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US4230818A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Reduction of glycol ethers in polyesters

Assignee: Shell USA Inc
•
Filing: 1979-03-01
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Granted: 1980-10-28
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Expires: 1999-03-01
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Abstract

Abstract A process for reducing the glycol ether content in polyesters involves adding a glycol to a polyester oligomer solution prior to polymerization, distilling the oligomer solution to remove vapor containing the glycol as well as the glycol ether, and polymerizing the solution to produce a polyester containing a reduced glycol ether content.

Inventors

  • 👤 Roy M. Broughton, Jr.
  • 👤 Douglas D. Callander
  • 👤 Brian W. Pengilly
  • 👤 Joseph P. Schirmer
  • 👤 Terence E. Winters

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-03 01:27
CPC Classifications
C; C08; C08G; C08G63/00; C08G63/78

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim 169 words
A process for reducing the glycol ether level in a polyester, comprising the steps of: reacting a dicarboxylic acid having from 8 to 16 carbon atoms selected from the group consisting of an aryl, and an alkyl substituted aryl compound with a glycol having from 2 to 12 carbon atoms to form a polyester oligomer solution, the equivalent ratio of said glycol to said dicarboxylic acid ranging from about 0.5 to about 2.5; subsequently adding after said reaction a vaporizable glycol containing from 2 to about 12 carbon atoms to said polyester oligomer solution; pressurizing with an inert gas said polyester oligomer solution containing said added vaporizable glycol to a pressure of from about atmospheric to about 100 psi; heating said oligomer solution to a temperature of from about 20° C. below to about 100° C. above the boiling point of said vaporizable glycol and generating vapors; and distilling said vapors so that said vaporizable glycol and said ether contained in said vapor is removed from said oligomer solution.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 169 words
A process for reducing the glycol ether level in a polyester, comprising the steps of: reacting a dicarboxylic acid having from 8 to 16 carbon atoms selected from the group consisting of an aryl, and an alkyl substituted aryl compound with a glycol having from 2 to 12 carbon atoms to form a polyester oligomer solution, the equivalent ratio of said glycol to said dicarboxylic acid ranging from about 0.5 to about 2.5; subsequently adding after said reaction a vaporizable glycol containing from 2 to about 12 carbon atoms to said polyester oligomer solution; pressurizing with an inert gas said polyester oligomer solution containing said added vaporizable glycol to a pressure of from about atmospheric to about 100 psi; heating said oligomer solution to a temperature of from about 20° C. below to about 100° C. above the boiling point of said vaporizable glycol and generating vapors; and distilling said vapors so that said vaporizable glycol and said ether contained in said vapor is removed from said oligomer solution.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 29 words
A process according to claim 1, including adding from about 0.2 to about 2.0 parts by weight of said vaporizable glycol based upon 1.0 part of said oligomer solution.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 150 words
A process according to claim 2, wherein said vaporizable glycol contains from 2 to 8 carbon atoms, wherein said heating temperature ranges from the boiling point to about 90° C. above the boiling point of said vaporizable glycol, wherein said aryl dicarboxylic acid is selected from the group consisting of the various isomers of phthalic acid, the various isomers of naphthalic acid, and combinations thereof, wherein said alkyl substituted aryl dicarboxylic acids are selected from the group consisting of the various isomers of dimethylphthalic acid, the various isomers of diethylphthalic acid, the various isomers of dimethylnaphthalic acid, the various isomers of diethylnaphthalic acid, and combinations thereof, wherein the glycol which is reacted with said dicarboxylic acid to form said polyester oligomers has from 2 to 8 carbon atoms, and wherein the equivalent ratio of said glycol which is reacted with said dicarboxylic acid ranges from about 1.0 to about 1.5.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 23 words
A process according to claim 3, wherein said inert gas is selected from the class consisting of nitrogen, helium, argon and carbon dioxide.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 57 words
A process according to claim 3, wherein the amount of vaporizable glycol added ranges from about 0.7 to about 1.3 parts per part of oligomer solution, the pressure of said vessel is about atmospheric, and wherein said heated temperature ranges from about 20° C. above to about 80° C. above the boiling point of said vaporizable glycol.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 14 words
A process according to claim 5, wherein said vaporizable glycol added is ethylene glycol.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 33 words
A process according to claim 6, wherein said dicarboxylic acid is terephthalic acid and the equivalent ratio of said ethylene glycol reacted with said dicarboxylic acid ranges from about 1.0 to about 1.1.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 26 words
A process according to claim 2, including the additional step of polymerizing said oligomer solution to form a polyester having a reduced amount of glycol ether.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 26 words
A process according to claim 5, including the additional step of polymerizing said oligomer solution to form a polyester having a reduced amount of glycol ether.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 26 words
A process according to claim 7, including the additional step of polymerizing said oligomer solution to form a polyester having a reduced amount of glycol ether.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 26 words
A process according to claim 3, including the additional step of polymerizing said oligomer solution to form a polyester having a reduced amount of glycol ether.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US4077945A Cited
US4146729A Cited
US4128535A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1983-10-28 1984-04-28 1984-10-28 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1987-10-28 1988-04-28 1988-10-28 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1991-10-28 1992-04-28 1992-10-28 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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