Polyetherimides, methods of manufacture, and articles formed therefrom

A polymer composition comprising a polyetherimide having the formula

• wherein
• n is greater than 1,
• each R is the same or different, and is selected from a divalent radical of the formula
• wherein Q1 is selected from —S—, —C(O)—, —SO2—, —SO—, and —CyH2y— wherein y is an integer from 1 to 5 and a halogenated derivative thereof,
• each Z is the same or different, and is a divalent group of formula
• wherein Q is —O—, —S—, —C(O)—, —SO2—, —SO—, or —CyH2y— wherein y is an integer from 1 to 5 and a halogenated derivative thereof, and
• the divalent bonds between the —O—Z—O— group and the phenyl substituents are in the 3,3′, 3,4′, 4,3′, and 4,4′ positions, the divalent bonds of the —O—Z—O— group being made from a bis(halophthalimide) composition comprising, based on the weight of the bis(halophthalimide) composition,
• at least 93 wt. % to less than 100 wt. % of a 3,3′-bis(halophthalimide) of the formula
• at least 1 wt. % to less than 5 wt. % of a 4,3′-bis(halophthalimide) of the formula
• and
• from more than 0 wt. % to less than 2 wt. % of a 4,4′-bis(halophthalimide) of the formula
• wherein each X is independently fluoro, chloro, bromo, or iodo and R is as defined above,
• and wherein the polyetherimide is a polymerization product of the bis(halophthalimide) composition and a alkali metal salt of a dihydroxy aromatic compound in the presence of a chain stopper comprising at least one of sodium para cumyl phenol and sodium phenol,
• the polyetherimide has:
• less than 2 weight percent content of the n=1 cyclic byproduct of 3,3-bis(halophthalimide) and the alkali metal salt of the dihydroxy aromatic compound of the formula
• —MO—Z—OM,
• wherein M is an alkali metal and Z is as defined above,
• a Tg greater than 230° C., and
• a total cyclic content (cyclic n=1, 2, and 3) of less than 3.5 weight %, based on the total weight of the polymer, and
• the polyetherimide shows no observable plate-out at molding temperature conditions.