Abstract: A polyetherimide composition comprises: a polyetherimide; and an organophosphorus stabilizer present in an amount effective to provide greater than 0.01 ppm to less than 20 ppm, preferably greater than 0.01 ppm to less than 10 ppm, and more preferably greater than 0.01 ppm to less than 4.8 ppm of phosphorus based on the total weight of the polyetherimide composition, the organophosphorus stabilizer having a molecular weight of 300 to 2,000 Daltons and a phosphorus content of 1 to 15 wt %; wherein a molded sample of the polyetherimide composition has a UL 94 V0 rating at a thickness of 1.5 mm.

Abstract: A method of preparing polymer particles includes combining a polyetherimide and a solvent at a first temperature to provide a slurry, wherein the polyetherimide is not soluble in the solvent at the first temperature; heating the slurry to a second temperature and at a pressure effective to dissolve the polyetherimide in the solvent to provide a homogenous solution; cooling the homogenous solution to a third temperature to provide a dispersion including a plurality of polymer particles; and isolating the polymer particles. The polymer particles have a Dv90 particle size of less than or equal to 250 micrometers. Polymers powders prepared according to the method are also described herein, wherein the powder includes a plurality of semi-crystalline polymer particles having a Dv90 of less than or equal to 250 micrometers.

Abstract: A method for producing an aromatic bisimide includes reacting a dialkali metal salt of a dihydroxy aromatic compound with an N-alkyl nitrophthalimide to form a product mixture including the aromatic bisimide. The N-alkyl nitrophthalimide includes 4-nitro-N—(C1-13 alkyl)phthalimide, 3-nitro-N—(C1-13 alkyl)phthalimide, or a combination including at least one of the foregoing, and 4-hydroxy-3,5-dinitro-N—(C1-13 alkyl)phthalimide in an amount of 1-10000 ppm. The aromatic bisimide can be obtained in a yield of greater than 75%, or 90-99.8%. A method for the manufacture of a polyetherimide, a polyetherimide, and an article including the polyetherimide are also disclosed. A mixed acid nitration process for the preparation of an N-alkyl nitrophthalimide is also described.

Abstract: A method for producing a reactive intermediate composition, including: reacting a substituted phthalic anhydride of the formula (I) with a diamine of the formula H2N—R—NH2 in the presence of an aromatic dianhydride in an amount of 10 to 50 mole percent based on the total moles of anhydride functionality in the reaction; wherein the reacting is conducted in an aprotic solvent in a reactor, under conditions effective to produce the reactive intermediate composition; and wherein X comprises a halogen or a nitro group, and R comprises a C6-36 aromatic hydrocarbon group or a halogenated derivative thereof, a straight or branched chain C2-20 alkylene or a halogenated derivative thereof, or a C3-8 cycloalkylene or a halogenated derivative thereof.

Abstract: A method of manufacture of a polyetherimide composition includes contacting a substituted phthalic anhydride and an organic diamine in the presence of diphenyl sulfone, sulfolane, or a combination comprising at least one of the foregoing solvents at a temperature of greater than 130° C. to provide a bis(phthalimide) composition comprising diphenyl sulfone, sulfolane, or a combination comprising at least one of the foregoing solvents and a bis(phthalimide); and polymerizing the bis(phthalimide) and an alkali metal salt of a dihydroxy aromatic compound in the presence of diphenyl sulfone, sulfolane, or a combination comprising at least one of the foregoing to form a polyetherimide. The method does not require any catalyst either for the imidization or the polymerization.

Abstract: A method for producing an aromatic bisimide includes reacting a dialkali metal salt of a dihydroxy aromatic compound with an N-alkyl nitrophthalimide to form a product mixture including the aromatic bisimide. The N-alkyl nitrophthalimide includes 4-nitro-N—(C1-13 alkyl)phthalimide, 3-nitro-N—(C1-13 alkyl)phthalimide, or a combination including at least one of the foregoing, and 4-hydroxy-3,5-dinitro-N—(C1-13 alkyl)phthalimide in an amount of 1-10000 ppm. The aromatic bisimide can be obtained in a yield of greater than 75%, or 90-99.8%. A method for the manufacture of a polyetherimide, a polyetherimide, and an article including the polyetherimide are also disclosed. A mixed acid nitration process for the preparation of an N-alkyl nitrophthalimide is also described.

Abstract: A polyetherimide composition includes a polyetherimide and two or more of a residual metal content, a sulfate anion, a phosphate anion, a nitrite anion, a nitrate anion, or a combination including at least one of the foregoing, a residual solvent content, a phosphorus-containing stabilizer, and alkali metal halide, alkaline earth metal halide, alkali metal carbonate, or a combination including at least one of the foregoing, wherein each of the aforementioned components, when present, is included in the composition in a particular amount. The resulting polyetherimide composition exhibits two or more useful properties. The polyetherimide composition can optionally further be combined with a polymer different from the polyetherimide to provide a thermoplastic composition. Methods of making the polyetherimide composition and articles including the polyetherimide composition are also described.

Abstract: A method of making a polyetherimide comprising: reacting an aromatic bis(ether anhydride) with an aromatic diamine in a solvent to form a first solid/liquid mixture having a first solids content within 5% of a first target solids content; cooling the first solid/liquid mixture to a temperature within 5% of a target temperature; separating a portion of the liquid component from the cooled first solid/liquid mixture to form a second solid/liquid mixture having a second solids content within 10% of a second target solids content; and melt polymerizing the second solid/liquid mixture to form the polyetherimide.

Abstract: A method of making a polyetherimide comprises: combining a bisphenol A dianhydride, p-phenylene diamine and a halogenated aromatic solvent to form a reactant solution; heating the reactant solution to a temperature of 205° C. to 330° C. at a pressure sufficient to prevent boiling to afford a reaction solution; removing water from the reaction solution; maintaining the reaction solution at a temperature of 205° C. to 330° C. and a pressure sufficient to prevent boiling for 10 minutes to 5 hours to form a product mixture comprising the polyetherimide and solvent; and isolating the polyetherimide.

Abstract: A process for the purification of an oxydiphthalic anhydride includes contacting a mixture of an oxydiphthalic anhydride and at least one of the corresponding oxydiphthalic diacid, a corresponding oxydiphthalic tetraacid, a halophthalic anhydride, and a catalyst with a solvent to provide a slurry. The solvent is capable of solubilizing the corresponding oxydiphthalic diacid, the corresponding oxydiphthalic tetraacid, the halophthalic anhydride, and the catalyst at a temperature of 15 to 50° C., and the oxydiphthalic anhydride is substantially insoluble in the solvent at this temperature. The oxydiphthalic anhydride can be isolated from the slurry. A purified oxydiphthalic anhydride and a polyetherimide prepared therefrom are also disclosed.

Abstract: A method for modifying a polyimide includes reacting a first polyimide with an amine to produce a second polyimide having an anhydride-amine stoichiometry of ?2 to ?40 mol % and reacting the second polyimide with a monoanhydride, a bis(anhydride), a bis(ether anhydride) or a tetracarboxylic acid to produce a final polyimide having an anhydride-amine stoichiometry of ?1 to 2 mol %.

Abstract: A one-pot method for making a polyetherimide includes contacting in a reaction vessel a reactive substituted phthalic anhydride and an organic diamine in a polar aprotic solvent to provide a reaction mixture including a substituted bisphthalimide. The method further includes adding to the reaction mixture in the same reaction vessel an aromatic dihydroxy compound, a base, and optionally, a phase transfer catalyst to provide a product mixture including the polyetherimide. A polyetherimide made by the method is also described.

Abstract: A branched polyimide of the formula (I) wherein G is a group having a valence of t present in an amount 0.01 to 20 mol %, each Q is independently the same or different, and is a divalent C1-60 hydrocarbon group, each M is independently the same or different, and is —O—, —C(O)—, —OC(O)—, —OC(O)O—, —NHC(O), —(O)CNH—, —S—, —S(O)—, or —S(O)2—, D is a phenylene, each V is independently the same or different, and is a tetravalent C4-40 hydrocarbon group, each R is independently the same or different, and is a C1-20 divalent hydrocarbon group, q is 0 or 1, m is 0 or 1, d is 0 or 1, p is 1 or 2, t is 2 to 6, and each n is independently the same or different, and is 1 to 1,000, provided that the total of all values of n is greater than 4.

Abstract: A method of manufacture of a polyetherimide composition includes contacting a substituted phthalic anhydride and an organic diamine in the presence of diphenyl sulfone, sulfolane, or a combination comprising at least one of the foregoing solvents at a temperature of greater than 130° C. to provide a bis(phthalimide) composition comprising diphenyl sulfone, sulfolane, or a combination comprising at least one of the foregoing solvents and a bis(phthalimide); and polymerizing the bis(phthalimide) and an alkali metal salt of a dihydroxy aromatic compound in the presence of diphenyl sulfone, sulfolane, or a combination comprising at least one of the foregoing to form a polyetherimide. The method does not require any catalyst either for the imidization or the polymerization.

Abstract: A method of manufacture of a polyetherimide composition includes contacting a substituted phthalic anhydride and an organic diamine in the presence of diphenyl sulfone, sulfolane, or a combination comprising at least one of the foregoing solvents at a temperature of greater than 130° C. to provide a bis(phthalimide) composition comprising diphenyl sulfone, sulfolane, or a combination comprising at least one of the foregoing solvents and a bis(phthalimide); and polymerizing the bis(phthalimide) and an alkali metal salt of a dihydroxy aromatic compound in the presence of diphenyl sulfone, sulfolane, or a combination comprising at least one of the foregoing to form a polyetherimide. The method does not require any catalyst either for the imidization or the polymerization.

Abstract: A method for producing a reactive intermediate composition, including: reacting a substituted phthalic anhydride of the formula (I) with a diamine of the formula H2N—R—NH2 in the presence of an aromatic dianhydride in an amount of 10 to 50 mole percent based on the total moles of anhydride functionality in the reaction; wherein the reacting is conducted in an aprotic solvent in a reactor, under conditions effective to produce the reactive intermediate composition; and wherein X comprises a halogen or a nitro group, and R comprises a C6-36 aromatic hydrocarbon group or a halogenated derivative thereof, a straight or branched chain C2-20 alkylene or a halogenated derivative thereof, or a C3-8 cycloalkylene or a halogenated derivative thereof.

Abstract: A polyetherimide of improved color and processes for preparing the polyetherimide are disclosed.

Abstract: A method of making a polyetherimide comprises: combining a bisphenol A dianhydride, p-phenylene diamine and a halogenated aromatic solvent to form a reactant solution; heating the reactant solution to a temperature of 205° C. to 330° C. at a pressure sufficient to prevent boiling to afford a reaction solution; removing water from the reaction solution; maintaining the reaction solution at a temperature of 205° C. to 330° C. and a pressure sufficient to prevent boiling for 10 minutes to 5 hours to form a product mixture comprising the polyetherimide and solvent; and isolating the polyetherimide.

Abstract: A process for the purification of an oxydiphthalic anhydride includes contacting a mixture of an oxydiphthalic anhydride and at least one of the corresponding oxydiphthalic diacid, a corresponding oxydiphthalic tetraacid, a halophthalic anhydride, and a catalyst with a solvent to provide a slurry. The solvent is capable of solubilizing the corresponding oxydiphthalic diacid, the corresponding oxydiphthalic tetraacid, the halophthalic anhydride, and the catalyst at a temperature of 15 to 50° C., and the oxydiphthalic anhydride is substantially insoluble in the solvent at this temperature. The oxydiphthalic anhydride can be isolated from the slurry. A purified oxydiphthalic anhydride and a polyetherimide prepared therefrom are also disclosed.

Abstract: A method of preparing polymer particles includes combining a polyetherimide and a solvent at a first temperature to provide a slurry, wherein the polyetherimide is not soluble in the solvent at the first temperature; heating the slurry to a second temperature and at a pressure effective to dissolve the polyetherimide in the solvent to provide a homogenous solution; cooling the homogenous solution to a third temperature to provide a dispersion including a plurality of polymer particles; and isolating the polymer particles. The polymer particles have a Dv90 particle size of less than or equal to 250 micrometers. Polymers powders prepared according to the method are also described herein, wherein the powder includes a plurality of semi-crystalline polymer particles having a Dv90 of less than or equal to 250 micrometers.