Union Carbide Corporation

Union Carbide Chemicals & Plastics Technology Corporation

Wong F Ark

Robert F Eaton

Daniel Goldberg

Sandra A Kupperblatt

David M Simpson

James H Kawakami

Robert A Clendinning

Ulrich A Steiner

Thomas H Schwab

Lactone copolymers are disclosed which are polymerized from a first lactone monomer and a second amorphous monomer which is effective to suppress the crystallization of the copolymer. It is disclosed that suppression of the crystallization can provide enhanced mechanical properties in films made from the copolymers. As a result, films prepared from the copolymers of the present invention can have properties rendering them suitable for use as biodegradable trash bags as well as for other uses.

Biodegradable lactone copolymers

Condensation copolymers are disclosed which are polymerized from a first monomer which is capable of polymerization by condensation polymerization, e.g., ring opening lactone polymerization, and a second monomer which is effective to suppress the crystallization of the copolymer. It is disclosed that suppression of the crystallization can provide enhanced mechanical properties in films made from the copolymers. As a result, films prepared from the copolymers of the present invention can have properties rendering them suitable for use as biodegradable trash bags as well as for other uses.

Condensation copolymers having supressed crystallinity

Described herein is an improved process for preparing polyarylene polyethers by (a) converting a dihydric phenol to the alkali metal phenolate by adding an alkali metal or alkali metal compound to the phenol in a mixture of a sulfone or sulfoxide solvent and a solvent which forms an azeotrope with water, (b) removing water by codistillation with the azeotrope forming cosolvent, and (c) reacting the phenolate mixture with a dihalobenzeneoid compound, wherein a lighter colored product is obtained by adding the sulfone or sulfoxide solvent in increments. This may be accompanied by (1) adding an increment of the sulfone or sulfoxide solvent to a mixture of the dihydric phenol in the codistillation solvent and adding the remaining portion during the azeotroping step, or (2) adding an increment of the sulfone or sulfoxide solvent to the mixture of dihydric phenol and codistillation solvent and the remaining portion to the system simultaneously with the alkali metal hydroxide or other phenolate forming alkali metal source, or (3) adding a first increment of the sulfone or sulfoxide to the dihydric phenol-azeotrope forming solvent prior to step (a), a second increment simultaneously with the addition of alkali metal source in step (a), and the remainder during or at the end of azeotroping step (b).

Process for preparing polyarylene polyethers and a novel polyarylene

A process is provided for producing a mixture of aromatic sulfonyl chlorides and aromatic sulfones substantially free of the corresponding aromatic sulfonic acids and their anhydrides, which comprises the steps of (a) reacting a monosubstituted benzene such as monochlorobenzene with sulfur trioxide in the presence of at least about 15 mole percent to about 50 mole percent of thionyl chloride, based on the sulfur trioxide, at a temperature from about the freezing point of the reactants to about 40.degree. C.; (b) adding to the reaction mixture of step (a) at least about 60 mole percent thionyl chloride, based on the sulfur trioxide, and preferably a small catalytic amount of dimethylformamide, wherein the total thionyl chloride in the reaction mixture is at least about 110 mole percent, based on the sulfur trioxide, while maintaining the reaction mixture at a temperature between about 25.degree. C. and 70.degree. C.; and then (c) continuing the reaction up to a temperature of about 160.degree. C. The mixture produced can be used without further purification to form diaryl sulfones in high yield, for example, by reacting with monochlorobenzene in the presence of ferric chloride.

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Bridgewater, NJ, United States of America

Wong F Ark