Eastman Chemical Company

Jonathan Terrill Milburn

Alan W White

Sam Richard Turner

Robert W Seymour

Kab Sik Seo

Barry G Pearcy

Barry Glen Pearcy

Alan Wayne White

There is provided an article comprising a copolyester containing residues of neopentyl glycol, 2,2,4,4-tetraalkyl 1,3-cyclobutanediol such as 2,2,4,4-tetramethyl 1,3-cyclobutanediol, tin atoms, aluminum atoms, an alkali or alkaline earth metal atoms such as lithium atoms, optionally phosphorus atoms, and having an It.V. of at least 0.55 dL/g, and Tg of at least 90&#xb0; C. Such higher It.V. copolyesters can now be made having high Tg, good thermal stability, and higher insertion of 2,2,4,4-tetraalkyl 1,3-cyclobutanediol.

Copolyesters containing neopentyl glycol and 2,2,4,4-tetraalkyl 1,3-cyclobutanediol

There is provided a copolyester containing residues of neopentyl glycol, 2,2,4,4-tetraalkyl 1,3-cyclobutanediol such as 2,2,4,4-tetramethyl 1,3-cyclobutanediol, tin atoms, aluminum atoms, an alkali or alkaline earth metal atoms such as lithium atoms, optionally phosphorus atoms, and having an It.V. of at least 0.55 dL/g, and Tg of at least 90&#xb0; C. Such higher It.V. copolyesters can now be made having high Tg, good thermal stability, and higher insertion of 2,2,4,4-tetraalkyl 1,3-cyclobutanediol.

Disclosed are amorphous copolyesters having an inherent viscosity (IV) of about 0.5 to 1.1 dL/g measured at a temperature of 25&#xb0; C. at 0.5 g/dL concentration in a solvent mixture of symmetric tetrachloroethane and phenol having a weight ratio of symmetric tetrachloroethane to phenol of 2:3 comprising (1) a diacid component comprising about 90 to 100 mole percent terephthalic acid residues and 0 to about 10 mole percent isophthalic acid residues; and (2) a diol component comprising about 10 to 70 mole percent 1,4-cyclohexanedimethanol residues and about 90 to 30 mole percent neopentyl glycol residues; wherein the amorphous copolyesters comprises 100 mole percent diacid component and 100 mole percent diol component. The amorphous copolyesters are useful in the manufacture or fabrication of medical devices which have improved resistance to degradation upon exposure to lipids, as a profile produced by profile extrusion and as an injection molded article. Also, a method of melt processing the amorphous copolyester is disclosed which allows for performing a minimal drying or no drying of the copolyester prior to melt processing.

Amorphous copolyesters

Disclosed are amorphous copolyesters having an inherent viscosity (IV) of at least about 0.5 dL/g measured at a temperature of 25&#xb0; C. at 0.5 g/dL concentration in a solvent mixture of symmetric tetrachloroethane and phenol having a weight ratio of symmetric tetrachloroethane to phenol of 2:3 comprising (1) a diacid component comprising about 90 to 100 mole percent terephthalic acid residues and 0 to about 10 mole percent isophthalic acid residues; and (2) a diol component comprising about 10 to 70 mole percent 1,4-cyclohexanedimethanol residues and about 90 to 30 mole percent neopentyl glycol residues; wherein the amorphous copolyesters comprises 100 mole percent diacid component and 100 mole percent diol component. The amorphous copolyesters are useful in the manufacture or fabrication of medical devices which have improved resistance to degradation upon exposure to lipids, as a profile produced by profile extrusion and as an injection molded article. Also, a method of melt processing the amorphous copolyester is disclosed which allows for performing a minimal drying or no drying of the copolyester prior to melt processing.

Growing community of inventors

Kingsport, TN, United States of America

Jonathan Terrill Milburn