Hollow articles comprising fiber-filled polyester compositions, methods of manufacture, and uses thereof

A hollow molded article, comprising a surface of which at least a portion is a glossy surface, which is integrally molded from a thermoplastic polyester composition,

• (a) wherein said composition comprises:
• 35 to 45 wt. % polybutylene terephthalate with a melting point of 210 to 230° C.;
• 10 to 20 wt. % of glass fiber with a diameter of 9 to 15 microns;
• 30 to 54.9 wt. % polyethylene terephthalate with a melting point of 240 to 260° C. and a diethylene glycol group content of 0.5 to 2.5 wt. %;
• 0.1 to 5 wt. % of a colorant, based on 100 parts by weight of the combination of the polybutylene terephthalate, glass fiber and polyethylene terephthalate;
• and
• 0 to 5 wt. % of an antioxidant, a mold release agent, a stabilizer, or a combination thereof, based on 100 parts by weight of the combination of the polybutylene terephthalate, glass fiber and polyethylene terephthalate;
• (b) wherein at least 10% of the surface area of the article has a glossy surface, which forms a continuous glossy region having a gloss of at least 80 gloss units, as measured at 60 degrees in accordance with ASTM D523;
• and
• (c) wherein gloss varies from the average less than 10 gloss units in the glossy region.

A hollow molded article, comprising an outer surface of which at least a portion is a glossy surface, which is integrally molded from a thermoplastic polyester composition,

• (a) wherein said composition comprises:
• 28 to 50 wt. % polybutylene terephthalate with a melting point of 210 to 230° C.;
• 10 to 30 wt. % of glass fiber with a diameter of 9 to 20 microns;
• 20 to 62 wt. % polyethylene terephthalate with a melting point of 240 to 260° C. and a diethylene glycol group content of 0.5 to 2.5 wt. %;
• and
• 0 to 5 wt. % of a colorant, an antioxidant, a mold release agent, a stabilizer, or a combination thereof, based on 100 parts by weight of the combination of the polybutylene terephthalate, glass fiber and polyethylene terephthalate;
• (b) wherein at least 10% of the outer surface area of the article has a glossy surface, which forms a continuous glossy region having a gloss of at least 75 gloss units, as measured at 60 degrees in accordance with ASTM D523;
• (c) wherein said gloss varies from the average less than 10 gloss units in said glossy region;
• and
• (d) wherein the article is made by a gas-assisted injection molding process.