US 5,973,064 A · Colored polyester thermoplastic materials comprised of poly(oxyalkylenated) compounds as colorants and specific surfactants as diluents

Abstract

This invention relates to colored polyester thermoplastics comprised of polymeric colorants having poly(oxyalkylene) moieties and/or anionic dye/quatenary ammonium substantially inorganic salt-free colorant complexes mixed with diluents selected from the group consisting essentially of sorbitan (C.sub.8 -C.sub.22) monoesters, ethoxylated sorbitan (C.sub.8 -C.sub.22) monoesters, mixtures thereof of sorbitan (C.sub.8 -C.sub.22) monoesters and ethoxylated sorbitan (C.sub.8 -C.sub.22) monoesters, ethoxylated nonyl-phenol ethers, ethoxylated dodecylphenol ethers, mixtures thereof of said ethoxylated nonyl-phenol ethers and ethoxylated dodecylphenol ethers, and mixtures of (i) sorbitan (C.sub.8 -C.sub.22) monoesters or ethoxylated sorbitan (C.sub.8 -C.sub.22) monoesters and (ii) ethoxylated nonyl-phenol ethers or ethoxylated dodecylphenol ethers. Such diluents facilitate the introduction of the preferred polymeric colorants within feedstock polyester during the extrusion or injection molding process and provide a significant improvement over traditional polyester article colorants. The inventive colored polyester thermoplastic may be molded into any shape or form; however, plastics are commonly utilized as containers for liquids, such as soft drinks. A method of coloring polyester during an extrusion or injection molding procedure utilizing the inventive colorant/diluent formulations are also provided.

Claims18

Dependent claims

A method for providing coloration to a polyester thermoplastic material during an extrusion or injection molding procedure comprising the steps of

(a) providing an amount of feedstock polyester thermoplastic;
(b) providing a composition comprising
a polyoxyalkylenated colorant defined by the Formula (I)
R{A-[(alkyleneoxy constituent).sub.n ].sub.m }.sub.x (I)
wherein
R is an organic chromophore;
A is a linking moiety in said chromophore selected from the group consisting of N, O, S, and CO.sub.2 ;
Alkyleneoxy constituent contains from 2 to 4 carbon atoms;
n is an integer of from 2 to about 100;
m is 1 when A is O, S, or CO.sub.2, and m is 2 when A is N;
x is an integer of from 1 to about 5;
and
a diluent selected from the group consisting of sorbitan (C.sub.8 -C.sub.22) monoesters, ethoxylated sorbitan (C.sub.8 -C.sub.22) monoesters, mixtures thereof of sorbitan (C.sub.8 -C.sub.22) monoesters and ethoxylated sorbitan (C.sub.8 -C.sub.22) monoesters, ethoxylated nonyl-phenol ethers, ethoxylated dodecylphenol ethers, mixtures thereof of said ethoxylated nonylphenol ethers and ethoxylated dodecylphenol ethers, and any mixtures thereof of (i) sorbitan (C.sub.8 -C.sub.22) monoesters or ethoxylated sorbitan (C.sub.8 -C.sub.22) monoesters and (ii) ethoxylated nonyl-phenol ethers or ethoxylated dodecylphenol ethers;
and
optionally, a colorant substantially free from inorganic salts comprised of an anionic dye and a quaternary ammonium compound;
(c) mixing said feedstock polyester and said colorant composition in a standard plastic extrusion or injection molding machine thereby coloring said feedstock polyester with said colorant composition;
(d) melting said colored feedstock polyester within said standard extrusion or injection molding machine thereby producing a colored molten polyester;
(e) extruding or injection molding said colored molten polyester.

15 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Colored polyester thermoplastic materials comprised of poly(oxyalkylenated) compounds as colorants and specific surfactants as diluents

Life of this patent

Colored polyester thermoplastic materials comprised of poly(oxyalkylenated) compounds as colorants and specific surfactants as diluents

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims18