Abstract: A computer (10) of a material supply company calculates a sales price of a material according to a state of production of a product, which is produced using a material supplied from the material supply company, and informs a computer (30) of a result of the calculation. The state of production of the product is measured by a measurement apparatus (32), and a result of the measurement is sent to the computer (10).

Abstract: A computer (10) of a material supply company calculates a sales price of a material according to a state of production of a product, which is produced using a material supplied from the material supply company, and informs a computer (30) of a result of the calculation. The state of production of the product is measured by a measurement apparatus (32), and a result of the measurement is sent to the computer (10).

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for producing an aromatic polycarbonate, comprising: feeding, into a polymerizer apparatus, at least one polymerizable material selected from the group consisting of a molten monomer mixture of an aromatic dihydroxy compound and a diaryl carbonate, and a molten prepolymer obtained by a process comprising reacting an aromatic dihydroxy compound with a diaryl carbonate, the polymerizer apparatus including a guide-wetting fall polymerization reaction zone which has at least one guide securely held therein and extending downwardly therethrough, and allowing the polymerizable material to fall along and in contact with the at least one guide through the guide-wetting fall polymerization reaction zone, to effect a guide-wetting fall polymerization of the polymerizable material, thereby obtaining a polymer, wherein the guide is a perforated wall-surface guide. Also disclosed is a polymerizer apparatus for practicing the above-mentioned method.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for producing an aromatic polycarbonate, which comprises treating a molten aromatic polycarbonate prepolymer (obtained by reacting an aromatic dihydroxy compound with a diaryl carbonate) with an inert gas under a predetermined pressure to thereby cause the molten prepolymer to absorb the inert gas, and subjecting the resultant molten prepolymer having the inert gas absorbed therein to polymerization, under a pressure lower than the above-mentioned predetermined pressure employed for the inert gas absorption, to thereby polymerize the prepolymer to a predetermined degree of polymerization. By the method of the present invention, a high quality aromatic polycarbonate which is colorless and has excellent mechanical properties can be produced at high polymerization rate even without using a large amount of an inert gas.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for producing an aromatic polycarbonate, which comprises reacting acetone with a phenol material, thereby producing bisphenol A, and polymerizing the resultant bisphenol A with diphenyl carbonate to produce an aromatic polycarbonate while producing phenol as a by-product, wherein the by-product phenol is recovered as a crude phenol product containing the by-product phenol as a main component and containing impurities, and the crude phenol product is used as at least a part of the phenol material for producing bisphenol A. According to the method of the present invention, a crude phenol product as such, containing, as a main component, a by-product phenol which is by-produced during the polymerization reaction for producing an aromatic polycarbonate, and containing impurities, can be utilized for producing an aromatic polycarbonate, without any purification or the like.

Abstract: Disclosed is a system for producing a polycondensation polymer comprising (A) an inert gas absorption device for causing a molten polycondensation prepolymer to absorb an inert gas to thereby obtain (&agr;) a molten prepolymer having the inert gas absorbed therein, (B) a polymerizer device for polymerizing inert gas-absorbed molten prepolymer (&agr;) under reduced pressure, and (C) a pipe for transferring inert gas-absorbed molten prepolymer (&agr;) from absorption device (A) to polymerizer device (B), wherein absorption device (A) and polymerizer device (B) are arranged in this order and connected to each other through pipe (C). Also disclosed is a method for producing a polycondensation polymer by using the above-mentioned system. By the use of the system or method of the present invention, it has become possible to produce a colorless, high quality polycondensation polymer at high polymerization rate even without using a large amount of an inert gas.

Abstract: A process for producing aromatic carbonates, which comprises transesterifying, in the presence of a metal-containing catalyst, a starting material selected from a dialkyl carbonate, an alkyl aryl carbonate and a mixture thereof with a reactant selected from an aromatic monohydroxy compound, an alkyl aryl carbonate and a mixture thereof, characterized in that: at least one type of catalyst-containing liquid is taken out, wherein the catalyst-containing liquid is selected from a portion of a high boiling point reaction mixture obtained by the above transesterification and containing the desired aromatic carbonate and the metal-containing catalyst, and a portion of a liquid catalyst fraction obtained by separating the desired aromatic carbonate from the high boiling point reaction mixture, wherein each portion contains (A) high boiling point substance having a boiling point higher than the boiling point of the produced aromatic carbonate and (B) the metal-containing catalyst; (C) a functional substance capable o

Abstract: Disclosed is an aromatic polycarbonate composition which is substantially the same as that produced by a method comprising: (1) subjecting to a transesterification reaction in a polymerizer at least one polymerizable material selected from a molten monomer mixture of an aromatic dihydroxy compound and a diaryl carbonate, and a molten prepolymer obtained by reacting an aromatic dihydroxy compound with a diaryl carbonate, wherein the polymerizable material is present in the form of a liquid mass in the polymerizer, and wherein the reaction of the liquid mass of polymerizable material is performed under conditions such that the following formula is satisfied: log (S/V).gtoreq.2.times.10.sup.-5 .times.Mn+0.8, wherein S represents an evaporation surface area (m.sup.2) defined as the area (m.sup.2) of an exposed surface of the liquid mass of polymerizable material; V represents the volume (m.sup.

Abstract: A method for producing an aromatic polycarbonate which comprises subjecting to a transesterification polymerization reaction at least one polymerizable material selected from a molten monomer mixture of an aromatic dihydroxy compound and a diaryl carbonate, and a molten prepolymer obtained from the monomer mixture, wherein the transesterification reaction is performed in one or more polymerizers which is or are connected through a pipeline system toward an outlet for a final aromatic polycarbonate product, wherein the pipeline system comprises one or more pipes through which a molten aromatic polycarbonate having a number average molecular weight increased by the transesterification polymerization reaction is passed while contacting an inner wall of the pipe or pipes, and wherein a molten aromatic polycarbonate having a number average molecular weight of less than 2,500 is passed through the pipe or pipes at a velocity of 0.05 m/sec.

Abstract: A method for producing an aromatic polycarbonate, which comprises subjecting to a transesterification polymerization reaction at least one polymerizable material for an aromatic polycarbonate. The transesterification polymerization reaction is performed in one or more polymerizers which is or are connected through a pipeline system. The pipeline system comprises one or more pipes through which a molten aromatic polycarbonate having a number average molecular weight increased by the transesterification polymerization reaction is passed while contacting an inner wall of the pipe or pipes. The pipeline system has at least one viscous polycarbonate passage region in which a molten aromatic polycarbonate having a number average molecular weight of 4,000 or more is passed through the pipe. The pipes in the viscous polycarbonate passage region of the pipeline system have no bent portion or not more than 50 bent portions in total.

Abstract: Disclosed is a polycarbonate comprising a plurality of aromatic polycarbonate main chains, wherein the aromatic polycarbonate main chains collectively contain specific heterounits in a specific amount in the polycarbonate main chains. The polycarbonate of the present invention can be obtained by controlling the temperature of and the residence time of the polymerizable material in the reaction zones of the reaction system so as to satisfy the specific requirements. The polycarbonate of the present invention is advantageous in that not only does it have high transparency and colorlessness as well as high mechanical strength, but also it can exhibit high non-Newtonian flow properties, so that it exhibits high molding melt fluidity. Therefore, the polycarbonate of the present invention is extremely advantageous from a commercial point of view.

Abstract: Disclosed is a thermally stable aromatic polycarbonate composition comprising an aromatic polycarbonate, which is substantially free of a chlorine-containing compound, and a thermal stabilizer, the aromatic polycarbonate comprising a plurality of aromatic polycarbonate chains, each comprising recurring aromatic carbonate units and having a terminal aryl carbonate group and a terminal hydroxyl group, wherein each recurring unit has a divalent aromatic or pyridylene group comprising one or more divalent constituent aromatic or pyridylene groups, and wherein the plurality of aromatic polycarbonate chains collectively contain at least one constituent aromatic or pyridylene group substituted with at least one methyl group in an amount of 0.0001 or less in terms of the molar ratio of the methyl group substituted constituent group or groups relative to all constituent groups in the aromatic polycarbonate chains.

Abstract: A method for producing an aromatic polycarbonate which comprises subjecting to a transesterification polymerization reaction at least one polymerizable material for an aromatic polycarbonate, the transesterification reaction being performed in one or more polymerizers which is or are connected through a pipeline system toward an outlet for a final aromatic polycarbonate product, wherein the pipeline system comprises one or more pipes, through which a molten aromatic polycarbonate having a number average molecular weight increased by the transesterification polymerization reaction is passed while contacting an inner wall of the pipe or pipes, the pipeline system having at least one viscous polycarbonate passage region in which a molten aromatic polycarbonate having a number average molecular weight of 6,000 or more is passed through the pipe, wherein the pipe in the at least one viscous polycarbonate passage region is heated to provide a temperature difference in the range of from -3.degree. C. to 50.degree.

Abstract: Disclosed is a process for producing an aromatic carbonate which comprises transesterifying, in the presence of a metal-containing catalyst, a starting material selected from the group consisting of a dialkyl carbonate, an alkyl aryl carbonate and a mixture thereof with a reactant selected from the group consisting of an aromatic monohydroxy compound, an alkyl aryl carbonate and a mixture thereof, wherein the transesterification is conducted while maintaining a weight ratio (WR) of at least one aromatic group-containing substance selected from the group consisting of a specific aromatic polyhydroxy compound and a residue thereof to the metal of the metal-containing catalyst at 2.0 or less, wherein the weight ratio (WR) is measured with respect to a catalyst-containing liquid-phase mixture in a system for the transesterification, and wherein the aromatic group-containing substance originates from the starting material, the reactant and/or a by-product of the transesterification.

Abstract: A polycarbonate composition comprises (a) a substantially chlorine-atom free, aromatic dihydroxy compound/carbonic diester transesterification polycarbonate, and the following components (b), (c) and (d) in specifically, extremely limited amounts, wherein component (b) is at least one metal selected from an alkali metal and an alkaline earth metal, component (c) is an aromatic monohydroxy compound, and component (d) is at least one member selected from an oligomer having a weight average molecular weight of 1,000 or less and a residual monomer. This polycarbonate composition is substantially free from occurrence of crazing, even when it experiences moist heat, and especially even when it has been recycled.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for producing an aromatic polycarbonate which comprises subjecting to a transesterification reaction in a polymerizer at least one polymerizable material selected from a molten monomer mixture of an aromatic dihydroxy compound and a diaryl carbonate, and a molten prepolymer obtained from the monomer mixture, wherein a liquid mass of polymerizable material being transesterified in the polymerizer has an exposed surface, and wherein the transesterification reaction of the liquid mass of polymerizable material is performed under reaction conditions such that the following formula (1) is satisfied:log (S/V).gtoreq.2.times.10.sup.-5 .times.Mn+0.8 (1)wherein S represents an evaporation surface area (m.sup.2) which is defined as the area (m.sup.2) of the exposed surface of the liquid mass of polymerizable material; V represents the volume (m.sup.

Abstract: A method for producing a polycarbonate pellet which comprises subjecting a melt-extruded polycarbonate to a cooling step and a cutting step, the steps being carried out in either order or simultaneously, and wherein the cooling step is performed by contacting the polycarbonate with a cooling water having an electric conductivity of 1 mS/cm or less as measured at 25.degree. C.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for producing an aromatic polycarbonate, which comprises: reacting a feedstock dialkyl carbonate with a feedstock phenol in the presence of a catalyst to produce diphenyl carbonate, wherein a phenol mixture comprising component phenols which are different in supply source is used as the feedstock phenol, and polymerizing the produced diphenyl carbonate with an aromatic dihydroxy compound to produce an aromatic polycarbonate while producing phenol as a by-product, wherein the by-product phenol obtained in the production of the aromatic polycarbonate is used as a component phenol of the feedstock phenol mixture for producing diphenyl carbonate, and wherein the content of the by-product phenol in the feedstock phenol mixture is controlled to a level in the range of from 70 to 99% by weight. According to the method of the present invention, an aromatic polycarbonate having excellent melt stability at high temperatures can be stably produced.

Abstract: Disclosed is a polycarbonate composition comprising (a) an aromatic dihydroxy compound/carbonic diester transesterification polycarbonate having terminal hydroxyl groups in a proportion of at least 20 mole %, based on the molar total of all terminal groups of the polycarbonate, and (b) a phenolic antioxidant in an amount satisfying the following formula (1):20.times.10.sup.5 M.ltoreq.X.ltoreq.20.times.10.sup.5 M+2,100(1)wherein X represents the amount of said phenolic antioxidant (ppm by weight), based on the weight of said polycarbonate, and M represents the amount of said terminal hydroxyl groups (mol/g-polycarbonate).The polycarbonate composition of the present invention has an advantage in that it is insusceptible to discoloration not only during production thereof and molding of the composition, but also when a molded article produced from the composition experiences high temperature atomosphere.

Abstract: Disclosed is a polycarbonate comprising a plurality of aromatic polycarbonate main chains, wherein the aromatic polycarbonate main chains collectively contain specific heterounits in a specific amount in the polycarbonate main chains. The polycarbonate of the present invention can be obtained by controlling the temperature of and the residence time of the polymerizable material in the reaction zones of the reaction system so as to satisfy the specific requirements. The polycarbonate of the present invention is advantageous in that not only does it have high transparency and colorlessness as well as high mechanical strength, but also it can exhibit high non-Newtonian flow properties, so that it exhibits high molding melt fluidity. Therefore, the polycarbonate of the present invention is extremely advantageous from a commercial point of view.