Ticona Gmbh

Kamlesh P Nair

Steven Daniel Gray

Joseph J Grenci

Xinyu Zhao

Young Shin Kim

David A McIlroy

Syed Mazahir

Suresh Subromonian

Rong Luo

Suresh Subramonian

Ke Feng

Kaushik Chakrabarty

James P Shepherd

Paul C Yung

Camilo Cano

Sayanti Basu

Grant Barber

Ardian Maliqi

Prabuddha Bansal

David A Mcilroy

A polymer composition that contains a polyaryletherketone and a liquid crystalline polymer that includes repeating units derived from naphthenic hydroxycarboxylic acids, naphthenic dicarboxylic acids, or a combination thereof in an amount of about 15 mol. % or less of the polymer is provided. The composition optionally contains reinforcing fibers in an amount of no more than about 10 wt. %.

Composition containing a polyaryletherketone and low naphthenic liquid crystalline polymer

A method for forming a polyaryletherketone is described. More particularly, a reaction mixture is initially supplied to the reactor vessel that contains one or more precursor monomers. A heteroaryl compound is also added to the reaction mixture. The reaction can be carried out according to, e.g., an electrophilic aromatic substitution reaction or a nucleophilic aromatic substitution reaction. The heteroaryl compound can serve as a dispersant to the polymer as it is formed. This minimizes the likelihood of gelling of the product polymer within the reactor vessel and limits the impact of process disruptions on the production of the polyaryletherketone.

Dispersant for use in synthesis of polyaryletherketones

A polymer composition that contains a polyaryletherketone and a liquid crystalline polymer that includes repeating units derived from naphthenic hydroxycarboxylic acids, naphthenic dicarboxylic acids, or a combination thereof in an amount of more than about 15 mol. % of the polymer is provided.

Polyaryletherketone composition

A wholly aromatic thermotropic liquid crystalline polymer and compositions including the liquid crystalline polymer are described. The polymer composition can include the liquid crystalline polymer and a fibrous filler, e.g., a chopped glass or milled glass fibrous filler. The compositions are capable of exhibiting excellent mechanical properties. The liquid crystalline polymer provides desirable characteristics with the incorporation of little or no naphthenic acids in the polymer backbone.

High strength thermotropic liquid crystalline polymer

An aromatic polyester that contains one or more aromatic ester repeating units and one or more biphenyl repeating units is provided. While a wide variety of aromatic ester repeating units may be employed, the polymer is nevertheless 'low naphthenic' to the extent that it contains a minimal content of repeating units derived from naphthenic hydroxycarboxylic acids and naphthenic dicarboxylic acids. Despite the absence of a high level of conventional naphthenic acid repeating units, the present inventors have discovered that selective control over the type and relative concentration of the biphenyl repeating units can lead to 'low naphthenic' polymers that are not only soluble in certain solvents, but also capable of exhibiting good mechanical properties. Thus, the ability of the resulting polymer to be dissolved or dispersed in various solvents can be enhanced without sacrificing performance.

Aromatic polyester containing a biphenyl chain disruptor

A crosslinkable aromatic polyester that is formed by polymerizing certain precursor monomers in the presence of a biaromatic crosslinking agent is provided. The crosslinkable aromatic polyester can have a relatively high melting temperature. For example, the melting temperature of the crosslinkable polyester may be from about 200&#xb0; C. to about 370&#xb0; C. While having a relatively high melting temperature, the crosslinkable polyester can maintain a relatively low melt viscosity so that it can be readily removed from the polymerization reactor without solidifying therein.

Crosslinkable aromatic polyester

A polymer composition that contains at least one high performance polymer and at least one aromatic amide oligomer is provided. The oligomer can serve as a flow aid that lowers the overall viscosity of the polymer matrix under shear.

High performance polymer composition with improved flow properties

A liquid crystalline polymer composition that contains a liquid crystalline polymer and an aromatic amide oligomer is provided. The oligomer can serve as a flow aid by altering intermolecular polymer chain interactions, thereby lowering the overall viscosity of the polymer matrix under shear. The oligomer is also not easily volatized or decomposed during compounding, molding, and/or use, which minimizes off-gassing and the formation of blisters that would otherwise impact the final mechanical properties of a part made from the polymer composition. While providing the benefits noted, the aromatic amide oligomer does not generally react with the polymer backbone of the liquid crystalline polymer to any appreciable extent so that the mechanical properties of the polymer are not adversely impacted.

High flow liquid crystalline polymer composition

A nucleating system for a thermoplastic composition that contains a polyarylene sulfide is provided. The nucleating system includes a combination of an inorganic crystalline compound and an aromatic amide oligomer. The present inventors have discovered that the combination of these different types of nucleating agents result in excellent crystallization properties (e.g., rate of crystallization). Due to the improved crystallization rate, the thermoplastic composition can be molded at lower temperatures to still achieve the same degree of crystallization. In addition to minimizing the energy requirements of the molding operating, the use of lower temperatures can also decrease the production of 'flash' normally associated with high temperature molding operations. The composition may also possess good viscosity properties that allow it to be readily molded into parts of a variety of different shapes and sizes.

Nucleating system for polyarylene sulfide compositions

A thermotropic liquid crystalline polymer melt polymerized in the presence of a viscosity modifier that can help increase the 'low shear' viscosity of the resulting composition is provided. The increased 'low shear' viscosity can minimize drooling of the polymer composition during processing and also allow it to possess a greater melt strength, which facilitates its ability to be processed in a wide variety of applications without losing its physical integrity. Despite having a relatively high &#x201c;low shear&#x201d; viscosity, the present inventors have discovered that the viscosity modifier does not substantially increase the &#x201c;high shear&#x201d; melt viscosity of the polymer composition. In this regard, the ratio of the &#x201c;low shear&#x201d; viscosity to the melt viscosity is generally very high, such as within a range of from about 50 to about 1000.

Thermotropic liquid crystalline polymer with improved low shear viscosity

A method for forming a high molecular weight liquid crystalline polymer is provided. The method include melt polymerizing two or more precursor monomers (e.g., acetylated or non-acetylated) in the presence of an aromatic amide oligomer. The present inventors have discovered that such an oligomer can lower the melt viscosity of the viscous polymer as it is formed. The ability to lower melt viscosity in situ during melt polymerization enables the formation of high molecular weight polymers that display low melt viscosity and can still be removed from the reactor vessel without solidifying therein. This not only improves the ease of processing, but also allows molecular weights to be reached that are even higher than conventionally practical.

Melt polymerization of low melt viscosity liquid crystalline polymers

A molded part having a predetermined shape is provided. The molded part may be formed by casting a liquid crystalline polymer composition into a mold cavity at a relatively low shear rate. Due to the use of a relatively low shear rate, the polymer composition does not generally undergo extensive shear orientation, which can allow the resulting part to be further processed using standard finishing techniques. The ability to use relatively low shear rates during casting is achieved in the present invention through the use of an aromatic amide oligomer. More particularly, the present inventors have discovered that the aromatic amide oligomer can serve as a flow aid by altering intermolecular polymer chain interactions, thereby lowering the overall viscosity of the polymer matrix to 'ultralow' levels without having a significant impact on the mechanical properties.

Cast molded parts formed from a liquid crystalline polymer

An aromatic amide compound having the following general formula (I) is provided: wherein,

Aromatic amide compound

A thermotropic liquid crystalline polymer composition capable of exhibiting both a low melting temperature and good heat resistance without the use of conventional naphthenic acids is provided. The melting temperature may, for example, range from about 250&#xb0; C. to about 400&#xb0; C. Even at such low melting temperatures, the present inventors have surprisingly discovered that the ratio of the deflection temperature under load ('DTUL'), a measure of short term heat resistance, to the melting temperature may remain relatively high. The specific DTUL values may range from about 200&#xb0; C. to about 300&#xb0; C. The ability to form a polymer composition with the properties noted above may be achieved, at least in part, by the use of an aromatic amide oligomer.

Growing community of inventors

Florence, KY, United States of America

Kamlesh P Nair