Abstract: A method for the manufacture of a metal salt of a hydroxy-substituted aromatic compound comprises: contacting a hydroxy-substituted aromatic compound with a base comprising a metal cation in molten diphenyl sulfone or sulfolane to provide a mixture comprising water, diphenyl sulfone or sulfolane, and a metal salt of the hydroxy-substituted aromatic compound; and removing water from the mixture in the absence of an azeotrope solvent to provide the metal salt of the hydroxy-substituted aromatic compound that contains less than 3,000 ppm of water.

Abstract: A method for the manufacture of a metal salt of a hydroxy-substituted aromatic compound comprises: contacting a hydroxy-substituted aromatic compound with a base comprising a metal cation in molten diphenyl sulfone or sulfolane to provide a mixture comprising water, diphenyl sulfone or sulfolane, and a metal salt of the hydroxy-substituted aromatic compound; and removing water from the mixture in the absence of an azeotrope solvent to provide the metal salt of the hydroxy-substituted aromatic compound that contains less than 3,000 ppm of water.

Abstract: A method for the manufacture of a polyetherimide composition includes catalyzing the reaction of a dianhydride and an organic diamine with a catalyst selected from guanadinium salts, pyridinium salts, imidazolium salts, tetra(C6-24)aryl ammonium salts, tetra(C7-24 arylalkylene) ammonium salts, dialkyl heterocycloaliphatic ammonium salts, bis-alkyl quaternary ammonium salts, (C7-24arylalkylene)(C1-16alkyl) phosphonium salts, (C6-24aryl)(C1-16alkyl)phosphonium salts, phosphazenium salts and combinations thereof, optionally in the presence of a solvent.

Abstract: A method of manufacture of a bis(phthalimide) composition includes reacting, in the presence of a solvent and a catalytically active amount of an imidization catalyst selected from quaternary ammonium salts, quaternary phosphonium salts, and combinations thereof, a substituted phthalic anhydride with an organic diamine, wherein conversion to the bis(phthalimide) is 99% complete in less than 6 hours.

Abstract: A method for the manufacture of a polyetherimide composition includes catalyzing the reaction of a dianhydride and an organic diamine with a catalyst selected from guanadinium salts, pyridinium salts, imidazolium salts, tetra(C6-24)aryl ammonium salts, tetra(C7-24 arylalkylene) ammonium salts, dialkyl heterocycloaliphatic ammonium salts, bis-alkyl quaternary ammonium salts, (C7-24arylalkylene)(C1-16alkyl) phosphonium salts, (C6-24aryl)(C1-16alkyl)phosphonium salts, phosphazenium salts and combinations thereof, optionally in the presence of a solvent.

Abstract: A method for the manufacture of a polyetherimide composition includes catalyzing the reaction of a dianhydride and an organic diamine with a catalyst selected from guanadinium salts, pyridinium salts, imidazolium salts, tetra(C6-24)aryl ammonium salts, tetra(C7-24 arylalkylene)ammonium salts, dialkyl heterocycloaliphatic ammonium salts, bis-alkyl quaternary ammonium salts, (C7-24arylalkylene)(C1-16alkyl)phosphonium salts, (C6-24aryl)(C1-16alkyl)phosphonium salts, phosphazenium salts and combinations thereof, optionally in the presence of a solvent.

Abstract: Bis(halophthalimides) are prepared in mixture in an organic liquid such as ortho-dichlorobenzene or anisole, by a reaction at a temperature of at least 150° C. between at least one diamine compound and at least one halophthalic anhydride in the presence of imidization catalyst. The reaction mixture is maintained at about 15% by weight solids content and rich in the halophthalic anhydride by constantly monitoring the reaction mixture using analytical methods such as high performance liquid chromatography. The product mixture may be directly employed in the direct preparation of polyetherimides, and similar slurries may be employed to prepare other polyether polymers.

Abstract: A polyetherimide having an OH content that is greater than 0 and equal or less than 100 ppm; and a chlorine content that is greater than 0 ppm is disclosed herein. A method for preparing the polyetherimide is also disclosed.

Abstract: High heat polyethersulfone compositions are provided which possess unexpectedly high glass transition temperatures. The polyethersulfone compositions comprise structural units derived from fluorenone bisphenols such as 9,9-bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)fluorene, and structural units derived from at least one biphenyl-bissulfone such as 4,4?-bis((4-chlorophenyl)sulfonyl)-1,1?-biphenyl. The novel polyethersulfone compositions may further comprise structural units derived from one or more biphenols such as 4,4?-biphenol, bisphenols such as BPA, or other electrophilic sulfone monomers, such as bis(4-chlorophenyl)sulfone. In one embodiment, the polyethersulfone composition of the present invention comprises structural groups derived exclusively from 9,9-bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)fluorene and 4,4?-bis((4-chlorophenyl)sulfonyl)-1,1?-biphenyl and exhibits a single glass transition of greater than 300° C.

Abstract: A polyetherimide having an OH content that is greater than 0 and equal or less than 100 ppm; a Relative Thermal Index that is greater than or equal to 170° C.; and a chlorine content that is greater than 0 ppm is disclosed herein. A method for preparing the polyetherimide is also disclosed.

Abstract: A cyanoresin polymer is described, wherein about 10 percent to about 60 percent of the side chains on the polymer include a cyano group; and substantially all of the remaining polymer side chains include a hydroxyl group. A method of forming such a cyanoresin polymer is described. A capacitor having a dielectric film including such a cyanoresin polymer is also presented.

Abstract: A polyetherimide having an OH content that is greater than 0 and equal or less than 100 ppm; a Relative Thermal Index that is greater than or equal to 170° C.; and a chlorine content that is greater than 0 ppm is disclosed herein. A method for preparing the polyetherimide is also disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for preparing relatively insoluble bisimides under conditions which afford high imidization reaction rates and which permit the monitoring and adjustment of reactant stoichiometry at any stage of the reaction. The bisimides provided by the present invention are prepared either by reaction of a diamine such as 4,4?-diaminodiphenylsulfone (DDS) with an anhydride, for example 3-chlorophthalic anhydride (3-ClPA) in the presence of a solvent at a pressure greater than one atmosphere and at a temperature above the normal boiling point of the solvent, or by reaction of a monoamine with a dianhydride under the same conditions. In one embodiment, the relatively insoluble product bisimides provided by the present invention have a solubility in ortho-dichlorobenzene of less than about 10 percent by weight at a temperature of about 180° C.

Abstract: In one embodiment, the present invention provides a method of making a polymer-organoclay composite composition comprising (a) contacting under condensation polymerization conditions a first monomer, a second monomer, a solvent, and an organoclay composition, said organoclay composition comprising alternating inorganic silicate layers and organic layers, to provide a first polymerization reaction mixture, wherein one of said first monomer and second monomers is a diamine and the other is an dianhydride; (b) carrying out a stoichiometry verification step on the first polymerization reaction mixture; (c) optionally adding additional reactant (monomer 1, monomer 2, or chainstopper) to the first polymerization reaction mixture to provide a second polymerization reaction mixture; and (d) removing solvent from the first polymerization reaction mixture or the second polymerization reaction mixture to provide a first polymer-organoclay composite composition comprising a polymer component and an organoclay component w

Abstract: This invention relates to organic salt compositions useful in the preparation of organoclay compositions, polymer-organoclay composite compositions, and methods for the preparation of polymer nanocomposites. In one embodiment, the present invention provides an organoclay composition comprising alternating inorganic silicate layers and organic layers, said organic layers comprising a quaternary phosphonium cation having structure X wherein Ar1, Ar2, and Ar3 are independently C2-C50 aromatic radicals; Ar4 is a bond or a C2-C50 aromatic radical; “a” is a number from 1 to about 200; “c” is a number from 0 to 3; R1 is independently at each occurrence a halogen atom, a C1-C20 aliphatic radical, a C5-C20 cycloaliphatic radical, or a C2-C20 aromatic radical; and R2 is a halogen atom, a C1-C20 aliphatic radical, a C5-C20 cycloaliphatic radical, a C2-C50 aromatic radical, or a polymer chain.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for removing a neutral or an ionic guanidine compound from aqueous media optionally comprising an alkali metal halide, wherein the method is selected from the group consisting of (a) adsorption onto a carbonaceous adsorbent, (b) adsorption onto a clay adsorbent, (c) filtration through a nanofiltration membrane, and (d) removal of water and calcination.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method comprising: (a) adding an aqueous solution comprising a quaternary ammonium salt to an organic solvent in a vessel under an inert atmosphere, thereby forming a first mixture comprising the quaternary ammonium salt and the solvent; and (b) mixing the first mixture at a temperature and for a time sufficient to remove water and a portion of the solvent from the first mixture, wherein the mixing is performed in an inert atmosphere and the temperature is less than the decomposition temperature of the quaternary ammonium salt.

Abstract: Polyether polymers, such as polyetherimides, are prepared by the reaction of a dihydroxy-substituted aromatic hydrocarbon alkali metal salt, such as bisphenol A disodium salt, with a bis(N-(chlorophthalimido))aromatic compound, such as 1,3- and/or 1,4-bis(N-(4-chlorophthalimido))benzene, in a solvent such as o-dichlorobenzene and in the presence of a phase transfer catalyst such as a hexaalkylguanidinium chloride. Several embodiments may be employed to improve the method. They comprise employing substantially dry reagents, employing a high solids level in solvent, beginning with an excess of bis(N-(chlorophthalimido))-aromatic compound and incrementally adding alkali metal salt, employing alkali metal salt of small particle size, and using reagents of high purity.

Abstract: A method for controlling haze in an article comprising a polymer composition, said method comprising providing a polymer composition comprising less than 25 parts per million alkali metal halide; and fabricating an article from said polymer composition.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method comprising: (a) adding an aqueous solution comprising a quaternary ammonium salt to an organic solvent in a vessel under an inert atmosphere, thereby forming a first mixture comprising the quaternary ammonium salt and the solvent; and (b) mixing the first mixture at a temperature and for a time sufficient to remove water and a portion of the solvent from the first mixture, wherein the mixing is performed in an inert atmosphere and the temperature is less than the decomposition temperature of the quaternary ammonium salt.