# US 5,703,177 A · Partially crystalline block copolyester-polyamides

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- Number: US 5,703,177 A
- Document ID: US5703177A
- Status: Granted
- Kind: A
- Application number: 08/573,058
- Filed: 1995-12-15
- Granted: 1997-12-30
- Earliest claimed: 1994-12-16
- Assignees: EMS-Inventa AG
- Inventors: Heinz Hoff
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US5703177A

## CPC

- C08G 69/44: Polyester-amides
- C08G: MACROMOLECULAR COMPOUNDS OBTAINED OTHERWISE THAN BY REACTIONS ONLY INVOLVING UNSATURATED CARBON-TO-CARBON BONDS

## Abstract

This invention relates to biologically degradable, partially crystalline block copolyester-polyamides comprising at least two chemically differently structured segments of which at least one is a polyester (PES) block or a copolyester (coPES) block, preferably with a number average molecular mass of 340 to 10,000 g/mole, and at least one is a polyamide (PA) block or a copolyamide (coPA) block, preferably with a number average molecular mass of 400 to 3,000 g/mole. In addition, copolyester-amide (coPEA) blocks can be employed, preferably with a number average molecular mass of 500 to 5,000 g/mole. The invention also relates to a polycondensation process for the manufacture of these partially crystalline block copolyester-polyamides. The block copolymers described are useful for the manufacture of fibers, foils, molded articles and hot melt-type adhesives. Molded components manufactured from the copolymers in accordance with the invention are biologically degradable and are capable of being composted.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A process for the manufacture of a biologically degradable, partially crystalline block copolyester-polyamide comprising the steps
a) polycondensation of at least one amide to form pre-polymerized polyamide blocks and/or copolyamide blocks having a defined number average molar mass not exceeding 3,000 g/mole, and then
b) admixture of the pre-polymerized polyamide and/or copolyamide blocks with one or more polyester components selected from the group consisting of polyester blocks, copolyester blocks and copolyester-polyamide blocks, and
c) polycondensation of the admixture under a vacuum in the presence of a condensation catalyst, controlling temperature, pressure, catalyst and catalyst concentration such that no exchange reaction takes place, until a block copolyester-polyamide is formed in which the average molar mass and molar mass distribution of the polyester and polyamide blocks is the same prior to and after condensation.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The process according to claim 1, wherein the polycondensation reactions are carried out at a temperature of 180.degree. C. to 260.degree. C. and at a pressure in the range from atmospheric pressure up to 18 bar, and wherein the pressure is gradually relieved in step (c), following which a vacuum is applied.