Method for the manufacture of poly(aliphatic ester-carbonate)s and uses thereof

An interfacial process for preparing a poly(aliphatic ester-carbonate), the process comprising:

• providing an initial polymerization reaction mixture comprising an C6-20 aliphatic dicarboxylic acid, a bisphenol, an alkali hydroxide, and optionally a catalyst in a solvent system comprising water and an immiscible organic solvent;
• adding an initial portion of a carbonyl dihalide over a first time period while maintaining the reaction at a first pH from 7 to less than 8;
• and
• adding a second portion of the carbonyl dihalide over a second, subsequent time period while maintaining the reaction pH at a second pH from 9 to 12, to provide a product polymerization mixture comprising the poly(aliphatic ester-carbonate),
• wherein the amount of the alkali hydroxide in the initial polymerization reaction mixture is an amount effective to increase the fraction of the first time period at a measured pH of 7 to 8 compared to the same reaction mixture with a higher amount of the alkali hydroxide in the initial polymerization mixture, and
• wherein no additional alkali hydroxide is added after providing the initial polymerization reaction mixture and before adding the initial portion of the carbonyl dihalide, or after the adding the initial portion of the carbonyl dihalide.