Polyester containing benzylidene having reduced fluorescence

Abstract

A polymer composition having naphthalenedicarboxylic residue includes a fluorescence quenching benzylidene compound capable of absorbing ultraviolet light radiation. In a preferred embodiment, the composition includes at least a 0.1 mole percent of naphthalene-2,6-dicarboxylate and about 0.01 mole percent to about 5 mole percent of a benzylidene compound having the following structure: ##STR1## wherein R is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, C.sub.1 -C.sub.8 alkyl, substituted C.sub.1 -C.sub.8 alkyl, C.sub.3 -C.sub.8 alkenyl, C.sub.3 -C.sub.8 alkynyl, C.sub.3 -C.sub.8 cycloalkyl, C.sub.3 -C.sub.8 cycloalkenyl and --R.sub.2 --X, wherein R.sub.2 is selected from the group consisting of C.sub.1 -C.sub.8 alkylene, C.sub.2 -C.sub.8 alkylene-O--C.sub.2 -C.sub.8 alkylene, C.sub.2 -C.sub.8 alkylene-S--C.sub.1 -C.sub.8 alkylene, C.sub.2 -C.sub.8 alkylene, C.sub.2 -C.sub.8 alkylene-S--C.sub.2 -C.sub.8 alkylene, C.sub.2 -C.sub.8 alkylene-N(SO.sub.2 C.sub.1-C.sub.8 alkyl)-C.sub.2 -C.sub.8 alkylene and X is selected from the group consisting of hydroxy, carboxy, carboalkoxy and acyloxy; R.sub.1 is hydrogen or has 1-3 groups independently selected from the group consisting of hydroxy, C.sub.1 -C.sub.8 alkyl, C.sub.1 -C.sub.8 alkoxy and halogen; Y is selected from the group consisting of carbalkoxy, cyano, carbamoyl, substituted carbamoyl, aryl, aroyl, C.sub.1 -C.sub.8 alkylsulfonyl and arylsulfonyl.