Abstract: Disclosed are amorphous copolyesters having an inherent viscosity (IV) of at least about 0.4 dL/g measured at a temperature of 25° C. at 0.25 g/dl concentration in a solvent mixture of symmetric tetrachloroethane and phenol having a weight ratio of symmetric tetrachloroethane to phenol of 2:3 comprising (1) a diacid component consisting essentially of about 90 to 100 mole percent terephthalic acid residues and 0 to about 10 mole percent isophthalic acid residues; and (2) a diol component consisting essentially of about 10 to 70 mole percent 1,4-cyclohexanedimethanol residues and about 90 to 30 mole percent neopentyl glycol residues; wherein the amorphous copolyesters comprises 100 mole percent diacid component and 100 mole percent diol component. The amorphous copolyesters are useful in the manufacture or fabrication of medical devices which have improved resistance to degradation upon exposure to lipids, as a profile produced by profile extrusion and as an injection molded article.

Abstract: This invention relates to a process for preparing an amorphous polyamide-clay nanocomposite comprising the steps of:

Abstract: This invention is directed to a process for preparing an exfoliated, high I.V. polymer-platelet particle nanocomposite comprising the steps of: A process for preparing an exfoliated, high I.V. polymer-platelet particle nanocomposite comprising the steps of: (i) melt mixing platelet particles with an oligomeric polyamide resin to form an oligomeric resin-platelet particle composite, and (ii) mixing the oligomeric resin-platelet particle composite with a high molecular weight matrix polyamide having diamine and diacid repeat units, thereby increasing the molecular weight of the oligomeric resin-platelet particle composite and producing an exfoliated, high I.V. polymer nanocomposite material. The invention also is directed to a nanocomposite material produced by the process, products produced from the nanocomposite material, and a nanocomposite prepared from an oligomeric resin-platelet particle precursor composite.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a composition comprising (i) a layered clay material that has been cation-exchanged with an organic cation salt represented by Formula (I): wherein M is nitrogen or phosphorous, X− is a halide, hydroxide, or acetate anion, R1 is a straight or branched alkyl group having at least 8 carbon atoms, and R2, R3, and R4 are independently hydrogen or a straight or branched alkyl group having 1 to 22 carbon atoms; and (ii) at least one expanding agent, wherein the cation-exchanged clay material contains platelet particles and the expanding agent separates the platelet particles. The present invention also relates to a composite comprising a polymer having dispersed therein a composition of this invention. Preferred polymers for use in the composite include polyesters. The composite of the present invention shows vastly improved platelet separation as evidenced by higher than previously reported basal spacing.

Abstract: The present invention relates to processes for preparing a nanocomposite comprising:

Abstract: This invention is directed to a process for preparing an exfoliated, high I.V. polymer-platelet particle nanocomposite comprising the steps of: (i) melt mixing platelet particles with a matrix polymer-compatible oligomeric resin to form an oligomeric resin-platelet with a high molecular weight matric polymer, thereby increasing the molecular weight of the oligomeric resin-platelet particle composite and producting an exfoliated, high I.V. polymer nanocomposite material. The invention also is directed to a nanocomposite material producted by the process, producted produced from the nanocomposite material, and a nanocomposite prepared from an oligomeric resin-platelet particle precursor composite.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a nanocomposite material and products produced from the nanocomposite material. This invention is also directed to a process for preparing a polymer-clay nanocomposite comprising the steps of (i) forming a concentrate comprising a layered clay material with a matrix polymer-compatible functionalized oligomer or polymer, and (ii) melt compounding the concentrate with a melt-processable matrix polymer to produce a polymer-clay nanocomposite.

Abstract: The invention relates to polyester/polyamide blend compositions for forming an article having low haze and reduced gas permeability compared to the polyester alone. More specifically, the invention relates to blends of semi-crystalline polyesters such as PET with low molecular weight polyamides and to the containers and packages for food, beverages, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals and personal care products that can be fabricated from these blends.

Abstract: This invention is directed to a polyamide-clay nanocomposite, products produced from the nanocomposite, and a process for preparing a polyamide-clay nanocomposite. The polyamide-clay nanocomposite comprises (a) an amorphous matrix polyamide comprising (i) a residue of a dicarboxylic acid component comprising at least two diacids and (ii) a residue of a diamine component, and (b) a layered clay material, wherein the layered clay material is dispersed in the matrix polyamide.

Abstract: The invention is directed to an nanocomposite material and products produced from the nanocomposite material. This invention is also directed to a process for preparing a polymer-clay nanocomposite comprising the steps of (i) forming a concetrate comprising a layered clay material with a matrix polymer-compatible functionalized oligomer or polymer, and (ii) melt compounding the concentrate with a melt-processible matrix polymer to produce a polymer-clay nanocomposite.

Abstract: This invention is directed to a polyamide-clay nanocomposite, products produced from the nanocomposite, and a process for preparing a polyamide-clay nanocomposite. The polyamide-clay nanocomposite comprises (a) an amorphous matrix polyamide comprising (i) a residue of a dicarboxylic acid component comprising at least two diacids and (ii) a residue of a diamine component, and (b) a layered clay material, wherein the layered clay material is dispersed in the matrix polyamide.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a polyester-platelet particle composite comprising at least one polyester having dispersed therein a platelet particle dispersion comprising chalcogen or platelet particles and at least one water dissipatible polymer.

Abstract: The present invention relates to new polyester compositions, novel processes to prepare molded articles from these new polyester compositions, and novel containers fabricated from polyester/clay composites for food and beverages. The processing methods employed in this invention enable containers to be formed which exhibit excellent clarity. Specifically, the present invention relates to a process comprising forming a parison from a composite composition comprising about 0.01 to about 25 weight % platelet particles dispersed in at least one polyester at a processing temperature which is at least 50° above the Tg of said polyester; and molding said parison into a clear, thin walled article.

Abstract: The present invention relates to polyester-platelet particle composite comprising; at least one polyester having dispersed therein a platelet particle dispersion comprising about 0.01 to about 25 weight percent platelet particles and at least one water dissipatible polymer in a concentration which is at least about 1 part water dissipatible polymer to 1 part said polyester wherein said platelet particles primarily comprise individual platelet particles and tactoids. The composites of the present invention are prepared by dispersing at least one clay material in a water dissipatible polymer to form a platelet particle dispersion; introducing said platelet particle dispersion to a polyester and extrusion mixing said dispersion and polyester.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a process for producing molded, shaped or extruded articles comprising the steps of:a) melt reacting, in the presence of a catalyst which is substantially free of Co compounds, at least one glycol and at least one dicarboxylic acid to form a polyester having an I.V. of at least about 0.5 dL/g, wherein said at least one glycol is selected from the group consisting of glycols having up to 10 carbon atoms and mixtures thereof and said dicarboxylic is selected from the group consisting of alkyl dicarboxylic acids having 2 to 16 carbon atoms, aryl dicarboxylic acids having 8 to 16 carbon atoms and mixtures thereof;b) adding an acetaldehyde reducing additive to said polyester to form a reduced acetaldehyde polyester; andc) forming said reduced acetaldehyde polyester into articles directly from step b.Thus, the present invention provides a process for directly producing from the melt article having extremely low acetaldehyde content.

Abstract: Homopolymers of olefin monomers having polar functional groups, and copolymers of these monomers with each other and with non-polar olefins and optionally carbon monoxide are disclosed. The polymers can be prepared by contacting the corresponding monomers with a transition metal catalyst under comparatively mild conditions; this preserves at least some of the polar functional groups in the resulting polymer. The polymers are suitable for processing in conventional extrusion processes, and can be formed into high barrier sheets or films, or low molecular weight resins for use in synthetic waxes in wax coatings or as emulsions.

Abstract: The present invention relates to polyester-platelet particle composite compositions comprising about 0.01 to about 25 weight percent platelet particles dispersed in at least one polyester wherein said composition has an I.V. of greater than about 0.55 dl/g, low shear melt viscosity greater than about 30,000 poise and a gas permeability which is at least 10% lower than that of unmodified polyester and processes for producing same.

Abstract: This invention relates to a polyester composition comprising a blend of:(A) 99.5 to 75 weight % of a copolyester having an inherent viscosity of 0.1 to 1.2 dL/g and having a melting point in excess of 250.degree. C., comprising:(a) one or more dicarboxylic acids, and(b) a glycol component comprising at least 80 mole % 1,4-cyclohexanedimethanol; and(B) 0.5 to 25 weight % of one or more polyalkylene ethers,wherein the weight percentages of all components in said blend total 100 weight %.

Abstract: New polyesteramides having glass transition temperatures (Tg's) of up to 130.degree. C. and heat deflection temperatures that are in the 100.degree. C. to 110.degree. C. range are disclosed. The new polyesteramides of this invention are made by sequential addition of selected diamines to the diacid/glycol melt. The polyesteramides comprise:--?--A--G--!.sub.x --?--A--NH--R--NH--!.sub.y --wherein A is an organic dicarboxylic acid; G is a glycol selected from linear aliphatic diols and cycloaliphatic diols having 5 to 20 carbon atoms; R is selected from alkyl, cycloalkyl, arylkyl, or aryl; and x and y are whole numbers having an x/y ratio between about 9 to about 0.5 and sum of X and Y is from about 2 to about 500.

Abstract: The present invention comprises polyester blend compositions having improved flavor retaining properties and color, comprising:(A) 98.0 to 99.95 weight percent of a polyester which comprises(1) a dicarboxylic acid component comprising repeat units from at least 85 mole percent terephthalic acid or naphthalenedicarboxylic acid derived from terephthalic acid or naphthalenedicarboxylic acid respectively; and(2) a diol component comprising repeat units from at least 85 mole percent ethylene glycol, based on 100 mole percent dicarboxylic acid and 100 mole percent diol; and(B) 2.0 to 0.05 weight percent of a polyamide; wherein the combined weights of (A) and (B) total 100 percent.