Abstract: The invention relates to a process for making polyethylene terephthalate (PET) from ethylene glycol (EG), purified terephthalic acid (PTA) and optionally up to 6 mol % comonomer, using a mixed metal catalyst system and comprising the steps of a) esterifying EG and PTA to form diethyleneglycol terephthalate and oligomers (DGT), and b) melt-phase polycondensing DGT to form PET and EG, wherein the catalyst system substantially consists of 70-160 ppm of Sb-compound, 20-70 ppm of Zn-compound, and 0.5-20 ppm of Ti-glycolate as active components (ppm metal based on PET). With this process that applies reduced amount of metal catalyst components PET can be obtained with high productivity, which polyester shows favorable color and optical clarity, also if recycling of EG is applied within the process.

Abstract: The invention relates to an unidirectionally-oriented film comprising a thermoplastic polyester and a polycarbonate. The unidirectionally-oriented film may further comprise an anti-blocking agent and/or a slip agent. Depending on its width, the films of the invention may be used for food packaging; it may be used for strapping cartons, boxes, pallets, textile bales; and it may be used for woven tape fabric. The fabric woven from films of the invention may be used for making sacks, flexible intermediate bulk containers, hot fill jumbo bags for materials such as bitumen, PVC coated fabrics for flex signage, carpet backing, geo textiles, geogrids, metallised fabrics, and self-reinforced composites.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for making polyethylene terephthalate (PET) from ethylene glycol (EG), purified terephthalic acid (PTA) and optionally up to 30 mol % comonomer, using a catalyst system essentially consisting of antimony—(Sb), zinc—(Zn) and phosphorous—(P) compounds, comprising the steps of a) esterifying EG and PTA to form diethyleneglycol terephthalate and oligomers (DGT), and b) melt-phase polycondensing DGT to form polyester and EG1 wherein the Sb- and P-compounds are added in step a) and the Zn-compound is added after step a). With this process PET can be obtained that shows favorable color and optical clarity, also if recycling of EG is applied in the process, and a relatively low rate of acetaldehyde regeneration during melt-processing.

Abstract: A process for making a shaped part from a polymer selected from polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and polyethylene naphthalate (PEN) by using a compacting tool comprising a die having a cavity and a punch having an outer surface. The process comprises the steps of: a) placing particles of the polymer in the cavity of the die heated to a compaction temperature, wherein the polymer has an intrinsic viscosity of at least 0.45 dL/g and the particles have an average particle size of 0.5-4000 ?m, b) pressing the particles in the die cavity at a pressure of at least 3 MPa for 5-15 minutes while maintaining the temperature of the die at the compaction temperature and c) removing the shaped part from the die cavity. When the polymer is PET, the compaction temperature is 235-259° C. When the polymer is PEN, the compaction temperature is 250-275° C.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for making a thermoplastic polyester, which comprises contacting at least one carboxylic acid-based compound and at least one alcohol-based compound in esterification and subsequent polycondensation reactions, in the presence of certain exfoliated inorganic nano-layered titanates acting as a catalyst.

Abstract: In an embodiment, a method of processing a polymer comprises: mixing polymer and solid carbon dioxide; introducing the polymer and solid carbon dioxide mixture to a hopper of a vented extruder; plasticizing the mixture to form a polymer melt with dissolved carbon dioxide; venting carbon dioxide as a gas before the die exit; and extruding the polymer melt through a die. In an embodiment, a method of making an article comprises: introducing a polymer powder to an extruder; introducing solid carbon dioxide powder to the extruder at the hopper; plasticizing and extruding the polymer and solid carbon dioxide mixture; venting the solid carbon dioxide before the die exit; extruding the polymer melt through a die to form pellets; and injection molding the polymer pellets without solid carbon dioxide to form molded articles.

Abstract: The invention relates to a tape comprising from (i) about 75 wt % to about 99.9 wt % of a thermoplastic polyester, (ii) from about 0.1 wt % to about 25 wt % of a linear low-density polyethylene and (iii) from 0 wt % to about 5 wt % of other components, said tape having a thickness from 5 ?m to 300 ?m and a width from 0.5 mm to 7 mm. This tape shows no twinning and sticking to other tapes after slitting, has very good mechanical properties. When the tape is wound, bobbins having a regular shape can be obtained.

Abstract: The invention relates to a Flexible Intermediate Bulk Container (FIBC) having a body made of flexible woven fabric, and integral handling devices, wherein the fabric is woven from opaque oriented polyethylene terephthalate (PET) strips having a density of from 500 to 1300 kg/m3 and a tensile strength of at least 250 MPa. Advantages of said FIBC include directly printability with the usual type of inks, giving excellent contrast and good adhesion, without pre-treatment like a corona- or flame-treatment. The FIBC based on the PET fabric also shows higher gloss; better UV resistance; better mechanical properties, like high tensile strength and creep resistance; favorable abrasion resistance; and higher temperature resistance than a conventional big bag based on polypropylene strips. The invention further relates to such a FIBC based on stress-whitened PET tapes obtained by a special drawing process.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for making polyethylene terephthalate (PET) from ethylene glycol (EG), purified terephthalic acid (PTA) and optionally up to 6 mol % comonomer, using a mixed metal catalyst system and comprising the steps of a) esterifying EG and PTA to form diethyleneglycol terephthalate and oligomers (DGT), and b) melt-phase polycondensing DGT to form PET and EG, wherein the catalyst system substantially consists of 70-160 ppm of Sb-compound, 20-70 ppm of Zn-compound, and 0.5-20 ppm of Ti-glycolate as active components (ppm metal based on PET). With this process that applies reduced amount of metal catalyst components PET can be obtained with high productivity, which polyester shows favourable colour and optical clarity, also if recycling of EG is applied within the process.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for making polyethylene terephthalate (PET) from ethylene glycol (EG), purified terephthalic acid (PTA) and optionally up to 30 mol % comonomer, using a catalyst system essentially consisting of antimony—(Sb), zinc—(Zn) and phosphorous—(P) compounds, comprising the steps of a) esterifying EG and PTA to form diethyleneglycol terephthalate and oligomers (DGT), and b) melt-phase polycondensing DGT to form polyester and EG1 wherein the Sb- and P-compounds are added in step a) and the Zn-compound is added after step a). With this process PET can be obtained that shows favourable colour and optical clarity, also if recycling of EG is applied in the process, and a relatively low rate of acetaldehyde re-generation during melt-processing.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for making a thermoplastic polyester, which comprises contacting at least one carboxylic acid-based compound and at least one alcohol-based compound in esterification and subsequent polycondensation reactions, in the presence of certain exfoliated inorganic nano-layered titanates acting as a catalyst.

Abstract: The invention relates to a Flexible Intermediate Bulk Container (FIBC) having a body made of flexible woven fabric, and integral handling devices, wherein the fabric is woven from opaque oriented polyethylene terephthalate (PET) strips having a density of from 500 to 1300 kg/m3 and a tensile strength of at least 250 MPa. Advantages of said FIBC include directly printability with the usual type of inks, giving excellent contrast and good adhesion, without pre-treatment like a corona- or flame-treatment. The FIBC based on the PET fabric also shows higher gloss; better UV resistance; better mechanical properties, like high tensile strength and creep resistance; favourable abrasion resistance; and higher temperature resistance than a conventional big bag based on polypropylene strips. The invention further relates to such a FIBC based on stress-whitened PET tapes obtained by a special drawing process.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for making an opaque and glossy film from a thermoplastic polyester composition, comprising the steps of a) extruding the polyester composition through a slot die, and quenching to form a substantially amorphous film having a crystallinity of at most 5%; b) rapidly heating the amorphous film to a drawing temperature in the range from Tg to (Tg+50)° C. while applying a draw ratio in the range of from ?initiation to ?max. in longitudinal direction, and a drawing rate of at least 1 m/min to form an oriented film showing stress-whitening, wherein ?initiation is the draw ratio at which a transfer from a transparent product to a stress-whitened product occurs and ?max. is the draw ratio at which failure of the stress whitened film occurs; and c) heat-setting the oriented stress-whitened film; the thermoplastic polyester composition substantially consisting of at least one crystallisable polyester derived from at least one aliphatic diol and at least one aromatic dicarboxylic acid.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a catalyst composition for producing polyethylene terephthalate from terephthalic acid and ethylene glycol, comprising: (i) an antimony compound, being present such that the elemental antimony is in a range of about 15 ppm to less than 150 ppm; (ii) a zinc compound, being present such that the elemental zinc is in a range of about 40 to about 160 ppm; as well as a process for the preparation thereof.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for the production of polyethylene terephthalate copolyester from terephthalic acid, isophthalic acid and ethylene glycol, comprising the steps of: a) preparing a catalyst composition comprising a zinc compound being present such that the elemental zinc content is in a range of about 50 to about 500 ppm, preferably about 200 to about 500 ppm, most preferably about 180 to about 260 ppm, based on the copolyester, b) placing the catalyst composition, terephthalic acid, isophthalic acid and ethylene glycol in a vessel, and c) reacting the terephthalic acid, isophthalic acid and ethylene glycol in an esterification step and a polycondensation step to obtain polyethylene terephthalate copolyester; to the copolyester obtained thereby and its use, as well as to a catalyst composition suitable in the inventive process.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a catalyst composition for producing polyethylene terephthalate from terephthalic acid and ethylene glycol, comprising: (i) an antimony compound, being present such that the elemental antimony is in a range of about 15 ppm to less than 150 ppm; (ii) a zinc compound, being present such that the elemental zinc is in a range of about 40 to about 160 ppm; as well as a process for the preparation thereof.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an orientated polyolefin composition comprising an olefin (co)polymer having a weight average molecular weight (Mw) from 30,000 to 1,000,000 and a high molecular weight tail extending to molecular weights above 1,000,000, and has a microstructure which is substantially parallel chain extended cores of the component polymer(s) and associated lamellar overgrowths extending in planes normal to the cores. The lamellar overgrowths an adjacent cores intermesh and are capable of sustaining a haul off tension of at least 10 MPa without breaking during its extrusion.The orientated polyolefin composition is produced by extruding an olefin copolymer through a die under a pressure of about 5-10 MPa, at a temperature above the self-blocking temperature thereof and by hauling off the extrudate at a tension of at least 10 MPa without breaking. The extrudates so produced have a high modulus.

Abstract: An orientated polyolefin composition comprising an olefin (co)polymer having a weight average molecular weight (Mw) from 30,000 to 1,000,000 and a high molecular weight tail extending to molelcular weights above 1,000,000, and has a microstructure which is substantially parallel chain extended cores of the component polymer(s) and associated lamellar overgrowths extending in planes normal to the cores in which the lamellar overgrowths on adjacent cores intermesh and are capable of sustaining a haul off tension of at least 10 MPa without breaking during its extrusion, is produced by extruding an olefin copolymer through a die under a pressure of about 5-10 MPa, at a temperature above the self-blocking temperature thereof and by hauling off the extrudate at a tension of at least 10 MPa without breaking. The extrudates so produced have a high modulus.