# US 7,745,512 B2 · Polyester polymer and copolymer compositions containing carbon-coated iron particles > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 7,745,512 B2 - Document ID: US7745512B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 11/228,773 - Filed: 2005-09-16 - Published: 2007-03-22 - Granted: 2010-06-29 - Earliest claimed: 2005-09-16 - Assignees: Eastman Chemical Company - Inventors: Zhiyong Xia; Stephen Weinhold; Alan Wayne White - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US7745512B2 ## CPC - B29C 49/0005: {characterised by the material} - B29C 49/04: Extrusion blow-moulding - B29C 49/06: Injection blow-moulding - B29C 49/42414: {Treatment of preforms, e.g. cleaning or spraying water for improved heat transfer} - B29C 51/002: {characterised by the choice of material} - B29C 2035/0822: {using IR radiation} - B29C 2949/0715: the preform having one end closed - B29C 2949/22: at neck portion - B29C 2949/24: at flange portion - B29C 2949/26: at body portion - B29C 2949/28: at bottom portion - B29C 2949/3024: characterised by the number of components or by the manufacturing technique - B29C 2949/3032: having components being injected - B29K 2067/00: Use of polyesters {or derivatives thereof}, as moulding material - Y02P 70/10: Greenhouse gas [GHG] capture, material saving, heat recovery or other energy efficient measures, e.g. motor control, characterised by manufacturing processes, e.g. for rolling metal or metal working - B29C: SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING (making preforms B29B11/00; making laminated products by combining previously unconnected layers which become one product whose layers will remain together B32B37/00 - B32B41/00) - B29K: INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASSES B29B, B29C OR B29D, RELATING TO MOULDING MATERIALS OR TO MATERIALS FOR {MOULDS, } REINFORCEMENTS, FILLERS OR PREFORMED PARTS, e.g. INSERTS - Y02P: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES IN THE PRODUCTION OR PROCESSING OF GOODS ## Abstract Polyester compositions are disclosed that include polyester polymers or copolymers having incorporated therein carbon-coated iron particles that improve the reheat properties of the compositions. Processes for making such compositions are also disclosed. The carbon-coated iron particles may be incorporated in the polyester by melt compounding, or may be added at any stage of the polymerization, such as during the melt-phase of the polymerization. A range of particle sizes may be used, as well as a range of particle size distributions. The polyester compositions are suitable for use in packaging made from processes in which a reheat step is desirable. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A polyester composition having improved reheat, comprising: a polyester polymer; and carbon-coated metal iron particles, having a median particle size from about 1 nm to about 100 μm, dispersed in the polyester polymer, wherein the carbon-coated iron particles comprise an iron core in which iron is present in an amount of at least 75 wt. %, with respect to the total weight of the iron core, and wherein the polyester composition is in the form of a beverage bottle preform or a beverage bottle. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The polyester composition of claim 1, wherein the carbon-coated metal iron particles have a median particle size from about 1 nm to about 1 μm. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The polyester composition of claim 1, wherein the carbon-coated metal iron particles have a median particle size from about 1 nm to about 500 nm. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The polyester composition of claim 1, wherein the carbon-coated metal iron particles have a median particle size from about 1 nm to about 300 nm. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The polyester composition of claim 1, wherein the carbon-coated metal iron particles have a median particle size from about 5 nm to about 50 nm. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The polyester composition of claim 1, wherein the carbon-coated metal iron particles are present in an amount from about 0.5 ppm to about 1,000 ppm, with respect to the total weight of the polyester composition. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The polyester composition of claim 1, wherein the carbon-coated metal iron particles are present in an amount from 1 ppm to 500 ppm, with respect to the total weight of the polyester composition. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The polyester composition of claim 1, wherein the carbon-coated metal iron particles are present in an amount of from 5 ppm to 50 ppm, with respect to the total weight of the polyester composition. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The polyester composition of claim 1, wherein the polyester composition is in the form of a shaped, molded article. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The polyester composition of claim 1, wherein the polyester polymer comprises a continuous phase, and wherein the carbon-coated metal iron particles are dispersed within the continuous phase. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The polyester composition of claim 1, wherein the carbon-coated metal iron particles have a median particle size from 1 nm to 1,000 nm, and provide the polyester composition with a reheat improvement temperature (RIT) of at least 5° C. while maintaining a preform L* value of 70 or more, and a b* value from about minus 0.8 to about plus 7. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The polyester composition of claim 1, wherein the carbon-coated metal iron particles comprise a carbon coating in which carbon is present in an amount of at least 75 wt. %, with respect to the total weight of the carbon coating. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The polyester composition of claim 1, wherein the iron core of the particles has a median diameter from about 1 nm to about 5 nm. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The polyester composition of claim 1, wherein the iron core further comprises one or more of nickel, titanium, tungsten, or molybdenum. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The polyester composition of claim 1, wherein the carbon coating comprises one or more of an amorphous phase or a crystalline phase. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The polyester composition of claim 1, wherein the carbon-coated metal iron particles have a particle size distribution in which the span (S) is from 0 to about 20. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) The polyester composition of claim 1, wherein the carbon-coated metal iron particles have a particle size distribution in which the span (S) is from 0.01 to 2. ### Claim 18 A polyester composition having improved reheat, comprising: a polyester polymer in which poly(ethylene terephthalate) residues comprise at least 90 wt. % of the polyester polymer; and carbon-coated metal iron particles, having a median particle size from about 1 nm to about 1,000 nm, randomly dispersed in the polyester polymer in an amount from about 1 to about 50 ppm, wherein the carbon-coated iron particles comprise an iron core in which iron is present in an amount of at least 75 wt. %, with respect to the total weight of the iron core, wherein the polyester composition has a reheat improvement temperature of 5° C. or more, a b* value from about minus 0.8 to about plus 7, and a preform L* value of 70 or more, and wherein the polyester composition is in the form of a beverage bottle preform or a beverage bottle.