# US 12,110,369 B2 · Method for the combined processing of at least two polymer melts > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,110,369 B2 - Document ID: US12110369B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/434,140 - Filed: 2020-03-05 - Published: 2022-05-12 - Granted: 2024-10-08 - Earliest claimed: 2019-03-19 - Assignees: BASF SE - Applicants: BASF SE - Inventors: Thomas Heitz; Johann Diedrich Brand; Joerg Erbes - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12110369B2 ## CPC - C08G 63/78: Preparation processes - C08J 3/005: {Processes for mixing polymers} - B29B 9/06: in the form of filamentary material, e.g. combined with extrusion - B29B 9/12: characterised by structure or composition - B29B 11/06: by moulding the material - C08G 63/183: Terephthalic acids - C08G 63/672: Dicarboxylic acids and dihydroxy compounds - C08G 63/785: {characterised by the apparatus used} - C08J 9/0061: {characterized by the use of several polymeric components} - C08J 9/122: {Hydrogen, oxygen, CO2, nitrogen or noble gases} - C08J 9/18: by impregnating polymer particles with the blowing agent - C08L 67/02: Polyesters derived from dicarboxylic acids and dihydroxy compounds (C08L67/06 takes precedence) - C08L 67/025: {containing polyether sequences} - D01D 5/08: Melt spinning methods {(D01D5/0023 takes precedence)} - D01F 6/78: from copolycondensation products - B29K 2067/003: {PET, i.e. poylethylene terephthalate} - B29K 2105/048: {Expandable particles, beads or granules} - C08J 2203/06: CO2, N2 or noble gases - C08J 2203/22: Expandable microspheres, e.g. Expancel® - C08J 2367/02: Polyesters derived from dicarboxylic acids and dihydroxy compounds; (C08J2367/06 takes precedence) - C08J 2467/02: Polyesters derived from dicarboxylic acids and dihydroxy compounds (C08J2467/06 takes precedence) - C08L 2203/12: used for fibers - C08L 2203/14: used for foams - C08L 2203/30: used for thermoforming - C08L 2205/025: containing two or more polymers of the same hierarchy C08L, and differing only in parameters such as density, comonomer content, molecular weight, structure - C08L 2205/03: containing three or more polymers in a blend - C08G: MACROMOLECULAR COMPOUNDS OBTAINED OTHERWISE THAN BY REACTIONS ONLY INVOLVING UNSATURATED CARBON-TO-CARBON BONDS - C08J: WORKING-UP; GENERAL PROCESSES OF COMPOUNDING; AFTER-TREATMENT NOT COVERED BY SUBCLASSES C08B, C08C, C08F, C08G or C08H (working, e.g. shaping, of plastics B29) - B29B: PREPARATION OR PRETREATMENT OF THE MATERIAL TO BE SHAPED; MAKING GRANULES OR PREFORMS; RECOVERY OF PLASTICS OR OTHER CONSTITUENTS OF WASTE MATERIAL CONTAINING PLASTICS - C08L: COMPOSITIONS OF MACROMOLECULAR COMPOUNDS (compositions based on polymerisable monomers C08F, C08G; artificial filaments or fibres D01F; textile treating compositions D06) - D01D: MECHANICAL METHODS OR APPARATUS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF ARTIFICIAL FILAMENTS, THREADS, FIBRES, BRISTLES OR RIBBONS - D01F: CHEMICAL FEATURES IN THE MANUFACTURE OF ARTIFICIAL FILAMENTS, THREADS, FIBRES, BRISTLES OR RIBBONS; APPARATUS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF CARBON FILAMENTS - B29K: INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASSES B29B, B29C OR B29D, RELATING TO MOULDING MATERIALS OR TO MATERIALS FOR {MOULDS, } REINFORCEMENTS, FILLERS OR PREFORMED PARTS, e.g. INSERTS ## Abstract The invention relates to a method for the combined processing of at least two polymer melts selected from the group consisting of (M1), (M2) and (M3), wherein (M1) is a polymer melt comprising a terephthalate polyester (A1), (M2) is a polymer melt comprising a copolyester (A2) on the basis of terephthalic acid, at least one aliphatic, ω-dicarboxylic acid and at least one aliphatic 1,ω-diol, and (M3) is a polymer melt 0 comprising a copolyester (A3) on the basis of terephthalic acid, at least one polytetramethylene glycol and at least one aliphatic 1,ω-diol. The method comprises the alternating processing of the at least two polymer melts into at least one product selected from the group consisting of pellets (P1), fibers (P2), expanded particles (P3), preforms (P4) and articles (P5). ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method for a combined processing of at least two polymer melts selected from the group consisting of (M1), (M2), and (M3), wherein (M1) is a polymer melt comprising a terephthalate polyester (A1), (M2) is a polymer melt comprising a copolyester (A2) on the basis of terephthalic acid, at least one aliphatic 1,ω-dicarboxylic acid, and at least one aliphatic 1,ω-diol, and (M3) is a polymer melt comprising a copolyester (A3) on the basis of terephthalic acid, at least one polytetramethylene glycol and at least one aliphatic 1,ω-diol, the method comprising alternating processing of the at least two polymer melts into at least one product selected from the group consisting of pellets (P1), fibres (P2), expanded particles (P3), preforms (P4), and articles (P5). ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein at least one polymer melt of the at least two polymer melts selected from the group consisting of (M1), (M2), and (M3) is processed into pellets (P1), wherein the processing into pellets (P1) comprises: a) supplying the at least one polymer melt to a device (D1), wherein the device (D1) comprises a perforated disk (PD), b) pressing the at least one polymer melt through the perforated disk (PD) into a pelletizing chamber (PC), wherein the pelletizing chamber (PC) comprises a cutting device (CD), c) using the cutting device (CD) to comminute the at least one polymer melt pressed through the perforated disk (PD) into individual pellets (P1), d) removing the pellets (P1) from the pelletizing chamber (PC). ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein at least one polymer melt of the at least two polymer melts selected from the group consisting of (M1), (M2) and (M3) is processed into fibres (P2), wherein the processing into fibres (P2) comprises: a) supplying the at least one polymer melt to a device (D2), wherein the device (D2) comprises at least one spinning nozzle (SN), b) extruding the at least one polymer melt through the at least one spinning nozzle (SN) in the device (D2), wherein fibres (P2) are obtained, c) removing the fibres (P2) from the device (D2). ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the at least one aliphatic 1,ω-dicarboxylic acid is selected from the group consisting of succinic acid, adipic acid, and sebacic acid. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the at least one aliphatic 1,ω-diol is selected from the group consisting of 1,2-ethanediol, 1,3-propanediol, 1,4-butanediol, and diethylene glycol. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein at least one polymer melt of the at least two polymer melts selected from the group consisting of (M1), (M2) and (M3) is processed into expanded particles (P3), wherein the processing into expanded particles (P3) comprises: a) supplying the at least one polymer melt to a device (D3), wherein the device (D3) comprises a perforated disk (PD2), b) adding at least one blowing agent (BL) to the at least one polymer melt in the device (D3), c) mixing the at least one polymer melt and the at least one blowing agent (BL) in the device (D3), wherein a mixture (M1) is obtained, d) pressing the mixture (M1) through the perforated disk (PD2) into a pelletizing chamber (PC2), wherein the pelletizing chamber (PC2) comprises a cutting device (CD2), e) using the cutting device (CD2) to comminute the mixture (M1) pressed through the perforated disk (PD2) into individual expanded particles (P3), f) removing the expanded particles (P3) from the pelletizing chamber (PC2). ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein at least one polymer melt of the at least two polymer melts selected from the group consisting of (M1), (M2) and (M3) is processed into preforms (P4), wherein the processing into preforms (P4) comprises: a) supplying the at least one polymer melt in at least one mould cavity (D4), b) permitting the at least one polymer melt to cool in the at least one mould cavity (D4), wherein at least one preform (P4) is obtained, c) removing the at least one preform (P4) from the at least one mould cavity (D4). ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the terephthalate polyester (A1) is the polycondensation product of i) 100 mol %, based on component i), of terephthalic acid, and ii) 100 to 104 mol %, based on component i), of at least one aliphatic 1,ω-diol. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the copolyester (A2) is the polycondensation product of i) 30 to 60 mol %, based on components i) to ii), of terephthalic acid, ii) 40 to 70 mol %, based on components i) to ii), of at least one aliphatic 1,ω-dicarboxylic acid, and iii) 100 to 106 mol %, based on components i) to ii), of at least one aliphatic 1,ω-diol. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the copolyester (A3) is the polycondensation product of i) 100 mol %, based on component i), of terephthalic acid, ii) 30 to 74 mol %, based on component i), of at least one polytetramethylene glycol, and iii) 30 to 74 mol %, based on component i), of at least one aliphatic 1,ω-diol, wherein the sum of components ii) and iii) is in the range from 100 to 104 mol %. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein at least one polymer melt of the at least two polymer melts selected from the group consisting of (M1), (M2) and (M3) is processed into articles (P5), wherein the processing into articles (P5) is carried out by blow moulding, injection moulding, or extrusion. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the pellets (P1) have an average diameter of from 0.05 mm to 20 mm. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the fibres (P2) are spun into a yarn. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the expanded particles (P3) are further processed into foam mouldings.