Abstract: Melt stable polyaryletherketoneketone are prepared from a reactive, lower molecular weight polyaryletherketoneketone having an ultraviolet absorbance at 455 nm of at least 0.185 when measured in 0.1% solution in dichloroacetic acid.

Abstract: Polyester co-polyphosphonates including of phosphonates covalently incorporated with polyesters and methods for making such polyester co-polyphosphonates are described herein. The polyester co-phosphonates and compositions prepared from these compounds exhibit an excellent combination of processing characteristics, mechanical and fire resistant properties.

Abstract: Provided is a polycarbonate resin composition that can exhibit an improved flame retardancy, flowability, rigidity, warping resistance, impact resistance, heat resistance, and wet heat stability all at the same time. This polycarbonate resin composition comprises 3 to 30 mass parts of (C) a phosphazene compound and 0.001 to 1 mass parts of (D) a fluoropolymer per 100 mass parts of the total of a component (A) and a component (B) formed of 40 to 95 mass % of (A) a polycarbonate resin and 5 to 60 mass % of (B) a filler selected from glass fillers and carbon fibers.

Abstract: Provided herein are graft copolymers of polyfarnesenes with condensation polymers; and methods of making and using the graft copolymers disclosed herein. In certain embodiments, the condensation polymers include polyesters, polycarbonates, polyamides, polyethers, phenol-formaldehyde resins, urea-formaldehyde resins, melamine-formaldehyde resins and combinations thereof. In some embodiments, the polyfarnesenes include farnesene homopolymers derived from a farnesene, and farnesene interpolymers derived from a farnesene and at least a vinyl monomer. In certain embodiments, the farnesene is prepared from a sugar by using a microorganism.

Abstract: Methods of preparing an aromatic liquid crystalline polyester resin and an aromatic liquid crystalline polyester resin compound are disclosed. A method of preparing an aromatic liquid crystalline polyester resin may include: acetylating a first monomer including an amino group by a reaction with a carboxylic acid anhydride; acetylating a second monomer including a hydroxyl group and not including an amino acid group with an additional carboxylic acid anhydride; and synthesizing an aromatic liquid crystalline polyester prepolymer by a condensation polymerization reaction of the acetylated first and second monomers with dicarboxylic acid. A method of preparing an aromatic liquid crystalline polyester resin compound may use the aromatic liquid crystalline polyester resin prepared according to the forgoing method.

Abstract: The present invention relates to water and solvent-free polymers, in particular water and solvent-free synthetic rubber products like styrene butadiene rubber products and butadiene rubber products as well as a process for the production thereof. The invention further relates to a device suitable to accomplish said process.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are fluorene derivatives and a lens using the same.

Abstract: Provided is a thermoplastic resin which (A) remarkably improves thermal conductivity of a resin composition when a thermally conductive filler is added and (B) can be injection-molded even by use of a general injection-molding die. The thermoplastic resin is a resin wherein: a main chain which mainly has a specific repeating unit; and 60 mol % or more ends of molecular chains are carboxyl groups.

Abstract: The present invention provides a process for producing a liquid crystalline polyester resin, wherein an acetylation reaction and an oligomerization reaction of raw materials are carried out in an acetylation reaction vessel, and then a deacetylation polycondensation of a liquid after the oligomerization reaction is carried out in a polycondensation reaction vessel, wherein the acetylation reaction vessel used is a vessel having an inner wall surface composed of an alloy containing 50% by mass or more of Ni and 10% by mass or more of Mo; and the inner wall surface of the acetylation reaction vessel is divided into three or more band-like zones arrayed in the height direction of the vessel, and the oligomerization reaction is carried out while maintaining the temperatures of each band-like zone in a particular relationship.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to polyarylates comprising repeating units having the structure: as well as their preparation and use as cell growth substrates.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a retardation film using polyester having a photoelastic coefficient of ?40×10?12 Pa?1 to 40×10?12 Pa?1. The present invention also relates to a polyester resin for optical use which contains a phosphorus compound, and an alicyclic component and a fluorene derivative component as constituents, and satisfies the following equations (6) and (7): 100° C.?glass transition temperature?150° C.??(6) and 1.0?(Ma/2+Mb+Mc)/P?5.0??(7), wherein Ma is the number of moles of an alkali metal element contained in 1 ton of the polyester resin, Mb is the number of moles of an alkaline earth metal element contained in 1 ton of the polyester resin, Mc is the sum of the number of moles of a zinc element (Zn), a cobalt element (Co) and a manganese element (Mn) contained in 1 ton of the polyester resin, and P is the number of moles of a phosphorus element contained in 1 ton of the polyester resin.

Abstract: A film formed from a polymer composition containing one or more thermotropic liquid crystalline polymers is provided. The specific nature of the polymer or blend of polymers is selectively controlled so that the resulting polymer composition possesses both a low viscosity and high melt strength. The present inventor has discovered that this unique combination of thermal properties results in a composition that is both highly melt processible and stretchable, which allows the resulting film to be oriented to a degree greater than previously thought possible.

Abstract: Oxetane-containing compounds, and compositions of oxetane-containing compounds together with carboxylic acids, latent carboxylic acids, and/or compounds having carboxylic acid and latent carboxylic acid functionality are provided. The oxetane-containing compounds and compositions thereof are useful as adhesives, sealants and encapsulants, particularly for components, and in the assembly, of LED devices.

Abstract: A wholly aromatic polyester being excellent in heat resistance and toughness and being capable of being produced in an ordinary polymerization device, which exhibits optical anisotropy when it is molten, containing the constitutional unit (I) derived from 4-hydroxybenzoic acid, the constitutional unit (II) derived from 6-hydroxy-2-naphthoic acid, the constitutional unit (III) derived from 1,4-phenylenedicarboxylic acid, the constitutional unit (IV) derived from 1,3-phenylenedicarboxylic acid and the constitutional unit (V) derived from 4,4?-dihydroxybiphenyl, containing the constitutional unit (I) in an amount of 35 to 75 mol %, the constitutional unit (II) in an amount of 2 to 8 mol %, the constitutional unit (III) in an amount of 4.5 to 30.5 mol %, the constitutional unit (IV) in an amount of 2 to 8 mol %, the constitutional unit (V) in an amount of 12.5 to 32.5 mol %, the total of constitutional units (II) and (IV) being in an amount of 4 to 10 mol %.

Abstract: The invention provides polymers and methods for their use. Specifically, certain embodiments of the present invention provide a polymer that comprises a plurality of salicylic acid-adipic (SA-Adipic) units of the following formula and a plurality of salicylic acid-diethylmalonic (SA-DEM) units of the following formula Certain embodiments of the invention also provide slow degrading microspheres comprising polymers described herein for undelayed and sustained drug delivery. Certain embodiments of the present invention provide methods for treating a chronic eye disease or arthritis in a patient, comprising administering to the patient a therapeutically effective amount of a polymer or microsphere as described herein.

Abstract: Disclosed is a material for fiber manufacturing comprising a liquid crystal polyester satisfying the following requirements (a) and (b): (a) the weight-average molecular weight is equal to or less than 30000 and the polydispersity is equal to or less than 2.5; and (b) the melt viscosity measured at 360° C. with conditions of a nozzle pore diameter of 0.5 mm and a shear velocity of 1000 s?1 using a flow feature testing machine is equal to or less than 70 Pa·s.

Abstract: The present invention provides a class of thermotropic liquid crystalline polyesters (TLCPs) and molding compositions comprising the polyesters and glass fiber. The TLCPs consist essentially of repeat units derived from p-hydroxybenzoic acid (HBA), 6-hydroxy-2-naphthoic acid (HNA), terephthalic acid (TA), and hydroquinone (HQ), and the mole percent of HBA, HNA, TA and HQ is 34-72%, 12-26%, 4-21% and 4-21%, respectively. The TLCPs have a melting temperature equal to or below 355° C., an inherent viscosity of 4.0-10.0 dL/g and a Heat Deflection Temperature (HDT) in the range of 260-285° C. when compounded with 30% by weight glass fiber. The optimum compositions, selected from the above-mentioned compositional ranges exhibit a relatively low melting temperature and a relatively high HDT. Specified compositions, selected from the above-mentioned compositional ranges have low melting point, which are useful to blend with conventional polymers such as poly (ethylene terephthalate) and nylon etc.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for producing a polyester, containing conducting a transesterification reaction of at least one compound selected from compounds represented by the following formulae (1) to (3) with a diol compound in the presence of a catalyst: wherein Ar is a divalent aromatic hydrocarbon group or the like; R1 is CX1Y1R4; R2 is a hydrogen atom or CX2Y2R5; R3 is a hydrogen atom or CX3Y3R6; R7 is a perfluoroalkylene group having 1 to 5 carbon atoms; X1 to X3 are a hydrogen atom, a fluorine atom or Rf; Y1 to Y3 are a fluorine atom or Rf; R4 to R6 are a fluorine atom, Rf, ORf or the like; and Rf is a fluoroalkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms.

Abstract: A thermosetting resin composition contains an active ester resin (A) and an epoxy resin (B) as essential components, the active ester resin (A) having a resin structure which includes a polyaryleneoxy structure (I) and in which aromatic carbon atoms in a plurality of the polyaryleneoxy structures (I) are linked through a structural site (II) represented by a structural formula 1 (wherein Ar represents a phenylene group, a phenylene group nuclear-substituted by 1 to 3 alkyl groups each having 1 to 4 carbon atoms, a naphthylene group, or a naphthylene group nuclear-substituted by 1 to 3 alkyl groups each having 1 to 4 carbon atoms).

Abstract: Provided is a thermoplastic resin having excellent thermal conductivity, in which thermoplastic resin a change in number average molecular mass caused by progress of polymerization occurring when the thermoplastic resin material is melted and a change in thermal conductivity caused by the change in number average molecular mass are low. The thermoplastic resin has (A) a specific structure and (B) ends of molecular chains sealed by a monofunctional low molecular weight compound. The resin itself has excellent thermal conductivity. The change in number average molecular mass becomes small during melting of the thermoplastic resin material, so that the change in thermal conductivity of the resin itself becomes small.

Abstract: This invention relates to a process of preparing a catalyst for the production of polyethylene terephthalate and for the production of high molecular weight PET comprising: a) reacting boric acid and a zinc salt in a solvent comprising at least one glycol selected from ethylene glycol, propylene glycol, and butylene glycol thereby forming a precipitate; and b) isolating the precipitate. In addition, the use of the catalyst for the production of polyethylene terephthalate and for the production of high molecular weight PET is disclosed.

Abstract: Disclosed are a production method for a wholly aromatic liquid crystalline polyester resin, a wholly aromatic liquid crystalline polyester resin produced using the method, and a compound of the wholly aromatic liquid crystalline polyester resin. The disclosed production method for a wholly aromatic liquid crystalline polyester resin comprises the steps of synthesizing a wholly aromatic liquid crystalline polyester resin by synthesizing a wholly aromatic liquid crystalline polyester prepolymer by a condensation polymerization of a monomer and then reducing the pressure inside a reaction vessel containing the synthesized prepolymer at a predetermined internal pressure reduction rate of the reaction vessel.

Abstract: The invention provides an amorphous polyester resin that can sufficiently achieve the reciprocal performance properties of hot offset resistance and cold offset resistance, which is a major issue for a toner for electrostatic image development, while allowing adequate blocking resistance to be obtained, as well as a binder resin for toner for electrostatic image development, and an amorphous polyester resin production method, the amorphous polyester resin being obtained by reaction between a polybasic carboxylic acid compound and a polyhydric alcohol, wherein the polybasic carboxylic acid compound comprises (a) the reaction product between an aromatic polybasic carboxylic acid compound and a C2-4 glycol at 60 mol % or greater based on the total amount of the polybasic carboxylic acid compound, and the amorphous polyester resin has a glass transition point of 55° C. to 75° C. and a weight-average molecular weight of 10,000 to 50,000.

Abstract: A laser composition comprises a combination of: (a) from more than 45 to less than 94 weight percent of a crystalline or semi-crystalline thermoplastic polyester component selected from poly(butylene terephthalate), poly(ethylene terephthalate), poly(butylene terephthalate) copolymers poly(ethylene terephthalate) copolymers, and combinations thereof; (b) from greater than 6 to less than 25 weight percent of an amorphous thermoplastic poly(ester) copolymer, poly(ester-carbonate), or combination thereof; (c) optionally, from 1 to 30 weight percent of a filler; and (d) optionally, from 0.01 to 5 weight percent of an antioxidant, mold release agent, colorant, stabilizer, or a combination thereof; wherein an article having a 2 mm thickness and molded from the composition has (i) a near infrared transmission at 960 nanometers of greater than 30 percent and (ii) a Vicat softening temperature of at least 170° C.

Abstract: There is provided a polyester resin for a toner, including: a polycondensate of a polyvalent carboxylic acid component and a polyhydric alcoholic component, wherein the polyhydric alcoholic component contains a rosin diol represented by the following Formula (1) and a content of the rosin diol is 80 mole % to 100 mole % based on the total polyhydric alcoholic component. wherein, each of R1 and R2 independently represents a hydrogen atom or a methyl group; L1 represents a divalent linking group having the following Formula (I); each of L2 and L3 independently represents a divalent linking group selected from the group consisting of carbonyl groups, carboxyl groups, ether groups, sulfonyl groups, substituted or unsubstituted chained alkylene groups, substituted or unsubstituted cyclic alkylene groups, substituted or unsubstituted arylene groups, and combinations thereof; and each of A1 and A2 independently represents a rosin ester group.

Abstract: A polyester resin for a toner is a polycondensate of a carboxylic acid component and an alcohol component including rosin diol that is represented by the following formula (1) and has an alicyclic structure (alicyclic alcohol), wherein R1 and R2 each independently represents hydrogen or a methyl group, L1 represents a divalent linking group having an alicyclic structure, L2 and L3 each independently represents a divalent linking group selected from a group consisting of a carbonyl group, a carboxyl group, an ether group, a sulfonyl group, a chain-like alkylene group which may have a substituent, a cyclic alkylene group, a phenylene group, and combinations thereof, and A1 and A2 represent a rosin ester group, provided that a divalent linking group having the alicyclic structure represented by L1 may be a divalent linking group having an alicyclic structure formed through linking with any of R1, R2, L2 or L3.

Abstract: Environmentally-friendly, biodegradable polyol:carboxylic acid polyester solid-phase products may be produced utilizing microwave heating. In this process, a di- or tricarboxylic acid is reacted with a polyol such as a glycerol or a sugar alcohol, or an ester thereof with the application of heating by microwave energy. Sufficient microwave heating is provided to esterify the polyol with the carboxylic acids, while removing as steam the water by-product which is generated during the reaction. The polyesters so-produced are resistant to high temperatures and solvents, and may by cured and/or molded.

Abstract: The present invention relates to polycarbonates comprising imide-containing aryl mono- or dihydroxy compounds as chain terminators and, respectively, monomer units, and also to compositions comprising the said polycarbonates, to their use for the production of mouldings, and to mouldings obtainable therefrom.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for producing a liquid-crystalline polyester, the method comprising: a step of melt-polymerizing raw monomers in a melt polymerization vessel to obtain a polymer melt; a step of drawing the polymer melt from the melt polymerization vessel and granulating the polymer melt to obtain a granulate; a step of allowing the granulate to undergo solid phase polymerization in a solid phase polymerization vessel to obtain a solid phase polymer; and a step of making an impact on the solid phase polymerization vessel containing the solid phase polymer, and taking out the solid phase polymer from the solid phase polymerization vessel.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for producing a devolatilized polyolefin, wherein the method comprises a step that involves providing a twin screw extruder comprising a resin feeding port, a first molten resin kneading zone, a molten resin partially filled zone which is prevented from being fully filled with molten resin, a second molten resin kneading zone, and a devolatilization zone that are disposed in order from the upstream of a cylinder of the extruder, feeding a polyolefin through the resin feeding port, and feeding water to the molten resin partially filled zone in an amount of 0.01 to 50 parts by weight relative to 100 parts by weight of the polyolefin.

Abstract: A polycarbonate resin having at least one terminal group which is represented by formula (1), and a resin composition and an optical material comprising the polycarbonate resin are disclosed. In the formula, R1-R9 each independently represent a hydrogen atom, halogen atom or an alkyl group. X1 represents a direct bond or alkylene group.

Abstract: Provided is a thermoplastic resin which (A) remarkably improves thermal conductivity of a resin composition when a thermally conductive filler is added and (B) can be injection-molded even by use of a general injection-molding die. The thermoplastic resin is a resin wherein: a main chain which mainly has a specific repeating unit; and 60 mol % or more ends of molecular chains are carboxyl groups.

Abstract: The present invention relates to dephenolic compounds, an example of which is shown below, which are functionalized, and polymers formed from the same. Polymers formed from the functionalized diphenolics are expected to have controllable degradation profiles, enabling them to release an active component over a desired time range. The polymers are also expected to be useful in a variety of medical applications.

Abstract: Provided is a thermoplastic resin having excellent thermal conductivity, in which thermoplastic resin a change in number average molecular mass caused by progress of polymerization occurring when the thermoplastic resin material is melted and a change in thermal conductivity caused by the change in number average molecular mass are low. The thermoplastic resin has (A) a specific structure and (B) ends of molecular chains sealed by a monofunctional low molecular weight compound. The resin itself has excellent thermal conductivity. The change in number average molecular mass becomes small during melting of the thermoplastic resin material, so that the change in thermal conductivity of the resin itself becomes small.

Abstract: There is provided a polyester resin for a toner, including: a polycondensate of a polyvalent carboxylic acid component and a polyhydric alcoholic component, wherein the polyhydric alcoholic component contains a rosin diol represented by the following Formula (1) and a content of the rosin diol is 80 mole % to 100 mole % based on the total polyhydric alcoholic component. wherein, each of R1 and R2 independently represents a hydrogen atom or a methyl group; L1 represents a divalent linking group having the following Formula (I); each of L2 and L3 independently represents a divalent linking group selected from the group consisting of carbonyl groups, carboxyl groups, ether groups, sulfonyl groups, substituted or unsubstituted chained alkylene groups, substituted or unsubstituted cyclic alkylene groups, substituted or unsubstituted arylene groups, and combinations thereof; and each of A1 and A2 independently represents a rosin ester group.

Abstract: The present invention provides a resin composition containing a liquid crystalline polyester and a high dielectric material filler. The present invention also provides a molded article of the liquid crystalline polyester resin composition. The liquid crystalline polyester resin composition of the present invention comprises 50 to 80% by volume of a liquid crystalline polyester which has 40% by mol or more of a 2,6-naphthalenediyl group as an aromatic group, also has a flow initiation temperature of 280° C. or higher, and shows a melt tension of 1 g or more measured at a temperature higher than flow initiation temperature; and 20 to 50% by volume of a high dielectric material filler. The liquid crystalline polyester resin composition can be formed into composition pellets easily and stably by a strand method, and a molded article obtained from the liquid crystalline polyester resin composition is excellent in flexural strength and dielectric characteristics.

Abstract: An optical film comprising a copolycarbonate composed of 25 to 90 mol % of unit (A) of the following formula, and 10 to 75 mol % of unit (B) of the following formula, wherein the substituents are defined herein, and the optical film satisfies the following expression (1), R(450)<R(550)<R(650) (1), wherein R(450), R(550) and R(650) are in-plane retardation values of the film at wavelengths of 450 nm, 550 nm and 650 nm. The optical film exhibits a desired chromatic dispersion, low photoelasticity and excellent melt processability.

Abstract: Disclosed are polymers derived from units of bisphenol compounds, such as tetramethylcyclobutane diol-bisphenol, and processes for making and using them.

Abstract: Processes for making polyesters in a polyester production facility are disclosed, that include the steps of: forming a reaction medium comprising at least one monomer that includes terephthalic acid (TPA) and/or an ester derivative of TPA; subjecting at least a portion of the reaction medium to one or more chemical reactions in the polyester production facility to thereby produce the polyester; heating at least a portion of the reaction medium via indirect heat exchange with high-pressure steam, wherein the heating causes at least a portion of the high-pressure steam to condense and thereby provide pressurized condensed water; flashing at least a portion of the pressurized condensed water to thereby produce lower-pressure steam; and heating one or more process fluid streams of the polyester production facility via indirect heat exchange with at least a portion of the lower-pressure steam, wherein the process fluid streams include any stream that is formed predominately of the reaction medium and/or the at lea

Abstract: Provided herein are isosorbide-based bisphenol polymer structural units and methods of making the same. These structural units may be polymerized with one or more other types of structural units to form polymers, such as polycarbonates.

Abstract: Integrated processes for making polyesters are disclosed, that include the steps of: (a) producing an aromatic polycarboxylic acid in a monomer production facility; (b) producing a polyester in a polyester production facility, wherein the producing of the polyester comprises the substeps of: (i) forming a polyester reaction medium comprising at least a portion of the aromatic polycarboxylic acid from the monomer production facility, (ii) subjecting at least a portion of the polyester reaction medium to one or more chemical reactions to thereby produce the polyester, (iii) heating the polyester reaction medium at one or more locations in the polyester production facility via indirect heat exchange with high-pressure steam, wherein the heating causes at least a portion of the high-pressure steam to condense and thereby provide pressurized condensed water, and (iv) flashing at least a portion of the pressurized condensed water to thereby produce lower-pressure steam; and (c) using at least a portion of the lower

Abstract: The present invention is directed to polyarylates comprising repeating units having the structure: as well as their preparation and use as cell growth substrates.

Abstract: A polyester resin having excellent dimensional stability against environmental changes and excellent dimensional stability in the processing step while having excellent moldability and a biaxially oriented polyester film comprising the same. The polyester resin comprises a recurring unit represented by the following formula (A) and a recurring unit represented by the following formula (B) as the main constituents: —O—C(O)—R1—C(O)—O—R2—O—??(A) —O—C(O)—R3—C(O)—O—R2—O—??(B) (R? is a phenylene group or naphthalenediyl group, R2 is an alkylene group having 2 to 4 carbon atoms or cyclohexylene group, and R3 is 6,6?-(alkylenedioxy)di-2-naphthoic acid), wherein the content of the recurring unit (B) is not less than 5 mol % and less than 50 mol %, and the ratio of adjacent recurring units (A) and (B) is less than 0.9 based on a value obtained by doubling the product of the content of the recurring unit (A) and the content of the recurring unit (B).

Abstract: The application discloses a Titanium oxide composition and the application thereof. The mentioned Titanium oxide composition comprises Titanium co-precipitate(s), organic acid, diol, and water. According to this application, a catalyzed poly-esterification with said Titanium oxide composition is also disclosed. The mentioned polyesterification comprises a step of adding said Titanium oxide composition into at least one stage selected from slurry stage, esterification stage, and polycondensation stage.

Abstract: The invention provides polymers and methods for their use. Certain embodiments of the invention provide slow degrading microspheres for undelayed and sustained drug delivery.

Abstract: Multilayer articles comprising a coating layer comprising resorcinol arylate chain members bound to a support substrate via an optional intermediate tie layer. Adhesion between the layers of the multilayer article is enhanced by modifying at least a part of a surface of at least one of the layers in the multilayer article by a technique selected from at least one of: surface adhesive treatment, surface corona treatment, flame treatment, plasma surface treatment, vacuum deposition treatment, ionization radiation, chemical surface treatment, surface abrasion treatment, and surface texturing treating.

Abstract: The present invention provides a wholly aromatic liquid-crystalline polyester consisting of the repeating units represented by formulae (I), (II), (III) and (IV): wherein: the molar proportion of the repeating unit represented by formula (I) based on the total repeating units constituting the wholly aromatic liquid-crystalline polyester is 40-80 mol %; the molar ratio of the total amount of the repeating units represented by formulae (II) and (III) to the repeating unit represented by formula (IV) is from 90/100 to 100/90; the molar proportion of the repeating unit represented by formula (II) based on the total amount of the repeating units represented by formulae (II) and (III) is 80-99.9 mol%; and the two “—O—” attached to the benzene ring in formula (III) are positioned meta or para to each other and “Ar” in formula (IV) represents a bivalent aromatic group.

Abstract: A loose mixture formed of one or more solid inert materials and a hardenable resin dissolved in an organic solvent, in particular the remainder of the initial mix used for the manufacture of conglomerate stone sheets, is rendered inert by means of dielectric heating at a frequency of less than 300 MHz. A plant for implements a method where a loose mixture is formed of one or more solid inert materials and a hardenable resin dissolved in an organic solvent, in particular the remainder of the initial mix used for the manufacture of conglomerate stone sheets, is rendered inert by means of dielectric heating at a frequency of less than 300 MHz.

Abstract: Processes for making polyesters in a polyester production facility are disclosed, that include the steps of forming a reaction medium comprising at least one monomer that includes terephthalic acid (TPA) and/or an ester derivative of TPA; subjecting at least a portion of the reaction medium to one or more chemical reactions in the polymer production facility to thereby produce the polyester; and heating the reaction medium at one or more locations in the polyester production facility, wherein at least 50 percent of the total energy input employed for the heating of the reaction medium is provided by indirect heat exchange between the reaction medium and steam.

Abstract: The invention relates to an optical film containing aromatic polymer which shows high solubility to solvents, and methods for production thereof. Further, the invention also relates to an optical laminate, a polarizing plate, and an image display device each using the optical film. The optical film may be attained by using polyester with a specific structure. The polyester with a specific structure may be obtained by condensation polymerization of bisphenol compound(s) and dicarboxylic acid compound(s) with biphenyl structure, and preferably has no halogen atom in its chemical structure. The optical film of the invention advantageously has not only high solubility in solvents but also a high level of heat resistance and birefringence producing capability. When the content of the biphenyl structure is high, the optical film of the invention can also have large wavelength dispersion of birefringence.