Abstract: Polycarbonates containing low or undetectable levels of Fries rearrangement products and comprising repeat units derived from one or more of resorcinol, hydroquinone, methylhydroquinone, bisphenol A, and 4,4?-biphenol have been prepared by the melt reaction of one or more of the aforementioned dihydroxy aromatic compounds with an ester-substituted diaryl carbonate such as bis-methyl salicyl carbonate. Low, or in many instances undetectable, levels of Fries rearrangement products are found in the product polycarbonates obtained as the combined result of a highly effective catalyst system which suppresses the Fries reaction and the use of lower melt polymerization temperatures relative to temperatures required for the analogous polymerization reactions using diphenyl carbonate.

Abstract: A new silicone condensation reaction, the condensation between an alkoxy silane or siloxane and an organo-hydrosilane or siloxane and catalysts therefore is described and claimed.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing an embossed surface including a polymer composition having reactive moieties and a first glass transition temperature of Tg1. The method includes embossing the surface at temperature Temb; and raising the first glass transition temperature Tg1 of the embossed polymeric surface to a second glass transition temperature Tg2 such that Tg2>Temb. In another embodiment, a method for improving the release of a polymeric surface from an embossing tool includes incorporating of one or more of fluorine atoms, silicon atoms, or siloxane segments into the backbone of the polymer. The methods are particularly suited for direct patterning of photoresists, fabrication of interdigitated electrodes, and fabrication of data storage media.

Abstract: High yields of ester-substituted diary carbonates such as bis-methyl salicyl carbonate were obtained by the condensation of ester-substituted phenols with phosgene in the presence of a phase transfer catalyst (PTC) and optionally a tertiary amine catalyst in a solvent free reaction system comprising an aqueous phase held at a pH of 8.3 or higher. The optimized conditions of the present invention use an excess of ester-substituted phenol relative to phosgene and high conversion of phosgene to ester-substituted diaryl carbonate is observed. The product ester-substituted diaryl carbonate may be conveniently isolated as a solid by filtration or as a liquid in which the excess ester-substituted phenols serves as solvent. The method represents an attractive route for the manufacture of bis methyl salicyl carbonate and ester-substituted diaryl carbonates generally. The ester-substituted diaryl carbonates are useful for the preparation and modification of polycarbonates.

Abstract: Polycarbonates containing low or undetectable levels of Fries rearrangement products and comprising repeat units derived from one or more of resorcinol, hydroquinone, methylhydroquinone, bisphenol A, and 4,4?-biphenol have been prepared by the melt reaction of one or more of the aforementioned dihydroxy aromatic compounds with an ester-substituted diaryl carbonate such as bis-methyl salicyl carbonate. Low, or in many instances undetectable, levels of Fries rearrangement products are found in the product polycarbonates obtained as the combined result of a highly effective catalyst system which suppresses the Fries reaction and the use of lower melt polymerization temperatures relative to temperatures required for the analogous polymerization reactions using diphenyl carbonate.

Abstract: In one aspect the present invention provides a storage medium for data, the storage medium comprising: a) a substrate, a physical portion of which comprises at least one polyimide, and b) at least one data layer on the substrate. The substrate comprising a polyimide exhibits low axial displacement and beneficial damping characteristics.

Abstract: A process for the production of polycarbonate having increased end-cap levels, the process comprising adding a terminal blocking agent of the formula: 1

Abstract: A new silicone condensation reaction, the condensation between an alkoxy silane or siloxane and an organo-hydrosilane or siloxane and catalysts therefore is described and claimed.

Abstract: A process for the production of polycarbonate by melt-polycondensing an aromatic dihydroxy compound and diphenylcarbonate, the process comprising adding the to polycarbonate under melt conditions a compound of the formula (1): wherein R1 and R3 may be the same or different and are selected from the group consisting of alkoxy, phenoxy, benzoxy, aryloxy, phenyl and aryl groups, R2 is selected from the group consisting of alkyl, phenyl, aryl, or aralkyl groups.

Abstract: A polycarbonate is provided which contains residues of a dihydric phenol, at least one comonomer of a siloxane functional bisphenol, optionally, a branching agent and optionally, a flame retardant. Further embodiments of the present invention includes a method for producing a flame retardant polycarbonate.

Abstract: A process for preparing an end-capped polycarbonate comprises melt reacting an aromatic dihydroxy compound, a carbonic acid diester, and optionally a catalyst in a prepolymerization vessel to form a polycarbonate product; transferring the polycarbonate product from the prepolymerization vessel; mixing the polycarbonate product with an end-capping agent under hermetic seal at a pressure of at least about 760 mm Hg; and transferring the polycarbonate product and end-capping agent mixture to a postpolymerization vessel to endcap the polycarbonate product.

Abstract: Polycarbonates containing low or undetectable levels of Fries rearrangement products and comprising repeat units derived from one or more of resorcinol, hydroquinone, methylhydroquinone, bisphenol A, and 4,4′-biphenol have been prepared by the melt reaction of one or more of the aforementioned dihydroxy aromatic compounds with an ester-substituted diaryl carbonate such as bis-methyl salicyl carbonate. Low, or in many instances undetectable, levels of Fries rearrangement products are found in the product polycarbonates obtained as the combined result of a highly effective catalyst system which suppresses the Fries reaction and the use of lower melt polymerization temperatures relative to temperatures required for the analogous polymerization reactions using diphenyl carbonate.

Abstract: Polycarbonate resin containing reduced levels of reaction by-products can be prepared by adding to the polycarbonate a scavenging agent having the formula: wherein R1 is alkoxy, phenoxy, benzyloxy or phenyl, and R2 is a substituted or unsubstituted C1-C30 alkyl group, C6-C30 aryl group, C7-C30 aralkyl group or C6-C30 aryloxy group and processing the resulting mixture at an elevated temperature and for a period of time such that the scavenging agent reacts with linear Fries products to produce capped linear Fries products, and with residual phenols (monohydric or dihydric) to produce capped phenols and ortho-substituted phenols.

Abstract: A polycarbonate is provided which contains residues of a dihydric phenol, at least one comonomer of a siloxane functional bisphenol, optionally, a branching agent and optionally, a flame retardant. Further embodiments of the present invention includes a method for producing a flame retardant polycarbonate.

Abstract: Polycarbonate resin containing reduced levels of reaction by-products can be prepared by adding to the polycarbonate a scavenging agent having the formula: 1

Abstract: A process for preparing an end-capped polycarbonate comprises melt reacting an aromatic dihydroxy compound, a carbonic acid diester, and optionally a catalyst in a prepolymerization vessel to form a polycarbonate product; transferring the polycarbonate product from the prepolymerization vessel; mixing the polycarbonate product with an end-capping agent under hermetic seal at a pressure of at least about 760 mm Hg; and transferring the polycarbonate product and end-capping agent mixture to a postpolymerization vessel to endcap the polycarbonate product.

Abstract: In various embodiments the present invention comprises 2,4,6-trisubstituted-1,3,5-triazine capping agents comprising one, two, or three leaving groups as substituents with any remaining substituents being essentially inert to reaction with a nucleophilic group on a polymer or monomer, or reactive with a nucleophilic group on a polymer or monomer at a slower rate than any leaving group. The invention also comprises polymers or monomers with nucleophilic groups capped with a triazine moiety. Still other embodiments of the invention comprise processes for capping nucleophilic groups in a polymer or monomer which comprises combining and reacting the polymer or monomer with a triazine-comprising capping agent.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing an embossed surface comprising a polymer with a first glass transition temperature Tg1 comprises embossing the surface a temperature Temb; and raising the first glass transition temperature Tg1 of the embossed polymeric surface to a second glass transition temperature Tg2 such that Tg2>Temb. In another embodiment, a method for improving the release of a polymeric surface from an embossing tool comprises incorporating of one or more of fluorine atoms, silicon atoms, or siloxane segments into the backbone of polymer. The methods are particular suited for direct patterning of photoresists, fabrication of interdigitated electrodes, and fabrication of data storage media.

Abstract: High yields of ester-substituted diary carbonates such as bis-methyl salicyl carbonate were obtained by the condensation of ester-substituted phenols with phosgene in the presence of a phase transfer catalyst (PTC) and optionally a tertiary amine catalyst in a solvent free reaction system comprising an aqueous phase held at a pH of 8.3 or higher. The optimized conditions of the present invention use an excess of ester-substituted phenol relative to phosgene and high conversion of phosgene to ester-substituted diaryl carbonate is observed. The product ester-substituted diaryl carbonate may be conveniently isolated as a solid by filtration or as a liquid in which the excess ester-substituted phenols serves as solvent. The method represents an attractive route for the manufacture of bis methyl salicyl carbonate and ester-substituted diaryl carbonates generally. The ester-substituted diaryl carbonates are useful for the preparation and modification of polycarbonates.

Abstract: A method for end-capping polycarbonate resins, comprising the step of processing a mixture comprising a polycarbonate having free hydroxyl-end groups and an end-capping reagent in a melt transesterification reaction to produce a polycarbonate resin, wherein the end-capping reagent comprises a mixture of:(a) at least one species of a symmetrical activated aromatic carbonate, and (b) at least one species of a symmetrical non-activated aromatic carbonate, whereby said end-capping reagent reacts with at least some of the free hydroxyl end-groups of the polycarbonate to produce an end-capped polycarbonate resin.