Abstract: Multicomponent copolymers including two or more types of repeat units is presented. In one example, the multicomponent copolymer includes at least one repeat unit AC having a structure (I), at least one repeat unit DC having a structure (II), and at least one repeat unit BC having a structure (III) or (V). The multicomponent copolymer may be cross-linked via a cross-linking agent. A polymer blend including the multicomponent copolymer or a cross-linked copolymer and a second polymer is also provided. The multicomponent copolymer may be a random or a block copolymer. The structural units of the multicomponent copolymers provide improved, tunable properties, such as improved biocompatibility and hydrophilicity, protein fouling, and mechanical properties, to the copolymers and/or the membranes fabricated from the copolymers.

Abstract: Multicomponent copolymers including two or more types of repeat units is presented. In one example, the multicomponent copolymer includes at least one repeat unit AC having a structure (I), at least one repeat unit DC having a structure (II), and at least one repeat unit BC having a structure (III) or (V). The multicomponent copolymer may be cross-linked via a cross-linking agent. A polymer blend including the multicomponent copolymer or a cross-linked copolymer and a second polymer is also provided. The multicomponent copolymer may be a random or a block copolymer. The structural units of the multicomponent copolymers provide improved, tunable properties, such as improved biocompatibility and hydrophilicity, protein fouling, and mechanical properties, to the copolymers and/or the membranes fabricated from the copolymers.

Abstract: Multicomponent copolymers including two or more types of repeat units is presented. In one example, the multicomponent copolymer includes at least one repeat unit AC having a structure (I), at least one repeat unit DC having a structure (II), and at least one repeat unit BC having a structure (III) or (V). The multicomponent copolymer may be cross-linked via a cross-linking agent. A polymer blend including the multicomponent copolymer or a cross-linked copolymer and a second polymer is also provided. The multicomponent copolymer may be a random or a block copolymer. The structural units of the multicomponent copolymers provide improved, tunable properties, such as improved biocompatibility and hydrophilicity, protein fouling, and mechanical properties, to the copolymers and/or the membranes fabricated from the copolymers.

Abstract: Multicomponent copolymers including two or more types of repeat units is presented. In one example, the multicomponent copolymer includes at least one repeat unit AC having a structure (I), at least one repeat unit DC having a structure (II), and at least one repeat unit BC having a structure (III) or (V). The multicomponent copolymer may be cross-linked via a cross-linking agent. A polymer blend including the multicomponent copolymer or a cross-linked copolymer and a second polymer is also provided. The multicomponent copolymer may be a random or a block copolymer. The structural units of the multicomponent copolymers provide improved, tunable properties, such as improved biocompatibility and hydrophilicity, protein fouling, and mechanical properties, to the copolymers and/or the membranes fabricated from the copolymers.

Abstract: Multicomponent copolymers including two or more types of repeat units is presented. In one example, the multicomponent copolymer includes at least one repeat unit AC having a structure (I), at least one repeat unit DC having a structure (II), and at least one repeat unit BC having a structure (III) or (V). The multicomponent copolymer may be cross-linked via a cross-linking agent. A polymer blend including the multicomponent copolymer or a cross-linked copolymer and a second polymer is also provided. The multicomponent copolymer may be a random or a block copolymer. The structural units of the multicomponent copolymers provide improved, tunable properties, such as improved biocompatibility and hydrophilicity, protein fouling, and mechanical properties, to the copolymers and/or the membranes fabricated from the copolymers.

Abstract: A method for producing a transparent article comprises the steps of melt transesterifying a monomer mixture in the presence of a transesterification catalyst to produce a hydroquinone polycarbonate copolymer product comprising greater than 45 mole percent of structural units derived from the hydroquinone. The monomer mixture comprises a hydroquinone, at least one aromatic dihydroxy compound other than the hydroquinone, and a carbonic acid diester. The hydroquinone polycarbonate copolymer product is then heated to a highest processing temperature of 5° C. to 20° C. above a maximum melting melt temperature for the hydroquinone copolymer product for a sufficient period of time to render the hydroquinone polycarbonate copolymer product transparent upon cooling to ambient temperature; and cooling the hydroquinone polycarbonate copolymer product to produce the transparent article.

Abstract: A method of making polycarbonates comprises melt-polymerizing an aromatic dihydroxy compound and a carbonic acid diester in a presence of a polymerization catalyst in a reactor system producing a byproduct stream, wherein the polymerization catalyst comprises a quaternary phosphonium compound; and purifying the byproduct stream to separate phenol, wherein the separated phenol has a phosphorus concentration of less than or equal to about 3 part per million, based upon the total weight of the phenol separated.

Abstract: A method of making polycarbonate comprises melt-polymerizing an aromatic dihydroxy compound and a carbonic acid diester in a presence of a polymerization catalyst in a reactor system producing a byproduct stream, wherein the polymerization catalyst comprises a quaternary phosphonium compound; and purifying the byproduct stream to separate the carbonic acid diester, wherein the separated carbonic acid diester has a phosphorous concentration of less than or equal to about 30 parts per million.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of preparing polycarbonate comprising the steps of: (i) introducing to an extruder through a feed port a plurality of reaction components comprising a polycarbonate oligomer, an activated carbonate residue, and a transesterification catalyst, wherein the extruder comprises the feed port, a first back vent port, and a polycarbonate exit port, wherein the feed port is located between the first back vent port and the polycarbonate exit port, and wherein the resistance to flow of the reaction components from the feed port to the first back vent port is less than or equal to the resistance to flow of the reaction components from the feed port to the polycarbonate exit port; and (ii) extruding the reaction components at one or more temperatures in a range between 100° C. and 400° C., wherein during the extrusion of the reaction components, activated carbonate residue is removed through the first back vent port, thereby preparing a polycarbonate.

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: The present invention provides a method of making polycarbonate oligomers, polycarbonate, molded articles formed from polycarbonate, and an apparatus for making polycarbonate. An oligomer mixture is first prepared by the steps of providing an equilibration system comprising a vessel, a reaction mixture contained within the vessel, and means for mixing the reaction mixture contained within the vessel wherein the reaction mixture comprises a melted activated diaryl carbonate composition, and a catalyst present in sufficient amount to initiate an oligomerization reaction between a dihydroxy composition and the activated diaryl carbonate to form polycarbonate oligomers.

Abstract: Sensor devices are disclosed possessing substrates having enhanced resistance to solvents. The sensor device (10) has a sensor region (12) deposited on a substrate (14). In optional embodiments, a protecting layer (16) is applied over the sensor region. The substrates include polycarbonates combined with solvent resistance-imparting monomers that result in a copolycarbonate substrate immune to attack by organic solvents commonly used in sensor deposition and improve the quality of the deposited sensor regions.

Abstract: The stoichiometric ratio of dihydric phenol to diarylcarbonate during production of polycarbonates can be evaluated by infrared analysis, preferably using an FTIR spectrometer, to detect the amount of BPA or other dihydric phenol in the mix tank. In one format of the method, one or both of two characteristic peaks, reflecting the methyl CH bonds and hydroxyl OH bonds are evaluated. These peaks occur equally in BPA monomers and oligomers, and hence are independent of the degree of oligomerization or polymerization which has occurred. For this reason, monitoring of stoichiometry can be performed on the contents of the mix tank, or on the products from or contents of any downstream reactors. Using a calibration curve, the absorbance associated with these bonds is converted into a measure of the concentration of BPA and from that to first moles and then grams of BPA in the mixture being tested. The amount of DPC is determined by subtracting the number of grams of BPA from the total initial sample weight.

Abstract: A thermoplastic resin composition having improved transparency and containing polycarbonate resin and/or polyester carbonate resin and acrylic resin and/or methacrylic resin comprisesA) (a) polycarbonate resin and/or (b) polyester carbonate resin andB) acrylic resin and/or methacrylic resin, having 0.000005-0.5 parts by weight of C) a basic compound catalyst and/or acidic compound catalyst added with respect to a total of 100 parts by weight of the aforementioned components A) and B).

Abstract: A thermoplastic resin composition having improved transparency and containing polycarbonate resin and/or polyester carbonate resin and acrylic resin and/or methacrylic resin comprisesA) (a) polycarbonate resin and/or (b) polyester carbonate resin andB) acrylic resin and/or methacrylic resin, having 0.000005-0.5 parts by weight of C) a basic compound catalyst and/or acidic compound catalyst added with respect to a total of 100 parts by weight of the aforementioned components A) and B).