Methods of manufacture for polyetherimide

A method of making polyetherimide comprising:

• reacting an aromatic diamine having amine groups located on the aromatic ring in a meta relationship, an aromatic diamine having amine groups located on the aromatic ring in a para relationship, 4-halophthalic anhydride and 3-halophthalic anhydride at an imidization reaction temperature and pressure in the presence of a solvent and a polymer additive to produce a mixture comprising 3,3′-bis(halophthalimide), 3,4′-bis(halophthalimide), 4,4′-bis(halophthalimide), solvent and the polymer additive wherein the molar ratio of 3-halophthalic anhydride to 4-halophthalic anhydride is 98:02 to 50:50 and the molar ratio of the diamine having amine groups in a meta relationship to the diamine having amine groups in a para relationship is 98:02 to 02:98;
• and
• reacting the mixture with alkali metal salt of a dihydroxy aromatic compound to produce a polyetherimide having a cyclics content less than or equal to 5 weight percent based on the total weight of the polyetherimide, a glass transition temperature greater than or equal to 216° C., and a weight average molecular weight greater than or equal to 25,000 Daltons;
• wherein the polymer additive dissolves in the solvent at the imidization reaction temperature and pressure and wherein the polymer additive comprises a polyetherimide, a polyamideimide, a polyethersulfone, a polyaryl ether ketone, a liquid crystal polymer, a polyimide or a combination thereof;
• wherein the polymer additive is present in an amount of to 7.5 wt %, based on the weight of the polyetherimide produced.

A method of making a polyetherimide comprising:

• reacting 4-halophthalic anhydride and 3-halophthalic anhydride with m-phenylenediamine, and one or more of p-phenylenediamine and 4,4′-diaminodiphenyl sulfone, at an imidization reaction temperature and pressure in the presence of a solvent and a polymer additive to produce a mixture comprising:
• 3,3′-bis(halophthalimide) having formula (I)
• wherein R is m-phenylene;
• 3,3′-bis(halophthalimide) having formula (I)
• wherein R is p-phenylene, p-diphenylsulfone or a combination thereof;
• 3,4′-bis(halophthalimide) having formula (II)
• wherein R is m-phenylene;
• 3,4′-bis(halophthalimide) having formula (II)
• wherein R is p-phenylene, p-diphenylsulfone or a combination thereof;
• 4,4′-bis(halophthalimide) having formula (III)
• wherein R is m-phenylene;
• 4,4′-bis(halophthalimide) having formula (III)
• wherein R is p-phenylene, p-diphenylsulfone or a combination thereof, solvent, and polymer additive;
• and wherein the molar ratio of 3-halophthalic anhydride to 4-halophthalic anhydride is 98:02 to 50:50 and the molar ratio of the m-phenylenediamine to the one or more of p-phenylenediamine and 4,4′-diaminodiphenyl sulfone is 98:02 to 02:98;
• and
• reacting the mixture with an alkali metal salt of a dihydroxy aromatic compound to produce a polyetherimide having a cyclics content less than or equal to 5 weight percent, based on the total weight of the polyetherimide, a glass transition temperature greater than or equal to 216° C., and a weight average molecular weight greater than or equal to 25,000 Daltons;
• wherein the polymer additive dissolves in the solvent at the imidization reaction temperature and pressure and wherein the polymer additive comprises a polyetherimide, a polyamideimide, a polyethersulfone, a polyaryl ether ketone, a liquid crystal polymer, a polyimide or a combination thereof;
• wherein the polymer additive is present in an amount of to 7.5 wt %, based on the weight of the polyetherimide produced.