayer article comprising coextruding at a selected coextuding temperature (i) a first outer polymer resin layer having a) a viscosity, b) a melting temperature, and c) a degradation temperature at the selected coextuding temperature, and (ii) a second inner polymer resin layer having a) a viscosity, b) a melting temperature, and c) a degradation temperature at the selected coextuding temperature, wherein the ratio of the outer polymer resin viscosity to the inner polymer resin viscosity at the coextuding temperature is less than or equal to about 1 and the coextuding temperature is above the melting temperature of the highest melting resin and below the degradation temperature of the lowest degrading resin to form a multilayer article.

Abstract: A compositional blend of from about 50 to about 99 weight percent of a polyester and from about 1 to about 50 weight percent of an essentially, linear, random aliphatic-aromatic copolyester or branched and/or chain extended copolyester thereof is useful as a heat-shrinkable film.

Abstract: A process for coinjection-molding a multilayer article comprising coinjecting at a selected coinjecting temperature (i) a first outer polymer resin layer having a viscosity at the selected coinjecting temperature, and (ii) a second inner polymer resin layer having a viscosity at the selected coinjecting temperature, wherein the ratio of the outer polymer resin viscosity to the inner polymer resin viscosity at the coinjecting temperature is less than or equal to about 2 and the coinjecting temperature is above the melting temperature of the highest melting resin and below the degradation temperature of the lowest degrading resin to form a multilayer article. Processes for coextrusion are also provided.

Abstract: A compositional blend of from about 50 to about 99 weight percent of a polyester and from about 1 to about 50 weight percent of an essentially, linear, random aliphatic-aromatic copolyester or branched and/or chain extended copolyester thereof is useful as a heat-shrinkable film.

Abstract: A new process for making a labeled container using a stretch blow molding process wherein a label sleeve is positioned over at least a portion of the exterior surface of a preform to produce a sleeved preform and the sleeved preform is stretch blow molded to produce a labeled container having a snug-fit label.

Abstract: A reactor grade copolyester composition, as well as a heat-shrinkable film made therefrom, unexpectedly has higher ductility than a multi-component blend of copolyesters with the same monomer concentrations. The reactor grade copolyester composition is made from a diacid component of at least about 90 mole percent and a diol component of (a) about 72 to about 88 mole percent ethylene glycol, about 10 to about 15 mole percent 1,4-cyclohexanedimethanol, and about 2 to about 13 mole percent diethylene glycol, or (b) about 59 to about 77.5 mole percent ethylene glycol, about 15 to about 28 mole percent 1,4-cyclohexane-dimethanol, and about 7.5 to about 13 mole percent diethylene glycol. Further, the heat-shrinkable film may be produced to closely match the shrink characteristics of polyvinyl chloride by varying the amounts of the diol components of the reactor grade copolyester composition. Furthermore, a reactor grade copolyester composition has a b* color value of −1.0 to less than 4.

Abstract: To increase the melt strength and increase high shear thinning of a polyester composition, a polar chain terminator that contains a nonionic group or an ionic group neutralized with a counterion is added at a level of 0.05 to 20 mole percent. Optionally, up to 2.0 mole percent of a tri-functional or greater branching agent is added to the polyester composition. Optionally, up to 30 mole percent of a polar midchain difunctional monomer that contains a nonionic group or an ionic group neutralized with a counterion is added. The polyester composition is based on 100 mole percent diacid component and 100 mole percent glycol component.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for introducing strain-induced crystallization to polyesters. Specifically, amorphous polymer from the melt phase reactor is first extruded through a traditional strand die. However, instead of going directly into a pelletizer/cutter, it is stretched uniaxially at a temperature only slightly higher than Tg. The chain alignment resulting from stretching makes crystallization occur at a considerably higher rate than with traditional thermal crystallization. After this stretching process, the strand is annealed and fed to the pelletizer and chopped. The process of the present invention is advantageous for crystallizing polymers having slow rate of thermal crystallization half time from the glass. Optically clear polymers having at least about 15% crystallinity and a single melting point endotherm are produced.

Abstract: In a process for extruding a thermoplastic resin in a single screw extruder, a barrel of a single screw extruder has a channel, a feed section and a first melt seal located after the feed section. The process is improved by supplying solid polymer into the feed section and venting moisture extracted from the polymer during the conversion of the polymer from a solid to a melt into a vent area and through a rear vent positioned in the feed section. An unfilled area within the channel of the barrel between the rear vent and the first melt seal forms the vent area.

Abstract: An apparatus and a method for molding of polyester articles having low acetaldehyde content directly from a melt without intermediate solidification of the molten polyester. A melt to mold process is used wherein an acetaldehyde stripping agent is mixed into a polyester melt before devolatilization in a flash tank. The devolatilized polyester is pumped out of the flash tank and injected into a mold, thus forming a shaped article. The apparatus may include one or more flash tanks in one devolatilization line, or multiple devolatilization lines may be used stemming from one main polymerization reactor. The final shaped article should contain less than 10 ppm of acetaldehyde.