Phase change solvents for thermoplastic polymers

A composition comprising:

• a) from 1 to 99 wt % of a thermoplastic polymer selected from the group consisting of a block copolymer, a polyester, a polyamide, a polyether, a polyurethane, a polycarbonate, a vinyl polymer, a copolymer and a mixture thereof;
• and
• from 1 to 70 wt % of a phase change solvent characterized by an AP ratio, wherein the phase change solvent has the general formula:
• R′—Py—(W—R″)n-1—W—Py—R;
• (V)
• R′—Py—(W—R″)n—R;
• (VI)
• R′—(W—R″)n-1—W—Py—R;
• or (VII)
• a mixture thereof;
• wherein
• W is selected from the group consisting of —C(═O)—O—, —O—C(═O)—, —O—C(═O)—O—, —C(═O)—NH—, —NH—C(═O)—, imide, —O—, —NR9—C(═O)—O—, and —NR9—C(═O)—NR10—, wherein R9 and R10 are independently H or linear or branched alkyl from C1-C30;
• P is CH2;
• R and R′ are independently selected from the group consisting of H, CH3, COOH, CONHR1, CONR1R2, NHR3, NR3R4, hydroxy, and C1-C30 alkoxy;
• wherein R1, R2, R3 and R4 are independently H or linear or branched alkyl from C1-C30;
• R″ is linear or branched C1-C30 alkyl;
• y is an integer from 0 to 30;
• n is an integer from 1 to 7;
• and
• wherein the phase change solvent has a phase change in a temperature range from 40° C. to 250° C.

A composition comprising:

• a) from 1 to 99 wt % of a thermoplastic polymer selected from the group consisting of a block copolymer, a polyester, a polyamide, a polyether, a polyurethane, a polycarbonate, a vinyl polymer, a copolymer and a mixture thereof;
• and
• b) from 1 to 70 wt % of a phase change solvent characterized by an AP ratio, wherein the phase change solvent has the general formula:
• R′—Py—(W—R″—W—R′″)n-1—W—Py—R;
• (VIII)
• R′—Py—(W—R″—W′—R′″)n—R;
• (IX)
• R′—(W—R″—W′—R′″)n-1—W—Py—R;
• or (X)
• a mixture thereof;
• wherein
• W and W′ are independently selected from the group consisting of —C(═O)—O—, —O—C(═O)—, —O—C(═O)—O—, —C(═O)—NH—, —NH—C(═O)—, imide, —O—, —N R9—C(═O)—O—, —O—C(═O)—NR9—, —NR9—C(═O)—N R10—, and —NR10—C(═O)—NR9—;
• wherein
• when W and W′ are the same, R″ and R′″ are not the same;
• and wherein R9 and R10 are independently H or linear or branched alkyl from C1-C30;
• P is CH2;
• R and R′ are independently selected from the group consisting of H, CH3, COOH, CONHR1, CONR1R2, NHR3, NR3R4, hydroxy, and C1-C30 alkoxy;
• wherein R1, R2, R3 and R4 are independently H or linear or branched alkyl from C1-C30;
• R″ and R′″ are independently linear or branched C1-C30 alkyl;
• y is an integer from 0 to 30;
• n is an integer from 1 to 7;
• and
• wherein the phase change solvent has a phase change in a temperature range from 40° C. to 250° C.

A thermoplastic polymer/phase change solvent blended composition comprising

• a) from 1 to 99 wt % of a thermoplastic polymer selected from the group consisting of a polyester, a polyamide, a polyether, a polyurethane, a polycarbonate, a vinyl polymer, a copolymer and a mixture thereof;
• and
• b) from 1 to 70 wt % of a phase change solvent wherein the phase change solvent has
• a phase change in a temperature range from 40° C. to 250° C.
• wherein, when blended at 20% solvent and 80% polymer, the composition has a shear viscosity less than 50% of a shear viscosity of the thermoplastic polymer absent the phase change solvent, and has a tensile strength at least 70% of a tensile strength of the thermoplastic polymer absent the phase change solvent, and
• wherein shear viscosity is measured at a temperature of 50° above a softening point of the polymer, and tensile strength is measured at ambient temperature.