GB1034194A - Block copolyesters - Google Patents

Abstract

A linear block copolymer of intrinsic viscosity of at least 0.3 dl/g. consists of 5-50% of recurring aliphatic polyester units of M.W. 1,000-20,000 and of formula <FORM:1034194/C3/1> in which m is at least 5 and 50-95% of recurring aromatic polyester units of formula <FORM:1034194/C3/2> in which n is an integer and Ar and Ar1 are both aromatic. It may be prepared by interacting an acid chloride terminated aliphatic polyester, an aromatic dicarboxylic acid chloride and a diphenol. The aliphatic polyester may be prepared by interacting: (1) an acid chloride and a glycol, (2) a hydroxy ended polyester and an acid chloride or (3) a carboxy ended polyester and PCl3, PCl5 or SOCl2. Aliphatic acid chlorides specified are those of adipic, azelaic, succinic, malonic, oxalic, glutaric, pimelic, suberic, sebacic, cyclohexane-1,3- and -1,4-dicarboxylic acids and cyclobutane-1,3-dicarboxylic acids. Glycols specified are neopentylene, hexylene, ethylene, propylene, isobutylene, butylene, pentylene, decylene glycols and 1,4-dio(hydroxy-methyl)-cyclohexane. However the aliphatic groups may contain double bonds and O and S atoms. The aliphatic polymer may be mixed with the aromatic dicarboxylic acid chloride in an inert organic solvent and be reacted interfacially with the alkali metal salt of the diphenol. Aromatic acid chlorides specified are those of phthalic, iso- and terephthalic, diphenyl - 4,41 - dicarboxylic and diphenyl-methane-dicarboxylic acids and 2,2-bis(4-carboxy-phenyl)propane. The diphenols may be of formula <FORM:1034194/C3/3> in which Ar and Ar1 are aromatic radicals optionally substituted with alkyl, aryl, cycloalkyl, halogen, nitro, ether or cyano groups; R is alkylene radical optionally substituted with alkyl, cycloalkyl or aryl or an ether, carbonyl, amino, sulphide, sulphonide, sulphone, silane or siloxy linkage; and a, b and c are integers within the limitation that if b = 0, a or c but not both may equal 0 and if b does not equal 0 neither may a or c. Many are disclosed including: 2,2-bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)-propane. Inert organic solvents specified are CH2Cl2, tetrachloroethylene, tetrachloroethane, CHCl3, CCl4 and o-dichlorobenzene. Polymerization may take place at room temperature in the presence of a catalyst, e.g. benzyltrimethyl-ammonium chloride. The product may be precipitated from the organic layer by adding a non-solvent, e.g. isopropanol. In the examples an argon atmosphere is used for polymerization.