US 6,790,929 B2Granted

Method for making an aromatic polycarbonate

AssigneeGeneral Electric Company

InventorsNorberto Silvi, Mark Howard Giammattei, Patrick Joseph McCloskey, Alberto Nisoli, James Day, Narayan Ramesh, Paul Michael Smigelski, Jr., Paul Russell Wilson

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Abstract

This invention relates to an extrusion method preparing polycarbonates from a solution of an oligomeric polycarbonate. A mixture of bis(methyl salicyl)carbonate (BMSC), BPA and a transesterification catalyst are first equilibrated at moderate temperatures to provide a solution of polycarbonate oligomer in methyl salicylate. The solution is then fed to a devolatilizing extruder, where the polymerization reaction is completed and the methyl salicylate solvent is removed. The solution comprising the oligomeric polycarbonate can also be pre-heated under pressure to a temperature above the boiling point of methyl salicylate and subsequently fed to a devolatilizing extruder equipped for rapid flashing off the solvent. The method provides polycarbonate with greater efficiency than the corresponding process in which unreacted monomers are fed to the extruder. Additionally, the method of the invention does not require the isolation of a precursor polycarbonate comprising ester-substituted phenoxy terminal groups.

Claims58

Dependent claims

A method for the preparation of polycarbonate, said method comprising extruding in the presence of a transesterification catalyst at one or more temperatures in a temperature range between about 100° C. and about 400° C. a solution comprising a solvent and an oligomeric polycarbonate, said extruding being carried out on an extruder equipped with at least one vent adapted for solvent removal, said oligomeric polycarbonate comprising polycarbonate repeat units derived from at least one dihydroxy aromatic compound, said oligomeric polycarbonate comprising ester substituted phenoxy terminal groups having structure I

wherein
R1 is a C1-C20 alkyl group, C4-C20 cycloalkyl group, or C4-C20 aryl group;
R2 is independently at each occurrence a halogen atom, cyano group, nitro group, C1-C20 alkyl group, C4-C20 cycloalkyl group, C4-C20 aryl group, C1-C20 alkoxy group, C4-C20 cycloalkoxy group, C4-C20 aryloxy group, C1-C20 alkylthio group, C4-C20 cycloalkylthio group, C4-C20 arylthio group, C1-C20 alkylsulfinyl group, C4-C20 cycloalkylsulfinyl group, C4-C20 arylsulfinyl group, C1-C20 alkylsulfonyl group, C4-C20 cycloalkylsulfonyl group, C4-C20 arylsulfonyl group, C1-C20 alkoxycarbonyl group, C4-C20 cycloalkoxycarbonyl group, C4-C20 aryloxycarbonyl group, C2-C60 alkylamino group, C6-C60 cycloalkylamino group, C5-C60 arylamino group, C1-C40 alkylaminocarbonyl group, C4-C40 cycloalkylaminocarbonyl group, C4-C40 arylaminocarbonyl group, or C1-C20 acylamino group;
and b is an integer 0-4.

1 more element

A method for preparing polycarbonate, said method comprising:

Step (I) heating a mixture comprising at least one dihydroxy aromatic compound, an ester substituted diaryl carbonate and a transesterification catalyst at a temperature in a range between about 100° C. and about 300° C. to provide a solution of an oligomeric polycarbonate in an ester substituted phenol solvent;
and
Step (II) extruding said solution of oligomeric polycarbonate in said ester substituted phenol at one or more temperatures in a range between about 100° C. and about 400° C., and at one or more screw speeds in a range between about 50 and about 1200 rpm, said extruding being carried out on an extruder comprising at least one vent adapted for solvent removal.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 10/389,009Filed 17 Mar 2003 · continuation in part
Priority: 12 Jun 2002
Published: US 2003/0232957 A125 Dec 2003
Granted: 14 Sep 2004
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification14 codes

C08G 64/307
Using carbonates: and phenols
B29C 48/022
Extrusion moulding, i.e. expressing the moulding material through a die or nozzle which imparts the desired form; Apparatus therefor:…
B29C 48/76
Details of extruders: venting , drying means; Degassing means
B29C 48/767
In screw extruders: through a degassing opening of a barrel