# US 8,541,505 B2 · Poly(arylene ether) composition with improved melt flow and method for the preparation thereof > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,541,505 B2 - Document ID: US8541505B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 13/057,480 - Filed: 2009-09-21 - Published: 2011-07-28 - Granted: 2013-09-24 - Earliest claimed: 2008-09-30 - Assignees: Sabic Innovative Plastics IP B.V. - Applicants: Hua Guo; Michael L. Todt; John Yates - Inventors: Hua Guo; Michael L. Todt; John Yates - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8541505B2 ## CPC - C08L 71/12: Polyphenylene oxides - C08L 81/02: Polythioethers; Polythioether-ethers - C08L 23/00: Compositions of homopolymers or copolymers of unsaturated aliphatic hydrocarbons having only one carbon-to-carbon double bond; Compositions of derivatives of such polymers - C08L 25/04: Homopolymers or copolymers of styrene - C08L 67/00: Compositions of polyesters obtained by reactions forming a carboxylic ester link in the main chain (of polyester-amides C08L77/12; of polyester-imides C08L79/08); Compositions of derivatives of such polymers - C08L 77/00: Compositions of polyamides obtained by reactions forming a carboxylic amide link in the main chain (of polyhydrazides C08L79/06; of polyamideimides or polyamide acids C08L79/08); Compositions of derivatives of such polymers - C08L: COMPOSITIONS OF MACROMOLECULAR COMPOUNDS (compositions based on polymerisable monomers C08F, C08G; artificial filaments or fibres D01F; textile treating compositions D06) ## Abstract A thermoplastic composition is prepared by melt blending a poly(arylene ether) and an other resin, where the poly(arylene ether) has a particular molecular weight distribution. The thermoplastic composition exhibits significantly increased melt flow compared to compositions containing poly(arylene ether)s with similar intrinsic viscosities but different molecular weight distributions. The increased melt flow facilitates preparation of the thermoplastic composition and subsequent article fabrication procedures. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method of increasing the melt flow rate of a poly(arylene ether)-containing thermoplastic composition, comprising: melt blending a poly(arylene ether) characterized by a weight average molecular weight and a peak molecular weight, wherein a ratio of the weight average molecular weight to the peak molecular weight is about 1.3:1 to about 4:1; wherein the poly(arylene ether) is a poly(2,6-dimethyl-1,4-phenylene ether); and wherein the poly(2,6-dimethyl-1,4-phenylene ether), after it is blended with the other resin, has a weight average molecular weight of about 75,000 to about 95,000 atomic mass units, a peak molecular weight of about 40,000 to about 60,000 atomic mass unit, a ratio of the weight average molecular weight to the peak molecular weight is about 1.6:1 to about 2.3:1, and a bimodal molecular weight distribution comprising a second local maximum having a second molecular weight of about 200,000 to about 400,000 atomic mass units; and an other polymer consisting of one or more members selected from the group consisting of styrenic polymers, polyesters, polyolefins, and poly(phenylene sulfide)s to form a thermoplastic composition. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the poly(arylene ether) is the product of oxidative polymerization in the presence of a catalyst comprising copper ion and morpholine. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the poly(arylene ether) comprises about 0.1 to about 0.6 weight percent of morpholino groups. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the poly(arylene ether) is substantially free of di-n-butylamino groups. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the thermoplastic composition comprises about 20 to about 70 weight percent of the poly(arylene ether) and about 20 to about 80 weight percent of the other polymer. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the other polymer is a styrenic polymer. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the other polymer comprises a polyamide. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the other polymer comprises a polyester. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the other polymer comprises a polyolefin. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the other polymer comprises a poly(phenylene sulfide). ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the poly(arylene ether) is present in an amount of about 30 to about 70 weight percent; wherein the poly(arylene ether) comprises about 0.1 to about 0.6 weight percent of morpholino groups; wherein the other polymer comprises a rubber-modified polystyrene present in an amount of about 30 to about 70 weight percent; wherein all weight percents are based on the total weight of the thermoplastic composition; and wherein the thermoplastic composition exhibits a melt flow rate of about 10 to about 20 grams per 10 minutes measured at 280° C. and 5 kilogram load. ### Claim 12 A thermoplastic composition, comprising: a poly(arylene ether) characterized by a weight average molecular weight and a peak molecular weight, wherein a ratio of the weight average molecular weight to the peak molecular weight is about 1.3:1 to about 4:1; wherein the poly(arylene ether) is a poly(2,6-dimethyl-1,4-phenylene ether); and wherein the poly(2,6-dimethyl-1,4-phenylene ether), before it is blended with the other resin, has a weight average molecular weight of about 75,000 to about 95,000 atomic mass units, a peak molecular weight of about 40,000 to about 60,000 atomic mass unit, a ratio of the weight average molecular weight to the peak molecular weight is about 1.6:1 to about 2.3:1, and a bimodal molecular weight distribution comprising a second local maximum having a second molecular weight of about 200,000 to about 400,000 atomic mass units; and an other polymer selected from the group consisting of styrenic polymers, polyamides, polyolefins, poly(phenylene sulfide)s, and mixtures thereof. ### Claim 13 A thermoplastic composition, comprising: a poly(arylene ether) characterized by a weight average molecular weight and a peak molecular weight, wherein a ratio of the weight average molecular weight to the peak molecular weight is about 1.3:1 to about 4:1; wherein the poly(arylene ether) is a poly(2,6-dimethyl-1,4-phenylene ether); and wherein the poly(2,6-dimethyl-1,4-phenylene ether), after it is blended with the other resin, has a weight average molecular weight of about 75,000 to about 95,000 atomic mass units, a peak molecular weight of about 40,000 to about 60,000 atomic mass unit, a ratio of the weight average molecular weight to the peak molecular weight is about 1.6:1 to about 2.3:1, and a bimodal molecular weight distribution comprising a second local maximum having a second molecular weight of about 200,000 to about 400,000 atomic mass units; and an other polymer selected from the group consisting of styrenic polymers, polyamides, polyolefins, poly(phenylene sulfide)s, and mixtures thereof. ### Claim 14 A thermoplastic composition, comprising: a poly(arylene ether) characterized by a weight average molecular weight and a peak molecular weight, wherein a ratio of the weight average molecular weight to the peak molecular weight is about 1.3:1 to about 4:1; wherein the poly(arylene ether) is a poly(2,6-dimethyl-1,4-phenylene ether); and wherein the poly(2,6-dimethyl-1,4-phenylene ether), after it is blended with the other resin, has a weight average molecular weight of about 75,000 to about 95,000 atomic mass units, a peak molecular weight of about 40,000 to about 60,000 atomic mass unit, a ratio of the weight average molecular weight to the peak molecular weight is about 1.6:1 to about 2.3:1, and a bimodal molecular weight distribution comprising a second local maximum having a second molecular weight of about 200,000 to about 400,000 atomic mass units; wherein the poly(arylene ether) comprises about 10 to about 20 weight percent of molecules having a molecular weight greater than 500,000 atomic mass units; and an other polymer selected from the group consisting of styrenic polymers, polyamides, polyolefins, poly(phenylene sulfide)s, and mixtures thereof. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) The thermoplastic composition of claim 13, wherein the poly(arylene ether) is the product of oxidative polymerization in the presence of a catalyst comprising copper ion and morpholine. ### Claim 16 (depends on 13) The thermoplastic composition of claim 13, wherein the poly(arylene ether) comprises about 0.1 to about 0.6 weight percent of morpholino groups. ### Claim 17 (depends on 13) The thermoplastic composition of claim 13, wherein the poly(arylene ether) is substantially free of di-n-butylamino groups. ### Claim 18 (depends on 13) The thermoplastic composition of claim 13, wherein the thermoplastic composition comprises about 20 to about 70 weight percent of the poly(arylene ether) and about 20 to about 80 weight percent of the other polymer. ### Claim 19 (depends on 13) The thermoplastic composition of claim 13, wherein the other polymer is a styrenic polymer. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The thermoplastic composition of claim 19, wherein the styrenic polymer comprises a homopolystyrene. ### Claim 21 (depends on 19) The thermoplastic composition of claim 19, wherein the styrenic polymer comprises a rubber-modified polystyrene. ### Claim 22 (depends on 19) The thermoplastic composition of claim 19, wherein the styrenic polymer comprises an unhydrogenated block copolymer of an alkenyl aromatic compound and a conjugated diene. ### Claim 23 (depends on 19) The thermoplastic composition of claim 19, wherein the styrenic polymer comprises a hydrogenated block copolymer of an alkenyl aromatic compound and a conjugated diene. ### Claim 24 (depends on 13) The thermoplastic composition of claim 13, wherein the other polymer comprises a polyamide. ### Claim 25 (depends on 13) The thermoplastic composition of claim 13, wherein the other polymer comprises a polyester. ### Claim 26 (depends on 13) The thermoplastic composition of claim 13, wherein the other polymer comprises a polyolefin. ### Claim 27 (depends on 13) The thermoplastic composition of claim 13, wherein the other polymer comprises a poly(phenylene sulfide). ### Claim 28 (depends on 13) The thermoplastic composition of claim 13, wherein the poly(arylene ether) is present in an amount of about 30 to about 70 weight percent; wherein the poly(arylene ether) comprises about 0.1 to about 0.6 weight percent of morpholino groups; wherein the other polymer comprises a rubber-modified polystyrene present in an amount of about 30 to about 70 weight percent; wherein all weight percents are based on the total weight of the thermoplastic composition; and wherein the thermoplastic composition exhibits a melt flow rate of about 10 to about 20 grams per 10 minutes measured at 280° C. and 5 kilogram load. ### Claim 29 (depends on 13) An article comprising a thermoplastic composition of claim 13.