Abstract: This invention is an improvement upon the known process for polymerization of polytrimethylene terephthalate by esterification of terephthalic acid or dimethyl terephthalate with 1,3-propane diol, precondensation of the esterification product to produce a precondensation product, and polycondensation of the precondensation product to produce polytrimethylene terephthalate and, optionally, solid stating of this product to produce higher intrinsic viscosity polytrimethylene terephthalate. The cyclic dimer of terephthalic acid and 1,3-propane diol is produced as a byproduct of the above process and the improvement comprises (a) recovering the cyclic dimer from the polymerization, (b) reacting from 0.5 to 25 percent by weight of the cyclic dimer in 1,3-propane diol in the presence of from 0.1 to 10 percent by weight of the cyclic dimer of a basic catalyst for five minutes to 24 hours at 50 to 210° C.

Abstract: According to the invention, a polytrimethylene terephthalate is provided having 0.6 to less than 2 mole percent dipropylene glycol. Such compositions have a reduced tendency to generate acrolein when heated in air. These PTT polymer compositions exhibit improved and enhanced dyeability as compared to conventional PTT made by the DMT process and the TPA polycondensation/solid state polymerization processes.

Abstract: This invention is an improvement upon the known process for polymerization of PTT by esterification of TPA or DMT with PDO, precondensation of the esterification product to produce a precondensation product, and polycondensation of the precondensation product to produce PTT and, optionally, solid stating of this product to produce higher intrinsic viscosity PTT.

Abstract: According to the invention, a polytrimethylene terephthalate is provided having 0.6 to less than 2 mole percent dipropylene glycol. Such compositions have a reduced tendency to generate acrolein when heated in air. These PTT polymer compositions exhibit improved and enhanced dyeability as compared to conventional PTT made by the DMT process and the TPA polycondensation/solid state polymerization processes.

Abstract: A process for preparing polytrimethylene terephthalate in which a carbonyl-containing 1,3-propanediol stream is purified for reuse of the 1,3-propanediol. The process involves reacting, under condensation polymerization conditions, terephthalic acid and a molar excess of 1,3-propanediol, with vacuum distillation and condensation of a major portion of the unreacted 1,3-propanediol. To this condensed stream is added a sufficient amount of base to raise the pH to a value greater than 7, and from this base-containing condensate the 1,3-propanediol is distilled and recycled to the polymerization reaction.