Korea Institute of Science and Technology

Hoi Wan Yoo

Hyun Nam Cho

Chung Y Kim

Hyung Joon Kim

Sang Shik Park

A method for preparing polyester by use of a catalyst. The method comprises the steps of: esterifying either a terephthalic acid, a dicarboxylic acid containing terephthalic acid or derivatives thereof with either ethylene glycol or a glycol containing ethylene glycol, or derivatives thereof to produce an esterification product containing either bis(.beta.-hydroxyethyl) terephthalate, its low molecular weight polymer, or a combination of .beta.-hydroxyethyl terephthalate and its low molecular weight polymer; and continuously polycondensing the obtained esterification product to prepare a polyester, wherein in the said polycondensing step, a composite polymerization catalyst dissolved in an ethylene glycol or an ethylene glycol-containing solution, consisting of a compound of antimony, a compound of titanium, and a compound of tin is used. The method can considerably reduce both the esterification time and the polycondensation time and provides a good color, reduced content of diethylene glycol and reduced concentration of terminal carboxyl groups in the prepared polyesters.

Method for the preparation of polyester by use of composite catalyst

A process for forming polyesters that comprises the steps of esterifying a terephthalic acid and an ethylene glycol to produce an esterification product containing a bis (betahydroxyethyl) terephthalate, and continuously polycondensing the obtained esterification product to form a polyester. In both the esterifying step and the polycondensing step, a reaction catalyst consisting of a compound of antimony and a compound of titanium is used. The weight ratio of the compound of antimony to the compound of titanium is 0.01 to 100. The process of the present invention can considerably reduce both the esterification time and the polycondensation time and provides good color, reduced diethylene glycol content and reduced condensation of terminal carboxyl groups in the resulting polyesters.

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Seoul, South Korea

Hoi Wan Yoo