Multilayered, transparent articles containing polyesters comprising a cyclobutanediol and a process for their preparation

A multilayered, shaped article, comprising:

• (i) a first layer comprising at least one polyester which comprises:
• (a) diacid residues comprising about 70 to about 100 mole percent, based on the total diacid residues, of the residues of terephthalic acid;
• 0 to about 30 mole percent of the residues of at least one modifying aromatic dicarboxylic acid having up to 20 carbon atoms;
• and 0 to about 10 mole percent of the residues of at least one modifying aliphatic dicarboxylic acid having up to 16 carbon atoms;
• and
• (b) diol residues comprising about 1 to about 99 mole percent, based on the total diol residues, of the residues of 2,2,4,4-tetramethyl-1,3-cyclobutanediol;
• and about 1 to about 99 mole percent of the residues of 1,4-cyclohexanedimethanol;
• and
• (ii) a second layer comprising a copolyamide;
• wherein said second layer (ii) and said first layer (i) have a difference in refractive index, RI(second layer)−RI(first layer), of about 0.006 to about −0.0006, and said shaped article has a percent transmittance of at least 75%, and a haze of 10% or less.

A process for forming a multilayered shaped article, comprising:

• (i) heating a first component to a temperature of about Tg+100° C. to about Tg+300° C. of said first component, said first component comprising at least one polyester which comprises:
• (a) diacid residues comprising about 70 to about 100 mole percent, based on the total diacid residues, of the residues of terephthalic acid;
• 0 to about 30 mole percent of the residues of at least one modifying aromatic dicarboxylic acid having up to 20 carbon atoms;
• and 0 to about 10 mole percent of the residues of at least one modifying aliphatic dicarboxylic acid having up to 16 carbon atoms;
• and
• (b) diol residues comprising about 1 to about 99 mole percent, based on the total diol residues, of the residues of 2,2,4,4-tetramethyl-1,3-cyclobutanediol;
• and about 1 to about 99 mole percent of the residues of 1,4-cyclohexanedimethanol;
• (ii) heating a second component comprising a copolyamide or a transamidized, homogeneous blend of at least two polyamides to a temperature of about Tg+100° C. to about Tg+300° C. of of said second component;
• (iii) forming a shaped article having said first and second components in separate layers;
• (iv) recovering scrap first and second components;
• (v) grinding said scrap first and second components to produce a regrind;
• (vi) optionally, drying said regrind;
• and
• (vii) combining said regrind with said first component, second component, or a combination thereof, of steps (i) and (ii);
• wherein said second component of step (ii) and said first component of step (i) of have a difference in refractive index, RI(second component)−RI(first component), of about 0.006 to about −0.0006, and said shaped article has a percent transmittance of at least 75%, and a haze of 10% or less.