Abstract: Bifuran-modified polyester, polyethylene-terephthalate-co (2,2?-bifuran-5,5?-dicarboxylate), prepared by esterifying or transesterifying a diacid component comprising from 2 to 10 mole percent 2,2?-bifuran-5,5?-dicarboxylate and a diol component with a catalyst compound comprising metal present in an amount of from about 10 to about 450 ppm and polycondensation to form the polyester wherein the polyester has an inherent viscosity of at least 0.5 g/dL, a glass transition temperature (Tg) of 82° C. or more, a semicrystalline melting peak (Tm) with ?Hf equal to or greater than 5 J/g on the second heating ramp, and melting temperature (Tm) between 229° C. and 246° C. Reinforced compositions and shaped articles comprising bifuran-modified polyethylene terephthalate and methods of their production are also disclosed.

Abstract: Semicrystalline polyethylene-2,2?-bifuran-5,5?-dicarboxylate (PEBF) homopolyester or copolyester with up to 5 mole percent isophthalate or up to 2.7 mole percent terephthalate, based on the diacid component, or up to 2.5 mole percent 1,4-cyclohexanedimethanol (CHDM), based on the diol component, prepared by esterifying or transesterifying the diacid and the diol components with a catalyst including about 10 to about 50 ppm wt metal, and polycondensation, wherein the bifuran polyester has an intrinsic viscosity of at least 0.4 g/dL and a semicrystalline melting peak (Tm) with ?Hf equal to or greater than 5 J/g on the second heating ramp.

Abstract: Copolyesters such as polyethylene terephthalate (PET) or polyethylene furanoate (PEF) modified with bifuran polyacids such as dimethyl-2,2?-bifuran-5,5?-dicarboxylate (BFE), 2,2?-bifuran-5,5?-dicarboxylic acid (BDA), or bis(2-hydroxyethyl)-2,2?-bifuran-5,5?-dicarboxylate (BHEB), and/or bifuran polyhydroxyls, may have improved properties such as glass transition temperature (Tg), tensile modulus, barrier properties, crystallinity, and/or impact strength. Polyethylene terephthalate-co-bifuranoate (PETBF) has an improved Tg. Also described are polyethylene furanoate-co-bifuranoates (PEFBF).

Abstract: Semicrystalline bifuran polyesters wherein the diacid and/or diol components include bifuran units such as those derived from 2,2?-bifuran-5,5?-dicarboxylic acid (BFA), dimethyl-2,2?-bifuran-5,5?-dicarboxylate (BFE), and/or bis(hydroxyethyl) bifuranoate (BHEB) Polyethylene-BFE (PEBF) having a high ?Hf and high Tg determined by DSC on the second heating ramp is described. Polybutylene-BFE (PBBF), polyhexylene-BFE (PHBF), polypropylene-BFE (PPBF), etc., are also described. Method for making bifuran polyesters includes melt esterification or transesterification and polycondensation of one or more monomers comprising a diacid component and a diol component, wherein the one or more monomers include a bifuran monomer, such as BFA, BFE, BHEB or BFD. Also described is a method of forming a bifuran polyester prepolymer in the melt, pelletization, crystallization, and solid state polymerization.