Abstract: An aromatic dihydroxy compound conforming to formula 1 is disclosed. Also disclosed are (co)polycarbonates derived from the compound. The novel (co)polycarbonates are characterized by their reduced water uptake and improved flowability.

Abstract: A process for the isolation of polycarbonate produced by the interfacial polymerization process is disclosed. Accordingly, the process entails (a) evaporating the organic solvent from the solution that contains solvent and polycarbonate to obtain a material system that contains 90 to 99.95% polycarbonate, the percent being relative to the weight of the system, and (b) passing the material system through inlet openings of a separating vessel to obtain a plurality of streams of polycarbonate, on entry into the inlet openings said material system being supersaturated with volatile constituents to an extent of at least 1 bar and having a temperature of 250° to 340° C. and a flow rate of 0.1 to 20 kg/hour, and (c) degassing the streams in the separating vessel wherein the pressure is 0.1 to 20 mbar to effect degassing of the polycarbonate.

Abstract: The invention relates to bisphenol monomers containing one or more biaryl units and related polymers, derivatives and resins thereof and more particularly to Bisphenol monomers containing two biaryl units separated by a spacer group X, and to bisphenol monomers containing a biaryl unit and an aryl unit separated by a spacer group X, and to polymers, derivatives, resins and related products prepared therefrom.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for the preparation of activated polyethylene glycols, or PEG(NPC)2s, comprising reacting polyethylene glycol with an activator while in the presence of an aromatic nitrogen containing heterocyclic base. The process is carried out at temperatures ranging from about 20 to about 30° C., more preferably at room temperature, and under stoichiometric conditions.

Abstract: The present invention provides an aromatic polycarbonate resin product for producing optical disc substrates of high reliability at high molding yield. The aromatic polycarbonate resin for optical disc substrates is produced by adding 0.015 to 0.05 parts by mass of a C14–C30 fatty acid monoglyceride to 100 parts by mass of an aromatic polycarbonate resin, adding water having an electric conductivity, as measured at 25° C., of 1 ?S/cm or less to the resin, the water content of the resin being controlled to 0.05 to 0.3 mass %, melt-extruding the water-added resin, cooling, and cutting to form pellets, the resin having a viscosity average molecular weight (Mv) of 10,000 to 20,000.

Abstract: A method for the manufacture of a polycarbonate which comprises reacting a carbonate precursor with a dihydroxy compound in the presence of an aqueous base in an inert organic solvent optionally containing a molecular weight regulator to form an oligomeric polycarbonate, wherein the reaction between the dihydroxy compound and the carbonate precursor is about 80 to about 99% completed; removing the inert organic solvent and the aqueous base to isolate the oligomeric polycarbonate; and transesterifying the isolated oligomeric polycarbonate to form a polymeric polycarbonate at a temperature and pressure effective to remove trace amounts of residual solvent. This method eliminates some of the problems of the prior art such as the removal of solvent from high molecular weight polycarbonate, which is both cumbersome, energy intensive and expensive.

Abstract: A plastic molded article laminated a layer with a photochromic property and/or a layer with a polarization property on at least one side of a base material, said base material being a polycarbonate having a photoelastic constant of 55×10?12 m2/N or below.

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 relates to an aromatic polycarbonate resin which comprises repetitive units originating in residual groups of a 2,2-bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)adamantane compound and a 1,3-bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)adamantane compound having a substituent on an aromatic ring and which is excellent in a transparency, a heat resistance and a mechanical strength and has a good moldability and a production process for the aromatic polycarbonate resin described above in which the adamantane compounds described above are reacted with a carbonic ester-forming compound. Further, it relates to an aromatic polycarbonate resin which is excellent in an optical characteristic and an optical part prepared by molding the same.

Abstract: Alkyl ester end-capped polycarbonates have improved release properties and may be produced by a method comprising the step of combining a polycarbonate having free terminal OH groups with an end-capping reagent comprising a symmetrical activated carbonate and an alkyl ester, whereby the end-capping reagent reacts with at least some of the free hydroxyl end groups of the polycarbonate to produce an end-capped polycarbonate comprising optionally substituted aliphatic ester end groups.

Abstract: Compositions exhibiting water resistant anti-static properties prepared from a thermoplastic polymer and a polymeric anti-static salt is disclosed.

Abstract: The invention describes a process for the preparation of polycarbonate. The process includes (a) transesterifying at least one aromatic dihydroxyaryl compound and a diaryl carbonate in the melt in the presence of a catalyst, (b) mixing the melt obtained in step (a) with a foaming agent (c) passing the mixture at 250 to 340° C. through inlet openings of a separating vessel at a rate of 0.1 to 20 kg/hour, to obtain a plurality of streams of foamed polycarbonate and degassing the streams of foamed polycarbonate in the separating vessel wherein the pressure is 0.1 to 20 mbar.

Abstract: A subject for the invention is to provide a branched aromatic polycarbonate which is excellent in hue and in melt characteristics such as melt strength. The invention provides a branched aromatic polycarbonate having a viscosity-average molecular weight of 16,000 or higher obtained by the transesterification method, characterized in that the ratio of the weight-average molecular weight (Mw) to number-average molecular weight (Mn) as measured by gel permeation chromatography and calculated for standard polystyrene (Mw/Mn) is in the range of from 2.8 to 4.5 and that the proportion of the number of moles of all structural units yielded by a rearrangement reaction in the course of melt polymerization reaction to 1 mol of structural units having the framework of an aromatic dihydroxy compound used as a starting material is higher than 0.3 mol % and not higher than 0.95 mol.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for preparing high molecular weight polycarbonate resin, particularly to a process for preparing high molecular weight polycarbonate resin, which conducts condensation polymerization of low molecular weight amorphous polycarbonate prepolymer prepared by transesterification of dialkyl(aryl)carbonate and aromatic hydroxy compound and solid state polymerization within short time to increase molecular weight. The present invention introduces condensation polymerization to lower mole fractions of arylcarbonate existing in unreacted diarylcarbonate, end groups of reaction by products of polymerization degree less than 3, and polycarbonate prepolymer obtained by transesterification, and thus can maximize molecular weight increase of polycarbonate after solid state polymerization and remarkably reduce time required for preparing polycarbonate of the same molecular weight.

Abstract: In a process for producing polyester, the esterification of dicarboxylic acids and diols is carried out in at least one reaction stage, the prepolycondensation of the esterification product in at least one reaction stage and the polycondensation of the prepolycondensation product in at least one reaction stage. To increase the capacity of the apparatus forming one or more of the reaction stages in the production of the polyesters, at at least one of the reaction stages the supplied product system before it enters the reaction stage or within the reaction stage is divided into at least two partial streams and the partial streams entirely or partially separate from one another are passed through the reaction stage.

Abstract: A water soluble polymer is provided having two or more oligomers linked to each other by hydrolytically degradable carbonate linkages. The polymer can be hydrolytically degraded into oligomers (e.g., oligomers of ethylene oxide) under physiological conditions. The polymer can be conjugated to biologically active agents such as proteins or peptides to impart improved water solubility, reduced immunogenicity, reduced rate of renal clearance, and increased stability. The polymer is useful in making hydrolytically degradable hydrogels which can be used in drug delivery and related biomedical applications. On example of the polymer is a poly (ether carbonate) of the formula X—O—[(—CH2CH2—O—)n—CO2—]n—(CH2CH2))n-y where X and Y are independently H, alkyl, alkenyl, aryl, or a reactive moiety, and at least one of X and Y is a reactive moiety.

Abstract: An electrophotographic photoconductor has an electroconductive support, and a photoconductive layer formed thereon containing as an effective component an aromatic polycarbonate resin having a structural unit of formula (2) and a structural unit with charge transporting properties, each of the structural units being contained in an amount of 5 wt. % or more of the total weight of the polycarbonate resin. There is disclosed an aromatic polycarbonate resin having a structural unit of formula (1) and the structural unit of formula (2), with the relationship between the composition ratios being 0<k/(k+j)<1 when the composition ratio of the structural unit (1) is k and that of the structural unit (2) is j, or an aromatic polycarbonate resin having a repeat unit of formula (3). The formulas (1) to (3) are specified in the specification.

Abstract: An improvement in the continuous two-phase interfacial condensation process for preparing polycarbonate is disclosed. In the process that entails at least one diphenol, phosgene, at least one chain terminator, and optionally branching agents and is carried out in the presence of a catalyst the improvement comprising maintaining the concentration of the catalyst at a level of at least 0.012 mol per mol of diphenol.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for producing polycarbonate according to the method for the transesterification of molten mass whereby bis-(hydroxyaryl) compounds (bisphenols) and diaryl carbonates are reacted by means of reactive rectification.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a polycarbonate resin that has a viscosity average molecular weight of from 10,000 to 17,000 and has characteristic features in an iron content, a free total phenol content, a content of a releasing agent, a fraction of hydroxyl end groups, a 1H-NMR spectrum or the like. The polycarbonate resin has less defects due to flash without increase of an addition amount of a releasing agent to an unnecessary level and therefore is suitable for a material of an optical disk substrate.

Abstract: An integrated method for producing aromatic polycarbonate, including the steps of: (1) making a liquid mixture of acetone and diphenylcarbonate; (2) transporting the liquid mixture of step (1) to a polycarbonate production plant; (3) separating the diphenylcarbonate from the acetone in the liquid mixture in the polycarbonate production plant; (4) reacting the diphenylcarbonate with bisphenolacetone to produce polycarbonate, thereby liberating phenol; (5) reacting phenol of step (4) with acetone of step (3) to produce bisphenolacetone; (6) using bisphenolacetone of step (5) in the reaction of step (4).

Abstract: A molded article produced by injection-molding a molten form of a flame-retardant aromatic polycarbonate resin composition comprising: 100 parts by weight of an aromatic polycarbonate (A) (Mw: 17,000 to 35,000), 0.01 to 3 parts by weight of inorganic compound particles (B) (average diameter: 10 nm to 10 ?m), 0.001 to 0.5 part by weight of an alkali metal salt (C) of an organic sulfonic acid, and 0.01 to 0.

Abstract: A method is provided for reducing the color generated during production of copolycarbonate that includes quinone-type residues. The method includes the steps preparing a reaction mixture containing precursors of monomer residues, selecting a catalyst introduction strategy and adding catalysts according to the strategy. The strategy is sufficient to result in a product copolycarbonate with improved color. The method further includes the steps of introducing the reaction mixture to a series of process units and allowing the reaction mixture to polymerize thereby forming a copolycarbonate. The resulting copolycarbonate has improved color as compared to a copolycarbonate formed in a process without the steps of selecting a catalyst introduction strategy and introducing catalysts according to the selected strategy.

Abstract: The present invention is a process for producing branched polycarbonate providing for optimum utilization of the branching agent. It was surprisingly found that adding at least a portion of the coupling catalyst to the polymerization at a point during the oligomerization in the reaction results in a higher degree of branching and improved rheological properties.

Abstract: A method for recycling an optical disk includes crushing a recovered optical disk without further treatment into chips that are used as a raw material of a resin composition for forming a film. The resin composition can be formed by injection molding to form a resin molded article. A film is formed on the surface of the resin molded article by plating or coating.

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: Homo- and/or copolymers of one or more ethylenically unsaturated monomers, suitable for the preparation of molded articles that feature improved properties, especially improved fracture properties, heat stability and notched impact strength are disclosed. These homo- and/or copolymers are characterized in that they contain less than 400 particles per m2 of surface area with a diameter greater than 200 ?m.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are zeolite compositions comprising structural units of the formulae: wherein “B” and “C” are spacer groups comprising C2 to C20 hydrocarbyl groups; and R1 and R2 independently of each other comprise alkali metal, hydrogen, or C1 to C20 alkyl groups. The zeolite compositions further comprise structural units derived from a heteropolyacid compound of the formula: (M3)3(M4)(M5)12O40; where M3 comprises hydrogen or an alkali metal; M4 comprises phosphorus or silicon, and M5 comprises tungsten or molybdenum. Methods for preparing these zeolite compositions are also disclosed. The zeolite compositions are useful as catalysts for producing bisphenols.

Abstract: A method is provided for reducing the color generated during production of copolycarbonate that includes quinone-type residues. The method includes the steps of mixing the precursors of monomer residues, a carbonate source and a polymerization catalyst into a reaction mixture. The method further includes the steps of introducing an antioxidant such as a hydroxycarboxylic acid to the reaction mixture in an amount sufficient to reduce color formation and introducing the reaction mixture to a series of process units wherein the reaction mixture polymerizes. The resulting copolycarbonate has improved color as compared to a copolycarbonate formed in a process without the step of introducing an antioxidant to the melt polymerization process.

Abstract: Copolymers having repeating units derived from monocyclic esters or carbonates and certain bicyclic diesters and/or carbonates have controllable rheological properties. The bicyclic diester and/or carbonate copolymerizes easily with the monocyclic monomers, especially with lactide, to form copolymer that can have tailored levels of branching. The copolymers have excellent rheological properties, including increased melt tensions and improved shear thinning, compared to the analogous linear polymers.

Abstract: A method for producing trimethylene carbonate poly(trimethylene carbonate which comprises (a) introducing liquid poly(trimethylene carbonate) and an optional catalyst into a wiped film evaporator reactor under a vacuum about 15 kPa or less, said reactor having walls heated to at least about 230° C. and an internal condenser heated to a temperature above the boiling point of trimethylene carbonate, (b)spreading the poly(trimethylene carbonate) into a thin film and allowing it to flow down the interior surface of the heated walls, (c) depolymerizing the poly(trimethylene carbonate) to form trimethylene carbonate which is driven to the internal condenser and residue poly(trimethylene carbonate) which continues down the reactor, and (d) collecting the trimethylene carbonate in a cooled distillate receiver.

Abstract: A method of preparing block copolymers by solid state polymerization is described. A mixture of a partially crystalline polycarbonate having activated terminal aryloxy groups, for example terminal methyl salicyl groups, when heated together with an oligomeric polyester having reactive terminal hydroxy groups under solid state polymerization conditions affords block copolymers. The activated terminal aryloxy groups play a key role in preserving the block lengths of the starting materials. A control sample in which the partially crystalline polycarbonate lacks activated terminal aryloxy groups, for example polycarbonates substituted by phenol, affords a much lower molecular weight, more highly randomized copolymer product. The product block copolymers are useful as “weatherable” plastic materials.

Abstract: A method of preparing a telechelic ionomeric polyester includes reacting a first diol with a sulfoaromatic carboxylic acid salt to form a sulfoaromatic carboxylate ester salt, and reacting the sulfoaromatic carboxylate ester salt with a diester and a second diol in the presence of a transesterification catalyst to form a telechelic ionomeric polyester. Also disclosed are telechelic ionomeric polyesters.

Abstract: An aromatic block polycarbonate resin is prepared by polymerizing a diphenol compound of formula (2) or (4), a diol compound of formula (1) or (5), and a halogenated carbonyl compound. The diphenol compound of formula (4) is produced by polymerizing the diphenol compound of formula (2) and a halogenated carbonyl compound by solution or interfacial polymerization. An electrophotographic photoconductor has an electroconductive support and a photoconductive layer formed thereon containing the above-mentioned aromatic block polycarbonate resin. An electrophotographic image forming method or apparatus employs the above-mentioned photoconductor. A process cartridge holds therein the photoconductor and at least one of the electrophotographic image forming units.

Abstract: A process of using of a particularly substituted phenol as a chain terminator of a polymeric resin is disclosed. The chain terminator is a member selected from among ortho-substituted phenol, metha-substituted phenol, and their corresponding coupled esters. The polymeric resin is selected among polycarbonate, polyester carbonate and polyester. The thus chain terminated resin is suitable for producing molded parts and extrudates. Also disclosed are the process for producing these polymers and processes for producing the molded parts and extrudates.

Abstract: Stable, homogeneous melt solutions are prepared at temperatures of 200° C. or less from solid mixtures comprising at least one diaryl carbonate, at least one high melting dihydroxy aromatic compound (mp>200° C.), a transesterification catalyst, and optionally a lower melting dihydroxy aromatic compound. Thus, a stable, homogeneous melt solution is obtained from a solid mixture comprising 4,4?-biphenol (mp 282-284° C.) at a temperature of about 200° C. using either diphenyl carbonate or bis(methyl salicyl) carbonate as the diaryl carbonate component. It is shown that formation of the stable, homogeneous melt solutions requires the presence of the transesterification catalyst when substantial amounts of the high melting dihydroxy aromatic compound are present in the initial solid mixture. Solid mixtures comprising a variety of high melting bisphenols; 4,4?-biphenol; 3,3,3,3?-tetramethylspirobiindanbisphenol, and 4,4?-sulfonyidiphenol are converted to stable, homogeneous melt solutions at 200° C.

Abstract: This invention relates to thermoplastic article having one or more decorative materials on the surface thereof which is obtained by applying heat and pressure to a laminate wherein said thermoplastic article comprises (1) one or more decorative materials; and (2) an upper or lower sheet material; wherein the upper or lower sheet material is formed from a polyester/aromatic polycarbonate blend.

Abstract: A main chain type liquid crystalline polyester comprises at least two units selected from aromatic diol units, aromtic dicarboxylic acid units, and aromatic hydroxycarboxylic acid units as essential units and a structural unit containing a cationically polymerizable group selected from the group consisting of vinyloxy groups, epoxy groups, and oxetany groups in at least one of the terminal ends of the main chain.

Abstract: A process of preparing a branched (co)polycarbonate resin is disclosed. The process entails using at least one compound conforming to formulae 1a or 1b in which R1, R2 and R3 independently denote linear or branched C1-C10-alkyl, R4 and R5 independently denote hydrogen or linear or branched C1-C10-alkyl, p1 and p2 independently of one another denote a whole number between 3 and 10, as a branching agent.

Abstract: The present invention provides an aromatic polyester which is obtained by condensation polymerization reaction of terephthalic acid, 2,6-naphthalenedicarboxylic acid and acylated product obtained by acylation of parahydroxybenzoic acid and hydroquinone with fatty acid anhydride, wherein said aromatic polyester satisfy the following conditions (A) to (D), and the acylation and/or the condensation polymerization reaction are conducted in the presence of heterocyclic organic compound containing at least two nitrogen atoms: (A): Number of moles of a monomer unit derived from parahydroxybenzoic acid (UNIT (1)) is 54-62 moles per 100 moles of UNIT (1), a monomer unit derived from hydroquinone (UNIT (2)), a monomer unit derived from terephthalic acid (UNIT (3)) and a monomer unit derived from 2,6-naphthalenedicarboxylic acid (UNIT (4)) in total; (B): Number of moles of UNIT (2) is 19-23 moles per 100 moles of UNIT (1), UNIT (2), UNIT (3) and UNIT (4) in total; (C): The molar ratio of UNIT (3) and UNIT (4), which is

Abstract: High yields of ester-substituted diary carbonates such as bis-methyl salicyl carbonate were obtained by the condensation of ester-substituted phenols with phosgene in the presence of a phase transfer catalyst (PTC) and optionally a tertiary amine catalyst in a solvent free reaction system comprising an aqueous phase held at a pH of 8.3 or higher. The optimized conditions of the present invention use an excess of ester-substituted phenol relative to phosgene and high conversion of phosgene to ester-substituted diaryl carbonate is observed. The product ester-substituted diaryl carbonate may be conveniently isolated as a solid by filtration or as a liquid in which the excess ester-substituted phenols serves as solvent. The method represents an attractive route for the manufacture of bis methyl salicyl carbonate and ester-substituted diaryl carbonates generally. The ester-substituted diaryl carbonates are useful for the preparation and modification of polycarbonates.

Abstract: A process for making a high molecular weight (co)polycarbonate resin is disclosed. The process entails (i) obtaining at least one member selected from the group low molecular weight residue (weight average molecular weight 15,000 to 30,000) of aromatic (co)polycarbonate production, waste of (co)polycarbonate production, remainders of (co)polycarbonate production and (co)polycarbonate recyclate (ii) melting the said member in a suitable vessel to obtain a melt and (iii) feeding the melt into a reactor optionally along with at least one bisphenol or oligocarbonate having terminal OH groups and further optionally with a transesterification catalyst, and (iv) subjecting the melt to transesterification reaction at a temperature of 250 to 350° C., at a pressure below 5 mbar and residence time of 0.02-4 hours.

Abstract: Usually, polycarbonate polymerization is limited by the rate at which inhibitory byproducts, such as phenol and salicylate, can be removed from the reaction. To facilitate the removal of volatile reaction byproducts from the reaction as polymerization occurs, the present invention provides a spray mist reactor. The formation of a spray mist polymerization reaction allows for the creation of an enormous surface area for exchange of volatile byproducts. The present invention is applicable to polymerization of polycarbonate and its copolymers starting with monomers or oligomers. The invention may be used to increase throughput and minimize initial investment for a give melt process, especially the fast reacting bis(methylsalicylate) carbonate process.

Abstract: The invention relates to a continuous method for producing polycarbonates by transesterifying diaryl carbonates with dihydroxyaryl compounds in the presence of quaternary onium compounds. The invention also relates to polycarbonates produced thereby and products produced from said polycarbonates.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a polycarbonate which can be obtained by a melting method and whose loss angle ? and complex viscosity ?* (Pa·s) measured under the conditions of 250° C. and an angular velocity of 10 rad/s satisfy the following relation (1): 2,500?Tan ?/(?*)?0.

Abstract: The invention relates to a polycarbonate composite material which can be thermoplastically shaped and which comprises at least two layers. The invention is characterised in that at least one layer comprises an LOI value of lower than 29 and at least one layer comprises an LOI value of higher than 29. The invention also relates to methods for producing said material, the use of the same and flame-proof polycarbonate moulded parts.

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: A thermoplastic molding composition comprising polycarbonate and 50 ppm to 300 ppm, in relation to the weight of the composition, of diphenyl carbonate is disclosed. The composition is especially suitable for the preparation of extruded sheets, in particular coextruded.

Abstract: Polycarbonate substrates, the preparation of which is based on 1,1-bis-(4-hydroxyphenyl) -3,3,5-trimethylcyclohexane, and their use for producing shaped articles with particularly high purity and extremely high surface brilliance and also the shaped articles which can be produced from the polycarbonate substrate are described.

Abstract: Optical articles, including light management films, prepared from brominated polycarbonate material are disclosed. The brominated polycarbonate provides a film exhibiting good light transmittance, high refractive index, good flame resistance, and good mechanical properties.