Abstract: Provided are extrusion dies having entrance, orientation, merging (205), and exit (211) sections, which dies may be used to produce fibers having, e.g., oriented reinforcement materials (e.g., PTFE) dispersed within. The dies provide fibers having enhanced mechanical and processing properties. The orientation section comprises orientation channels (203) wherein a ratio of a cross-sectional area having of the channel inlet to a cross-sectional area of the channel outlet is between 2 and 45.

Abstract: Provided are extrusion dies having entrance, orientation, merging (205), and exit (211) sections, which dies may be used to produce fibers having, e.g., oriented reinforcement materials (e.g., PTFE) dispersed within. The dies provide fibers having enhanced mechanical and processing properties. The orientation section comprises orientation channels (203) wherein a ratio of a cross-sectional area having of the channel inlet to a cross-sectional area of the channel outlet is between 2 and 45.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods and compositions of thermoplastic compositions with antimicrobial properties. The resulting compositions, comprising one or more thermoplastic polymers, a zinc additive component, and an acid stabilizer component, can be used in the manufacture of articles requiring antimicrobial protection while still retaining the advantageous physical properties of thermoplastic compositions. This abstract is intended as a scanning tool for purposes of searching in the particular art and is not intended to be limiting of the present invention.

Abstract: Methods of forming nanocomposites comprising a polymer and metal nanoparticles are disclosed. The nanoparticles are disposed within a matrix of the polymer. In particular, the nanoparticles are formed in situ in an extruder. The methods comprise providing a reaction mixture comprising a polymer, a metal precursor, and a solvent and extruding the reaction mixture to form a polymer nanocomposite. The methods overcome nanoparticle dispersion issues arising from melt blending processes.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a polycarbonate comprising a terminal olefin group of the formula wherein R1 is a C1-C40 hydrocarbon that can be unsubstituted or substituted with a halogen, olefin, ether, ketone, or C4-C30 polyoxyalkylene functionality in which the alkylene groups contain 2 to 6 carbon atoms, R2 to R4 are each independently a hydrogen or a C1-C40 hydrocarbon that can be unsubstituted or substituted with a halogen, olefin, ether, ketone, or a C4-C30 polyoxyalkylene functionality in which the alkylene groups contain 2 to 6 carbon atoms, and optionally wherein any two of R1 to R4 together form a monocyclic, bicyclic, or tricyclic ring system optionally substituted with a heteroatom in each ring.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is an isosorbide-based polycarbonate polymer comprising: an isosorbide unit, an aliphatic unit derived from a C14-44 aliphatic diacid, C14-44 aliphatic diol, or combination of these; and a polysiloxane block.

Abstract: A method of increasing the branching and polydispersity of a polycarbonate includes the steps of: (a) including in the polycarbonate at least one species of an alkyl substituted monomer, and (b) treating the polycarbonate at an elevated temperature and for a sufficient time to increase the branching and polydispersity relative to an otherwise equivalent polycarbonate without alkyl substituents.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is an isosorbide-based polycarbonate polymer comprising: an isosorbide unit, an aliphatic unit derived from a C14-44 aliphatic diacid, C14-44 aliphatic diol, or combination of these; and a polysiloxane block.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods of producing high molecular weight polymer. A method of forming polycarbonate includes the step of combining in a reaction mixture a diaryl carbonate, a transesterification catalyst, an aliphatic dihydroxy compound, and a diacid compound in a reactor system. The temperature and pressure of the reactor system are adjusted to a first reactor setpoints and the reaction mixture is monitored to detect initiation of the exothermic oligomerization reaction. The reactor setpoint are adjusted to second reactor setpoints after detection of initiation of the exothermic oligomerization reaction. The reactor system is maintained at the second reactor setpoints to allow the reaction mixture to react to form an oligomer mixture.

Abstract: A method of making a polycarbonate is described. The method comprises melt reacting an ester-substituted diaryl carbonate and a multifunctional compound of the formula: in the presence of catalyst to form an oligomer comprising less than 2,000 ppm of an ester-linked terminal group, and melt polymerizing the oligomer to form a polycarbonate. Use of specific reaction conditions produces a polycarbonate having an Mw of greater than or equal to 25,000 g/mol as determined by gel-permeation chromatography relative to polystyrene standards. Polycarbonates comprising units derived from the multifunctional compound, including homopolycarbonates, aliphatic copolycarbonates further comprising units derived from an aromatic dihydroxy compound, and aliphatic polycarbonate-polyesters, are also disclosed, as are a thermoplastic composition and an article including the disclosed polycarbonates.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is an isosorbide-based polycarbonate polymer comprising: an isosorbide unit, an aliphatic unit derived from a C14-44 aliphatic diacid, C14-44 aliphatic diol, or combination of these; and optionally, an additional unit different from the isosorbide and aliphatic units, wherein the isosorbide unit, aliphatic unit, and additional unit are each carbonate, or a combination of carbonate and ester units. Also disclosed are a thermoplastic composition and an article comprising the isosorbide-based polycarbonate.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods of producing high molecular weight polymer. A method of forming polycarbonate includes the step of combining in a reaction mixture a diaryl carbonate, a transesterification catalyst, an aliphatic dihydroxy compound, and a diacid compound in a reactor system. The temperature and pressure of the reactor system are adjusted to a first reactor setpoints and the reaction mixture is monitored to detect initiation of the exothermic oligomerization reaction. The reactor setpoint are adjusted to second reactor setpoints after detection of initiation of the exothermic oligomerization reaction. The reactor system is maintained at the second reactor setpoints to allow the reaction mixture to react to form an oligomer mixture.

Abstract: A method of making a polycarbonate is described. The method comprises melt reacting an ester-substituted diaryl carbonate and a multifunctional compound of the formula: in the presence of catalyst to form an oligomer comprising less than 2,000 ppm of an ester-linked terminal group, and melt polymerizing the oligomer to form a polycarbonate. Use of specific reaction conditions produces a polycarbonate having an Mw of greater than or equal to 25,000 g/mol as determined by gel-permeation chromatography relative to polystyrene standards. Polycarbonates comprising units derived from the multifunctional compound, including homopolycarbonates, aliphatic copolycarbonates further comprising units derived from an aromatic dihydroxy compound, and aliphatic polycarbonate-polyesters, are also disclosed, as are a thermoplastic composition and an article including the disclosed polycarbonates.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is an isosorbide-based polycarbonate polymer comprising: an isosorbide unit, an aliphatic unit derived from a C14-44 aliphatic diacid, C14-44 aliphatic diol, or combination of these; and optionally, an additional unit different from the isosorbide and aliphatic units, wherein the isosorbide unit, aliphatic unit, and additional unit are each carbonate, or a combination of carbonate and ester units. Also disclosed are a thermoplastic composition and an article comprising the isosorbide-based polycarbonate.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a polycarbonate comprising a terminal olefin group of the formula wherein R1 is a C1-C40 hydrocarbon that can be unsubstituted or substituted with a halogen, olefin, ether, ketone, or C4-C30 polyoxyalkylene functionality in which the alkylene groups contain 2 to 6 carbon atoms, R2 to R4 are each independently a hydrogen or a C1-C40 hydrocarbon that can be unsubstituted or substituted with a halogen, olefin, ether, ketone, or a C4-C30 polyoxyalkylene functionality in which the alkylene groups contain 2 to 6 carbon atoms, and optionally wherein any two of R1 to R4 together form a monocyclic, bicyclic, or tricyclic ring system optionally substituted with a heteroatom in each ring.

Abstract: Polycarbonate is prepared by reactive extrusion on a reactive extruder. A method incorporates the steps of introducing a polycarbonate oligomer, an activated carbonate, and a transesterification catalyst to the extruder through a feed section. The extruder has a feed section, a polycarbonate exit section, and a reaction section between the feed section and the polycarbonate exit section. The reaction section has one or more devolatilization units, wherein each devolatilization unit incorporates an array of vent-conveying sections and conveying sections arranged in a configuration of: (C V C)x(V)n, and/or (V C V)x(C)n. (V) is a vent-conveying section, (C) is a conveying section, x is 1 or more, and n is 1 or 0. The extruder screw in the vent-conveying sections and the conveying sections in each devolatilization unit have conveying elements or conveying elements and mixing elements and no elements that create a melt seal in the devolatilization unit.

Abstract: Polycarbonate is prepared by reactive extrusion on a reactive extruder. A method incorporates the steps of introducing a polycarbonate oligomer, an activated carbonate residue, and a transesterification catalyst to the extruder through a feed section. The extruder has the feed section, a polycarbonate exit section, and a reaction section between the feed section and the polycarbonate exit section. The reaction section is made up of at least one conveying section, kneading sections, and venting sections. The configuration of the reaction section requires that at least one venting section be disposed between each pair of kneading sections, and that the kneading sections and venting sections are selected such that the number of venting sections minus the number of kneading sections is greater than or equal to one. The method further contains the step of extruding the reaction components at a temperature in a range between 100° C. and 500° C.

Abstract: A method of increasing the branching and polydispersity of a polycarbonate includes the steps of: (a) including in the polycarbonate at least one species of an alkyl substituted monomer, and (b) treating the polycarbonate at an elevated temperature and for a sufficient time to increase the branching and polydispersity relative to an otherwise equivalent polycarbonate without alkyl substituents.

Abstract: Polycarbonate is prepared by reactive extrusion on a reactive extruder. A method incorporates the steps of introducing a polycarbonate oligomer, an activated carbonate, and a transesterification catalyst to the extruder through a feed section. The extruder has a feed section, a polycarbonate exit section, and a reaction section between the feed section and the polycarbonate exit section. The reaction section has one or more devolatilization units, wherein each devolatilization unit incorporates an array of vent-conveying sections and conveying sections arranged in a configuration of: (C V C)x(V)n, and/or (V C V)x(C)n. (V) is a vent-conveying section, (C) is a conveying section, x is 1 or more, and n is 1 or 0. The extruder screw in the vent-conveying sections and the conveying sections in each devolatilization unit have conveying elements or conveying elements and mixing elements and no elements that create a melt seal in the devolatilization unit.

Abstract: Polycarbonate is prepared by reactive extrusion on a reactive extruder. A method incorporates the steps of introducing a polycarbonate oligomer, an activated carbonate residue, and a transesterification catalyst to the extruder through a feed section. The extruder has the feed section, a polycarbonate exit section, and a reaction section between the feed section and the polycarbonate exit section. The reaction section is made up of at least one conveying section, kneading sections, and venting sections. The configuration of the reaction section requires that at least one venting section be disposed between each pair of kneading sections, and that the kneading sections and venting sections are selected such that the number of venting sections minus the number of kneading sections is greater than or equal to one. The method further contains the step of extruding the reaction components at a temperature in a range between 100° C. and 500° C.