Synvina C.v.

Wellman Inc.

Furanix Technologies B.v.

Marion L Andrews

Jeffrey John Kolstad

Robert Joseph Schiavone

Jesper Gabriel Van Berkel

Matheus Adrianus Dam

Jesper Gabriël Van Berkel

Bing Wang

Edward E Paschke

Gerardus Johannes Gruter

Gerardus Johannes Maria Gruter

Walter Lee Edwards

The molecular weight of a semi-crystalline starting polyester comprising ethylene 2,5-furandicarboxylate units is enhanced by heating the semi-crystalline starting polyester, having a melting point Tm, at a temperature in the range of (Tm-40&#xb0; C.) to Tm to obtain a solid stated polyester, where the semi-crystalline starting polyester has an intrinsic viscosity of at least 0.45 dL/g, and an amount of carboxylic acid end groups in the range of 15 to 122 meq/kg.

Process for enhancing the molecular weight of a polyester

A polyester, including ethylene 2,5-furandicarboxylateunits, also includes diethylene glycol residues, the content of which is less than 0.045, in moles per mole of 2,5-furandicarboxylate moieties. The polyester composition can be prepared with a method where a starting mixture is subjected to esterification of 2,5-furandicarboxylic acid or transesterification of an ester thereof with ethylene glycol in the presence of a basic compound and/or an ammonium compound capable of suppressing the formation of diethylene glycol.

Polyester and method for preparing such a polyester

A polyester, including ethylene 2,5-furandicarboxylate units, has an intrinsic viscosity of at least 0.45 d L/g, and has a relative content of carboxylic acid end groups, expressed as the fraction of the molar amount of carboxylic acid end groups divided by the sum of the molar amounts of hydroxyl end groups and carboxylic acid end groups in the range of 0.10 to 0.70. The polyester can be prepared with a method wherein a starting mixture comprising 2,5-furandicarboxylic acid and ethylene glycol is subjected to esterification and subsequent polycondensation at reduced pressure when the molar ratio of 2,5-furandicarboxylic acid to ethylene glycol in the starting mixture is 1:1.01 to 1:1.15, where water, that is formed during the reaction between 2,5-furandicarboxylic acid and ethylene glycol, and some ethylene glycol are removed in a distillation system, and where ethylene glycol that is removed with water, is separated from water and at least partly recycled.

A polyester including poly(ethylene 2,5-furandicarboxylate is prepared by esterification of a starting mixture including 2,5-furandicarboxylic acid and ethylene glycol to form an ester composition, and by subjecting the ester composition thus obtained to polycondensation at reduced pressure in the presence of a polycondensation catalyst to obtain a polycondensate. The mixture is reacted under conditions such that the esterification potential as defined by Esterification Potential (EsPo)=(MR&#x2212;1)*P(T), where MR represents the molar ratio of ethylene glycol over 2,5-furandicarboxylic acid, MR being greater than 1; P(T) represents the pure component vapor pressure (in bar) of water at temperature T, which is the final reaction temperature in the esterification mixture before the pressure is reduced to effect the polycondensation, is less than 0.8.

Method for preparing a polyester under specific esterification conditions

The present invention relates to methods of making imide-modified polyester imide resins. The present invention further relates to forming these imide-modified polyester imide resins into articles, such as preforms, bottles, containers, sheets, films, fibers, and injection molded parts.

Growing community of inventors

Darlington, SC, United States of America

Marion L Andrews