Abstract: Disclosed herein is a polyketal adduct obtained by forming an ester between a hydrocarbon polyol and a ketocarboxylic acid to produce an intermediate polyketocarboxylic ester. The intermediate polyketocarboxylic ester can be purified via crystallization to achieve purities of greater than 99.0% and then ketalized to produce the polyketal adduct, which can be used in polymer compositions. The polyketal adduct I is obtained at high purity and at high yield.

Abstract: An article comprises a solvent cast film comprising a polyetherimide comprising structural units derived from a dianhydride component selected from the group consisting of 3,4?-oxydiphthalic anhydride, 3,3?-oxydiphthalic anhydride, 4,4?-oxydiphthalic anhydride, and combinations thereof, and a diamine component. The polyetherimide has a glass transition temperature that is at least 190° C. The film has a coefficient of thermal expansion of less than 60 ppm/° C., a thickness from 0.1 to 250 micrometers, and less than 5% residual solvent by weight. The film has less than 15 molar % of a member selected from the group consisting of biphenyltetracarboxylic acid, dianhydrides of biphenyltetracarboxylic acid, esters of biphenyltetracarboxylic acid, and combinations thereof.

Abstract: Various esterified alkyl ketal ester or hydroxyalkyl ketal ester products are useful as components of organic polymer compositions. The ketal esters are produced in certain transesterifications between alkyl ketal esters and/or hydroxyalkyl ketal esters and polyols, aminoalcohols, polyamines, and/or polycarboxylic acids. The products are excellent plasticizers for a variety of organic polymers, notable poly(vinyl chloride) plastisols. The products are also very good lubricants for many lubrication applications.

Abstract: Various esterified alkyl ketal ester or hydroxyalkyl ketal ester products are useful as components of organic polymer compositions. The ketal esters are produced in certain transesterifications between alkyl ketal esters and/or hydroxyalkyl ketal esters and polyols, aminoalcohols, polyamines, and/or polycarboxylic acids. The products are excellent plasticizers for a variety of organic polymers, notable poly(vinyl chloride) plastisols. The products are also very good lubricants for many lubrication applications.

Abstract: A solvent cast film comprises a polyimide comprising structural units derived from polymerization of a dianhydride component comprising a dianhydride selected from the group consisting of 3,4?-oxydiphthalic dianhydride, 3,3?-oxydiphthalic dianhydride, 4,4?-oxydiphthalic dianhydride, and combinations thereof, with a diamine component comprising 4,4?-diaminodiphenylsulfone; wherein the polyimide has a glass transition temperature from 190° C. to 400° C.; and wherein the film has a coefficient of thermal expansion of less than 60 ppm/° C., a thickness from 0.1 to 250 micrometers, endless than 5% residual solvent by weight.

Abstract: The invention relates to polyketal compounds. The compounds are synthesized by the selective ketalization of oxocarboxylic acids, e.g. keto acids and semialdehydes, and esters thereof with tetrols and higher polyols that products two or more cyclic ketal ester moieties per molecule, wherein the cyclic ketal moieties are situated in a bis-, tris-, or polyketal conformation. The invention further relates to applications of these compounds and subsequent reactions thereof.

Abstract: A solvent cast film comprises a polyimide comprising structural units derived from polymerization of a dianhydride component comprising a dianhydride selected from the group consisting of 3,4?-oxydiphthalic dianhydride, 3,3?-oxydiphthalic dianhydride, 4,4?-oxydiphthalic dianhydride, and combinations thereof, with a diamine component comprising 4,4?-diaminodiphenylsulfone; wherein the polyimide has a glass transition temperature from 190° C. to 400° C.; and wherein the film has a coefficient of thermal expansion of less than 60 ppm/° C., a thickness from 0.1 to 250 micrometers, endless than 5% residual solvent by weight.

Abstract: Methods of making miscible and compatible immiscible polymer blends are disclosed. The polymer blends have a polyimide as a component. The miscible polymer blends have a single glass transition temperature. The compatible polymer blends have two glass transition temperatures. The polymer blends may optionally include one or more fillers.

Abstract: A method for preparing a polymer-organoclay composite composition comprises combining a solvent and an unexfoliated organoclay to provide a first mixture, wherein the unexfoliated organoclay comprises alternating inorganic silicate layers and organic layers, and has an initial spacing between the silicate layers; exposing the first mixture to an energized condition of a sufficient intensity and duration to increase the initial spacing of the inorganic silicate layers, to provide a second mixture; contacting the second mixture with a polymer composition so that the polymer composition fills at least one region located between at least one pair of silicate layers, wherein the polymer composition is at least partially soluble in the solvent; and removing at least a portion of the solvent from the second mixture, wherein the inorganic silicate layers remain separated by the polymer after removal of the solvent.

Abstract: A method for preparing a polymer-organoclay composite composition comprises combining a solvent and an unexfoliated organoclay to provide a first mixture, wherein the unexfoliated organoclay comprises alternating inorganic silicate layers and organic layers, and has an initial spacing between the silicate layers; exposing the first mixture to an energized condition of a sufficient intensity and duration to increase the initial spacing of the inorganic silicate layers, to provide a second mixture; contacting the second mixture with a polymer composition so that the polymer composition fills at least one region located between at least one pair of silicate layers, wherein the polymer composition is at least partially soluble in the solvent; and removing at least a portion of the solvent from the second mixture, wherein the inorganic silicate layers remain separated by the polymer after removal of the solvent.

Abstract: Various esterified alkyl ketal ester or hydroxyalkyl ketal ester products are useful as components of organic polymer compositions. The ketal esters are produced in certain transesterifications between alkyl ketal esters and/or hydroxyalkyl ketal esters and polyols, aminoalcohols, polyamines and/or polycarboxylic acids. The products are excellent plasticizers for a variety of organic polymers, notable poly(vinyl chloride) plastisols. The products are also very good lubricants for many lubrication applications.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a polyketal adduct obtained by forming an ester between a hydrocarbon polyol and a ketocarboxylic acid to produce an intermediate polyketocarboxylic ester. The intermediate polyketocarboxylic ester can be purified via crystallization to achieve purities of greater than 99.0% and then ketalized to produce the polyketal adduct, which can be used in polymer compositions. The polyketal adduct I is obtained at high purity and at high yield.

Abstract: A method for preparing a polymer-organoclay composite composition comprises combining a solvent and an unexfoliated organoclay to provide a first mixture, wherein the unexfoliated organoclay comprises alternating inorganic silicate layers and organic layers, and has an initial spacing between the silicate layers; exposing the first mixture to an energized condition of a sufficient intensity and duration to increase the initial spacing of the inorganic silicate layers, to provide a second mixture; contacting the second mixture with a polymer composition so that the polymer composition fills at least one region located between at least one pair of silicate layers, wherein the polymer composition is at least partially soluble in the solvent; and removing at least a portion of the solvent from the second mixture, wherein the inorganic silicate layers remain separated by the polymer after removal of the solvent.

Abstract: A method for preparing a polymer-organoclay composite composition comprises combining a solvent and an unexfoliated organoclay to provide a first mixture, wherein the unexfoliated organoclay comprises alternating inorganic silicate layers and organic layers, and has an initial spacing between the silicate layers; exposing the first mixture to an energized condition of a sufficient intensity and duration to increase the initial spacing of the inorganic silicate layers, to provide a second mixture; contacting the second mixture with a polymer composition so that the polymer composition fills at least one region located between at least one pair of silicate layers, wherein the polymer composition is at least partially soluble in the solvent; and removing at least a portion of the solvent from the second mixture, wherein the inorganic silicate layers remain separated by the polymer after removal of the solvent.

Abstract: A method for preparing a polymer-organoclay composite composition comprises combining a solvent and an unexfoliated organoclay to provide a first mixture, wherein the unexfoliated organoclay comprises alternating inorganic silicate layers and organic layers, and has an initial spacing between the silicate layers; exposing the first mixture to an energized condition of a sufficient intensity and duration to increase the initial spacing of the inorganic silicate layers, to provide a second mixture; contacting the second mixture with a polymer composition so that the polymer composition fills at least one region located between at least one pair of silicate layers, wherein the polymer composition is at least partially soluble in the solvent; and removing at least a portion of the solvent from the second mixture, wherein the inorganic silicate layers remain separated by the polymer after removal of the solvent.

Abstract: In one embodiment, the present invention provides a method of making a polymer-organoclay composite composition comprising (a) contacting under condensation polymerization conditions a first monomer, a second monomer, a solvent, and an organoclay composition, said organoclay composition comprising alternating inorganic silicate layers and organic layers, to provide a first polymerization reaction mixture, wherein one of said first monomer and second monomers is a diamine and the other is an dianhydride; (b) carrying out a stoichiometry verification step on the first polymerization reaction mixture; (c) optionally adding additional reactant (monomer 1, monomer 2, or chainstopper) to the first polymerization reaction mixture to provide a second polymerization reaction mixture; and (d) removing solvent from the first polymerization reaction mixture or the second polymerization reaction mixture to provide a first polymer-organoclay composite composition comprising a polymer component and an organoclay component w

Abstract: Thermoplastic compositions having miscible and compatible immiscible polymer blends are disclosed. The miscible polymer blends have a single glass transition temperature. The compatible polymer blends have two glass transition temperatures. The polymer blends may optionally include one or more fillers.

Abstract: Methods of making miscible and compatible immiscible polymer blends are disclosed. The polymer blends have a polyimide as a component. The miscible polymer blends have a single glass transition temperature. The compatible polymer blends have two glass transition temperatures. The polymer blends may optionally include one or more fillers.

Abstract: An article comprises a solvent cast film comprising a polyetherimide comprising structural units derived from a dianhydride component selected from the group consisting of 3,4?-oxydiphthalic anhydride, 3,3?-oxydiphthalic anhydride, 4,4?-oxydiphthalic anhydride, and combinations thereof, and a diamine component. The polyetherimide has a glass transition temperature that is at least 190° C. The film has a coefficient of thermal expansion of less than 60 ppm/° C., a thickness from 0.1 to 250 micrometers, and less than 5% residual solvent by weight. The film has less than 15 molar % of a member selected from the group consisting of biphenyltetracarboxylic acid, dianhydrides of biphenyltetracarboxylic acid, esters of biphenyltetracarboxylic acid, and combinations thereof.

Abstract: A solvent cast film comprises a polyimide comprising structural units derived from polymerization of a dianhydride component comprising a dianhydride selected from the group consisting of 3,4?-oxydiphthalic dianhydride, 3,3?-oxydiphthalic dianhydride, 4,4?-oxydiphthalic dianhydride, and combinations thereof, with a diamine component comprising 4,4?-diaminodiphenylsulfone; wherein the polyimide has a glass transition temperature from 190° C. to 400° C.; and wherein the film has a coefficient of thermal expansion of less than 60 ppm/° C., a thickness from 0.1 to 250 micrometers, endless than 5% residual solvent by weight.