Branched aromatic carbonate polymer

A thermoplastic randomly branched aromatic carbonate polymer having incorporated therein a branching component in an amount sufficient to produce a thermoplastic randomly branched polycarbonate which is substantially free of crosslinking wherein the branching component comprises a compound of the formula ##STR7## wherein R is a hydrocarbon of from three to about 50 carbon atoms which component is the product of the reaction of a triol of the formula R(OH).sub.3 with an anhydride of the formula:

• ##STR8## Y is CR.sub.5 R.sub.6, O, S or NCH.sub.3 wherein R.sub.5 and R.sub.6 are the same or different and are selected from the group consisting of hydrogen alkyl of one to three carbon atoms, inclusive, and phenyl;
• X is zero or 1;
• R.sub.1 and R.sub.3 are the same or different and are selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, phenyl and aliphatic of one to about twenty carbon atoms, inclusive, and R.sub.2 and R.sub.4, are joined together to form an alkylene or alkenylene chain of two to about six carbon atoms, inclusive, unsubstituted or substituted with one to six alkyl groups each of said groups having from one to about four carbon atoms, inclusive.

A thermoplastic randomly branched aromatic carbonate polymer having incorporated therein a branching component in an amount sufficient to produce a thermoplastic randomly branched polycarbonate which is substantially free of crosslinking wherein the branching component comprises a compound of the formula ##STR9## wherein R is a hydrocarbon of from three to about 50 carbon atoms which component is a product of the reaction of a triol of the formula R(OH).sub.3 with an anhydride of the formula:

• ##STR10## Y is CR.sub.5 R.sub.6, O, S or NCH.sub.3 wherein R.sub.5 and R.sub.6 are the same or different and are selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, alkyl of one to three carbon atoms, inclusive, and phenyl;
• x is zero or 1;
• R.sub.1, R.sub.2, R.sub.3, and R.sub.4 are the same or different and are selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, phenyl and aliphatic of one to about twenty carbon atoms, inclusive.