# US 8,785,558 B2 · Process for the production of condensation polymers via in-reactor chain extension and products thereof

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- Number: US 8,785,558 B2
- Document ID: US8785558B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 13/384,743
- Filed: 2010-07-21
- Published: 2012-07-19
- Granted: 2014-07-22
- Earliest claimed: 2009-07-21
- Assignees: BASF SE
- Applicants: Gary A. Deeter; Marco A. Villalobos
- Inventors: Gary A. Deeter; Marco A. Villalobos
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8785558B2

## CPC

- C08F 2/38: Polymerisation using regulators, e.g. chain terminating agents {, e.g. telomerisation}
- C08F 220/1804: {C4-(meth)acrylate, e.g. butyl (meth)acrylate, isobutyl (meth)acrylate or tert-butyl (meth)acrylate}
- C08F 283/02: on to polycarbonates or saturated polyesters {(C08F283/004 takes precedence)}
- C08F 212/08: Styrene
- C08F 212/10: with nitriles
- C08F 220/1802: {C2-(meth)acrylate, e.g. ethyl (meth)acrylate}
- C08F: MACROMOLECULAR COMPOUNDS OBTAINED BY REACTIONS ONLY INVOLVING CARBON-TO-CARBON UNSATURATED BONDS

## Abstract

Methods for forming high molecular weight chain-extended condensation polymers are disclosed. The methods include adding a chain extender during the polymerization process of a condensation polymer to provide a chain-extended condensation polymer, wherein the chain extender comprises a polymerization product of at least one epoxy-functional (meth)acrylic monomer, and at least one styrenic and/or (meth)acrylic monomer.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method comprising:
adding a chain extender during the polymerization process of a condensation polymer to provide a chain-extended condensation polymer, wherein the chain extender comprises a polymerization product of
at least one functional (meth)acrylic monomer, and
at least one styrene monomer, substituted styrene monomer, (meth)acrylic monomer, or a mixture of any two or more thereof;
wherein: the chain extender is added from about 0.1% to about 0.32% by weight of the total weight of the chain extender and the components of the condensation polymer; and the condensation polymer is polyethyleneterephthalate.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the chain extender has a functionality of 2 or more.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the chain extender has a functionality of greater than 2.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the functional (meth)acrylic monomer is an epoxy-functional (meth)acrylic monomer.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The method of claim 4, wherein the epoxy-functional (meth)acrylic monomer is glycidyl methacrylate.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the styrene monomer is styrene and the (meth)acrylic monomer is butyl acrylate, 2-ethylhexyl acrylate, or methyl (meth)acrylate.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein a solution intrinsic viscosity of at least about 0.6 dl/g of the chain-extended condensation polymer is achieved in a time of no more than about 90 minutes.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the method does not comprise processing the chain-extended condensation polymer via solid state polymerization.

### Claim 9

A method comprising:
adding a chain extender during the polymerization process of a polyester to provide a chain-extended polyester, wherein the chain extender comprises a polymerization product of
at least one epoxy-functional (meth)acrylic monomer, and
at least one styrene monomer, substituted styrene monomer, (meth)acrylic monomer, or a mixture of any two or more thereof;
wherein:
the polymerization process is a batch polymerization process or a continuous polymerization process;
the chain extender is added when the solution intrinsic viscosity of the condensation polymer is no more than about 0.6 dL/g; and
a molecular weight of the chain-extended condensation polymer is achieved in a time that is less than the time to achieve the molecular weight in the absence of the chain extender;
the chain extender is added from about 0.1% to about 0.32% by weight of the total weight of the chain extender and the components of the polyester; and
the polyester is polyethyleneterephthalate.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The method of claim 9, wherein the chain-extended condensation polymer exhibits a greater melt viscosity than a condensation polymer formed in the absence of the chain extender.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

A chain-extended condensation polymer formed by method of claim 1.