Methods for the manufacture of polycarbonate compositions, the compositions formed thereby, and articles thereof

A method of making a thermoplastic composition, the method comprising melt blending a reaction mixture comprising:

• a first polycarbonate comprising repeat units derived from monomers (II), (III), and (IV),
• wherein
• monomer (II) is a first dihydroxy compound of the formula:
• wherein n is 0 to 4 and Rf1 is a halogen, a C1-10 hydrocarbon group, or a C1-10 halogen-substituted hydrocarbon group;
• monomer (III) is a second dihydroxy compound not the same as monomer (II) and of the formula:
• wherein m is 1 to 4, and Rf2 is a halogen, a C1-10 hydrocarbon group, or a C1-10 halogen-substituted hydrocarbon group;
• and
• monomer (IV) is a third dihydroxy compound of the formula:
• wherein Ra and Rb are each independently a halogen or C1-12 alkyl group that is meta to the hydroxy group on the same aromatic ring;
• Rc and Rd each independently represent a C1-C12 alkyl group that is ortho to the hydroxy group on the same ring;
• p and q are each independently integers of 0 to 2;
• v and w are each independently integers of 0 to 2;
• and Xa is a single bond or a bridging group;
• wherein
• the sum of the mole percent of the repeat units derived from monomers (II) and (III) is greater than or equal to 30 mole percent, based on the total moles of the repeat units derived from monomers (II), (III), and (IV) in the first polycarbonate,
• the mole percent of the repeat units derived from monomer (IV) is 5 to 70 mole percent, based on the total moles the repeat units derived from monomers (II), (III), and (IV), and
• the total weight of the repeat units derived from monomers (II), (III),
• and (IV) is greater than or equal to 90 wt. % of the first polycarbonate;
• and an additional polycarbonate, comprising
• 50 to 100 mole percent of repeat units derived from a bisphenol cyclohexylidene of the formula (VI):
• wherein Rc1 and Rd1 are each independently C1-12 alkyl, Rc2 and Rd2 are each independently hydrogen or C1-12 alkyl, Rg is C1-12 alkyl or halogen, and t is 0 to 10;
• and
• 0 to 50 mole percent of repeat units derived from a dihydroxy aromatic compound of formula (VIII):
• wherein Re and Rf are each independently a halogen or C1-10 alkyl group;
• r and s are each independently integers of 0 to 4;
• Xa is a single bond or a bridging group connecting the two hydroxy-substituted aromatic groups;
• and the dihydroxy aromatic compound of formula (VIII) is not the same as the bisphenol cyclohexylidene of formula (VI).