Abstract: An aromatic polycarbonate having a high refractive index and good processing and mechanical properties is provided. The aromatic polycarbonate comprises a thiodiphenol monomer and a biphenyl monomer. The refractive index of the polycarbonate may be greater than 1.670.

Abstract: A method for producing a transparent article comprises the steps of melt transesterifying a monomer mixture in the presence of a transesterification catalyst to produce a hydroquinone polycarbonate copolymer product comprising greater than 45 mole percent of structural units derived from the hydroquinone. The monomer mixture comprises a hydroquinone, at least one aromatic dihydroxy compound other than the hydroquinone, and a carbonic acid diester. The hydroquinone polycarbonate copolymer product is then heated to a highest processing temperature of 5° C. to 20° C. above a maximum melting melt temperature for the hydroquinone copolymer product for a sufficient period of time to render the hydroquinone polycarbonate copolymer product transparent upon cooling to ambient temperature; and cooling the hydroquinone polycarbonate copolymer product to produce the transparent article.

Abstract: An aromatic polycarbonate having a high refractive index and good processing and mechanical properties is provided. The aromatic polycarbonate comprises a thiodiphenol monomer and a biphenyl monomer. The refractive index of the polycarbonate may be greater than 1.670.

Abstract: A polymer comprising structural units derived from a polycyclic dihydroxy compound of Formula (I) wherein R1, R2 and R3 are independently at each occurrence selected from the group consisting of a cyano functionality, a halogen, an aliphatic functionality having 1 to 10 carbons, a cycloaliphatic functionality having 3 to 10 carbons, and an aromatic functionality having 6 to 10 carbons; wherein each occurrence of “n”, “m”, and “p” independently has a value of 0, 1, 2, 3, or 4; and wherein the polymer is substantially linear.

Abstract: A polymer comprising at least one structural unit derived from a dihydroxy compound of Formula (I) wherein R1 is an aromatic divalent functionality having 6 to 60 carbons, R2 can be the same or different at each occurrence and is independently at each occurrence selected from the group consisting of a cyano functionality, a nitro functionality, a halogen, an aliphatic functionality having 1 to 10 carbons, a cycloaliphatic functionality having 3 to 10 carbons and an aromatic functionality having 6 to 10 carbons and “n” is an integer having a value 0 to 3.

Abstract: A polymer comprising at least one structural unit derived from a dihydroxy compound of Formula (I) wherein R1 is an aromatic divalent functionality having 6 to 60 carbons, R2 can be the same or different at each occurrence and is independently at each occurrence selected from the group consisting of a cyano functionality, a nitro functionality, a halogen, an aliphatic functionality having 1 to 10 carbons, a cycloaliphatic functionality having 3 to 10 carbons and an aromatic functionality having 6 to 10 carbons and “n” is an integer having a value 0 to 3.

Abstract: A polymer comprising structural units derived from a polycyclic dihydroxy compound of Formula (I) wherein R1, R2 and R3 are independently at each occurrence selected from the group consisting of a cyano functionality, a halogen, an aliphatic functionality having 1 to 10 carbons, a cycloaliphatic functionality having 3 to 10 carbons, and an aromatic functionality having 6 to 10 carbons; wherein each occurrence of “n”, “m”, and “p” independently has a value of 0, 1, 2, 3, or 4; and wherein the polymer is substantially linear.

Abstract: A method for producing a transparent article comprises the steps of melt transesterifying a monomer mixture in the presence of a transesterification catalyst to produce a hydroquinone polycarbonate copolymer product comprising greater than 45 mole percent of structural units derived from the hydroquinone. The monomer mixture comprises a hydroquinone, at least one aromatic dihydroxy compound other than the hydroquinone, and a carbonic acid diester. The hydroquinone polycarbonate copolymer product is then heated to a highest processing temperature of 5° C. to 20° C. above a maximum melting melt temperature for the hydroquinone copolymer product for a sufficient period of time to render the hydroquinone polycarbonate copolymer product transparent upon cooling to ambient temperature; and cooling the hydroquinone polycarbonate copolymer product to produce the transparent article.