# US 2013/0156565 A1 · Boron-Containing Nucleating Agent for Polyphenylene Sulfide > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2013/0156565 A1 - Document ID: US20130156565A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 13/709,190 - Filed: 2012-12-10 - Published: 2013-06-20 - Earliest claimed: 2011-12-16 - Assignees: Ticona LLC - Inventors: Ke Feng - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20130156565A1 ## CPC - C08K 3/38: Boron-containing compounds - B29C 45/0001: {characterised by the choice of material} - C08J 5/00: Manufacture of articles or shaped materials containing macromolecular substances (manufacture of semi-permeable membranes B01D67/00 - B01D71/00) - B29K 2081/04: {Polysulfides, e.g. PPS, i.e. polyphenylene sulfide or derivatives thereof} - C08K: Use of inorganic or non-macromolecular organic substances as compounding ingredients (paints, inks, varnishes, dyes, polishes, adhesives C09) - B29C: SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING (making preforms B29B11/00; making laminated products by combining previously unconnected layers which become one product whose layers will remain together B32B37/00 - B32B41/00) - 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) - 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 A boron-containing nucleating agent is provided for use with a polyarylene sulfide. The boron-containing nucleating agent can have low crystallinity, a small particle size, and a large specific surface area. By selectively controlling certain aspects of the nucleating agent, the crystallization properties of a thermoplastic composition including the nucleating agent and a polyarylene sulfide can be significantly improved. For instance, the recrystallization temperature can be increased, which can allow the “cooling time” during a molding cycle to be substantially reduced. Through use of the boron-containing nucleating agent the recrystallization temperature can be greater than about 231° C. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A thermoplastic composition comprising a boron-containing nucleating agent and a polyarylene sulfide, the boron-containing nucleating agent having a graphitization index of greater than about 4, the nucleating agent having an average particle size and a specific surface area, wherein the ratio of the average particle size to the specific surface area is between about 0.001 and about 1 micrometers per square meter per gram, the thermoplastic composition having a recrystallization temperature of greater than about 231° C. as determined according to differential scanning calorimetry. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The thermoplastic composition of claim 1, wherein the ratio of the average particle size to the specific surface area of the boron-containing nucleating agent is between about 0.01 and about 0.8. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The thermoplastic composition of claim 1, wherein the average particle size of the boron-containing nucleating agent is less than about 10 micrometers. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The thermoplastic composition of claim 1, wherein the specific surface area of the boron-containing nucleating agent is greater than about 15 square meters per gram. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The thermoplastic composition of claim 1, wherein the graphitization index of the boron-containing nucleating agent is greater than about 5. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The thermoplastic composition of claim 1, wherein the boron-containing nucleating agent is boron nitride. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The thermoplastic composition of claim 1, wherein the boron-containing nucleating agent is in a hexagonal crystalline form. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The thermoplastic composition of claim 1, wherein the polyarylene sulfide constitutes from about 30 wt. % to about 95 wt. % of the composition and the boron-containing nucleating agent constitutes from about 0.01 wt. % to about 6 wt. % of the composition. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The thermoplastic composition of claim 1, wherein the polyarylene sulfide is a polypropylene sulfide. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The thermoplastic composition of claim 1, wherein the composition further comprises an impact modifier, mineral filler, fibrous filler, organosilane coupling agent, lubricant, disulfide, or a combination thereof. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The thermoplastic composition of claim 1, wherein the composition has a recrystallization energy of greater than about 24 kilojoules per gram as determined according to differential scanning calorimetry. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) A molded part comprising the thermoplastic composition of claim 1. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The molded part according to claim 12, wherein the molded part is injection molded. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) A liquid pump comprising the molded part of claim 12. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The liquid pump of claim 14, wherein the pump is a direct lift pump, positive displacement pump, rotodynamic pump, or gravity pump. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) The liquid pump of claim 14, wherein the pump is a centrifugal pump for circulating a coolant through an automotive engine. ### Claim 17 (depends on 12) An electronic component comprising the molded part of claim 12. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The electronic component of claim 17, wherein the component is a cellular telephone, laptop computer, small portable computer, wrist-watch device, pendant device, headphone or earpiece device, media player with wireless communication capabilities, handheld computer, remote controller, global positioning system device, handheld gaming device, battery cover, speaker, camera module, or integrated circuit. ### Claim 19 A method for molding a thermoplastic composition, the method comprising: shaping a thermoplastic composition, wherein the thermoplastic composition comprises a polyarylene sulfide and a boron-containing nucleating agent, the nucleating agent having a graphitization index of greater than about 4, the nucleating agent having an average particle size and a specific surface area, wherein the ratio of the average particle size to the specific surface area is between about 0.001 and about 1, the thermoplastic composition having a recrystallization temperature of greater than about 231° C. as determined according to differential scanning calorimetry; subjecting the thermoplastic composition to a cooling cycle. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The method of claim 19, wherein the step of shaping the thermoplastic composition comprises injecting the thermoplastic composition into a mold cavity. ### Claim 21 (depends on 20) The method of claim 20, wherein the mold temperature is from about 50° C. to about 120° C. ### Claim 22 (depends on 19) The method of claim 19, wherein a flash formed during the step of shaping the thermoplastic composition is about 0.17 millimeters or less. ### Claim 23 (depends on 19) The method of claim 19, the method further comprising combining the polyarylene sulfide with the boron-containing nucleating agent. ### Claim 24 (depends on 19) The method of claim 19, wherein the total time of the cooling cycle is from about 1 to about 60 seconds. ### Claim 25 (depends on 19) The method of claim 19, wherein the water is used as a cooling medium during the cooling cycle.