Abstract:
In an embodiment, a method of processing a polymer comprises: mixing polymer and solid carbon dioxide; introducing the polymer and solid carbon dioxide mixture to a hopper of a vented extruder; plasticizing the mixture to form a polymer melt with dissolved carbon dioxide; venting carbon dioxide as a gas before the die exit; and extruding the polymer melt through a die. In an embodiment, a method of making an article comprises: introducing a polymer powder to an extruder; introducing solid carbon dioxide powder to the extruder at the hopper; plasticizing and extruding the polymer and solid carbon dioxide mixture; venting the solid carbon dioxide before the die exit; extruding the polymer melt through a die to form pellets; and injection molding the polymer pellets without solid carbon dioxide to form molded articles.
Abstract:
The invention relates to a process for making polyethylene terephthalate (PET) from ethylene glycol (EG), purified terephthalic acid (PTA) and optionally up to 30 mol % comonomer, using a catalyst system essentially consisting of antimony—(Sb), zinc—(Zn) and phosphorous—(P) compounds, comprising the steps of a) esterifying EG and PTA to form diethyleneglycol terephthalate and oligomers (DGT), and b) melt-phase polycondensing DGT to form polyester and EG1 wherein the Sb- and P-compounds are added in step a) and the Zn-compound is added after step a). With this process PET can be obtained that shows favourable colour and optical clarity, also if recycling of EG is applied in the process, and a relatively low rate of acetaldehyde re-generation during melt-processing.
Abstract:
The present invention relates to a catalyst composition for producing polyethylene terephthalate from terephthalic acid and ethylene glycol, comprising: (i) an antimony compound, being present such that the elemental antimony is in a range of about 15 ppm to less than 150 ppm; (ii) a zinc compound, being present such that the elemental zinc is in a range of about 40 to about 160 ppm; as well as a process for the preparation thereof.
Abstract:
The invention relates to a process for making an opaque and glossy film from a thermoplastic polyester composition, comprising the steps of a) extruding the polyester composition through a slot die, and quenching to form a substantially amorphous film having a crystallinity of at most 5%; b) rapidly heating the amorphous film to a drawing temperature in the range from Tg to (Tg+50)° C. while applying a draw ratio in the range of from λinitiation to λmax. in longitudinal direction, and a drawing rate of at least 1 m/min to form an oriented film showing stress-whitening, wherein λinitiation is the draw ratio at which a transfer from a transparent product to a stress-whitened product occurs and λmax. is the draw ratio at which failure of the stress whitened film occurs; and c) heat-setting the oriented stress-whitened film; the thermoplastic polyester composition substantially consisting of at least one crystallizable polyester derived from at least one aliphatic diol and at least one aromatic dicarboxylic acid.With this process it is possible to make a unitary, glossy, opaque film from a polyester composition that does not contain void-forming additives like high amounts of fine pigment particles or dispersed non-miscible polymer particles. The film obtained also has very good mechanical properties. It is a further advantage that the process can be performed continuously on conventional extrusion and stretching equipment used for making transparent film from polyesters.The invention also relates to an opaque polyester film obtainable by said process.
Abstract:
The invention relates to a process for making a thermoplastic polyester, which comprises contacting at least one carboxylic acid-based compound and at least one alcohol-based compound in esterification and subsequent polycondensation reactions, in the presence of certain exfoliated inorganic nano-layered titanates acting as a catalyst.
Abstract:
The invention relates to a process for making polyethylene terephthalate (PET) from ethylene glycol (EG), purified terephthalic acid (PTA) and optionally up to 6 mol % comonomer, using a mixed metal catalyst system and comprising the steps of a) esterifying EG and PTA to form diethyleneglycol terephthalate and oligomers (DGT), and b) melt-phase polycondensing DGT to form PET and EG, wherein the catalyst system substantially consists of 70-160 ppm of Sb-compound, 20-70 ppm of Zn-compound, and 0.5-20 ppm of Ti-glycolate as active components (ppm metal based on PET). With this process that applies reduced amount of metal catalyst components PET can be obtained with high productivity, which polyester shows favourable colour and optical clarity, also if recycling of EG is applied within the process.
Abstract:
The invention relates to a process for making a thermoplastic polyester, which comprises contacting at least one carboxylic acid-based compound and at least one alcohol-based compound in esterification and subsequent polycondensation reactions, in the presence of certain exfoliated inorganic nano-layered titanates acting as a catalyst.
Abstract:
The invention relates to a process for making an opaque and glossy film from a thermoplastic polyester composition, comprising the steps of a) extruding the polyester composition through a slot die, and quenching to form a substantially amorphous film having a crystallinity of at most 5%; b) rapidly heating the amorphous film to a drawing temperature in the range from Tg to (Tg+50)° C. while applying a draw ratio in the range of from λinitiation to λmax. in longitudinal direction, and a drawing rate of at least 1 m/min to form an oriented film showing stress-whitening, wherein λinitiation is the draw ratio at which a transfer from a transparent product to a stress-whitened product occurs and λmax. is the draw ratio at which failure of the stress whitened film occurs; and c) heat-setting the oriented stress-whitened film; the thermoplastic polyester composition substantially consisting of at least one crystallisable polyester derived from at least one aliphatic diol and at least one aromatic dicarboxylic acid.With this process it is possible to make a unitary, glossy, opaque film from a polyester composition that does not contain void-forming additives like high amounts of fine pigment particles or dispersed non-miscible polymer particles. The film obtained also has very good mechanical properties. It is a further advantage that the process can be performed continuously on conventional extrusion and stretching equipment used for making transparent film from polyesters.The invention also relates to an opaque polyester film obtainable by said process.
Abstract:
The present invention relates to a catalyst composition for producing polyethylene terephthalate from terephthalic acid and ethylene glycol, comprising: (i) an antimony compound, being present such that the elemental antimony is in a range of about 15 ppm to less than 150 ppm; (ii) a zinc compound, being present such that the elemental zinc is in a range of about 40 to about 160 ppm; as well as a process for the preparation thereof.