Ethylene glycol terephthalate production

A process for the preparation of a linear high molecular weight film and fiber-forming polyester which comprises esterifying terephthalic acid with ethylene glycol under direct esterification conditions in the presence of at least a catalyzing amount of a titanium compound selected from the group consisting of sodium titanate and lithium titanate, the molecular ratio of terephthalic acid to glycol in said esterification being between 1.0:1.2 to 1.0:2, the temperature range being about 225.degree. C. to about 250.degree. C.;

• and then polymerizing the product of said esterification in the presence of said titanium compound as the only catalyst for said polymerization to form said linear high molecular weight film and fiber-forming polyester.

The method of producing an ester of ethylene glycol and terephthalic acid which comprises catalyzing the esterification of 1.2 to 2 mols of ethylene glycol with 1 mol of terephthalic acid under temperature conditions ranging between 225.degree. to 250.degree. C., using a catalytic amount of M.sub.2 O(TiO.sub.2).sub.n, in which M is selected from the group consisting of sodium and lithium and n is 0.05 to 25.

A process for the preparation of a linear high molecular weight film and fiber-forming polyester which comprises esterifying terephthalic acid with ethylene glycol under direct esterification conditions in the presence of at least a catalyzing amount of a compound of the formula M.sub.2 O(TiO.sub.2).sub.n, in which M is from the class consisting of lithium, potassium, sodium rubidium and caesium and n is 0.05 to 25, the molecular ratio of terephthalic acid to glycol in said esterification being between 1.0:1.2 and 1.0:2, the temperature range being about 225.degree. C. to about 250.degree. C.;

• and then polymerizing the product of said esterification in the presence of said titanium compound as a catalyst for said polymerization to form said linear high molecular weight film and fiber-forming polyester.