Polyester compositions which comprise tetramethylcyclobutanediol and ethylene glycol for calendering

A calendered film and/or sheet comprising a polyester composition comprising:

• (1) at least one polyester which comprises:
• (a) a dicarboxylic acid component comprising:
• (i) about 80 to about 100 mole % of terephthalic acid residues;
• (ii) about 0 to about 20 mole % of aromatic and/or aliphatic dicarboxylic acid residues having up to 20 carbon atoms;
• and
• (b) a glycol component consisting of:
• (i) about 10 to about 42 mole % 2,2,4,4-tetramethyl-1,3-cyclobutanediol residues;
• and
• (ii) about 58 to about 90 mole % ethylene glycol residues;
• and wherein the total mole % of the dicarboxylic acid component is 100 mole %, wherein the total mole % of the glycol component is 100 mole %;
• and wherein the inherent viscosity of the polyester is from 0.50 to 0.80 dL/g as determined in 60/40 (wt/wt) phenol/tetrachloroethane at a concentration of 0.25 g/50 ml at 25° C.;
• and wherein the polyester has a Tg of 80° C. to less than 100° C. as determined using a TA DSC 2920 from Thermal Analyst Instrument at a scan rate of 20° C./min;
• and wherein the polyester is amorphous or has a crystallization half-time of greater than 5 minutes;
• and wherein the polyester has a melt viscosity range of about 1,000 to about 1,000,000 poise measured at about 160 to about 230° C. and at 10 s−1 shear rate;
• and wherein said at least one polyester further comprises:
• (c) a catalyst/stabilizer component which comprises:
• (i) titanium atoms in the range of 10-50 ppm based on total polymer weight,
• (ii) manganese atoms in the range of 10-100 ppm based on total polymer weight, and
• (iii) phosphorous atoms in the range of 10-200 ppm based on total polymer weight;
• and
• (2) at least one release additive comprising one or more of:
• fatty acid amides, fatty acids, fatty acid salts, fatty acid esters, hydrocarbon waxes, ester waxes, chemically modified polyolefin waxes, microcrystalline silica, or glycerin esters;
• and wherein the L* color value for the polyester is greater than 90, as determined by the L*a*b* color system measured following ASTM D 6290-98 and ASTM E308-99, using measurements from a Hunter Lab Ultrascan XE Spectrophotometer with the following parameters:
• (1) D65 illuminant, (2) 10 degree observer, (3) reflectance mode with specular angle included, (4) large area view, (5) 1″ port size, and where the measurements were performed on polymer granules ground to pass a 1 mm sieve;
• and wherein the polyester composition comprises no tin atoms.