The invention discloses a class of new polymers, trans-ring-fused poly(4-hydroxybutyrate)s (RF-P4HB) that exhibit a unique set of properties, including robust thermal stability and mechanical strength, quantitative recyclability to the building block monomers via thermolysis and/or chemical catalysis, and convenient production from the chemical ring-opening polymerization under ambient temperature and pressure. Another unique property is the formation of crystalline stereocomplexed polymers with high melting temperature upon mixing the two enantiomeric RF-P4HB chains via stereocomplexing co-crystallization. This invention also provides the corresponding ring-fused lactone monomer structures that enable the synthesis of the RF-P4HB polymers, through trans-fusing of rings to the parent -butyrolactone ring. Furthermore, a polymerization or copolymerization process for the synthesis of RF-P4HB polymers and copolymers is disclosed.

The present invention relates to a tape comprising a composition comprising a copolyester comprising polymeric units derived from ethylene glycol and terephthalic acid or a diester thereof and >0.50 and <5.00 wt % of polymeric units with regard to the total weight of the polyester derived from an oligomeric dihydroxy compound having a number average molecular weight of >500 g/mol and <5000 g/mol. Such tape has an improved tensile-impact strength and a reduced proneness to splitting during weaving.

This invention relates to catalysts for polyesterol synthesis and the use of a di-thio compound as catalyst for the production of polyester-polyols.

The present invention provides a composition comprising: a polyester base polymer; an oxidizable polyether-based additive; and a transition metal catalyst, wherein the polyester base polymer is substantially free of antimony. Containers made include a wall made of the composition. The polyester base polymer may preferably include polyethylene terephthalate and include less than about 100 ppm of antimony, less than about 50 ppm, less than about 10 ppm, or between about 0 and about 2 ppm. Containers made from the composition are substantially clear and exhibit excellent oxygen scavenging properties with little to no induction period.

In one aspect, the present invention encompasses compositions of sustainable polycarbonate polymers, methods of producing such polymers, and methods for evaluating whether certain constituents of a polymer chain are derived from biomass or a fossil carbon source.

A process is disclosed herein comprising the steps: a) contacting a mixture comprising furandicarboxylic acid dialkyl ester, 1,3-propanediol, a zinc compound, and optionally a poly(alkylene ether) diol, at a temperature in the range of from about 120 C. to about 220 C. to form prepolymer, wherein the mole ratio of the furandicarboxylic acid dialkyl ester to the 1,3-propanediol is in the range of from 1:1.3 to 1:2.2; and b) heating the prepolymer under reduced pressure to a temperature in the range of from about 220 C. to about 260 C. to form polymer. The mixture of step a) can further comprise an anthraquinone compound.

Aspects of the present invention concern the ring-opening copolymerization (ROCOP) of aromatic anhydrides and epoxides, such as terpene oxides, using sustainable starting materials, as well as the resulting polyester products having an unusually high glass transition temperature and low dispersity.

This invention relates to a polyester composition comprising: (1) at least one polyester which comprises: (a) a dicarboxylic acid component comprising: (i) about 70 to about 100 mole % residues of terephthalic acid or esters thereof; (ii) about 0 to about 30 mole % of aromatic and/or aliphatic dicarboxylic acid residues having up to 20 carbon atoms; (b) a glycol component comprising: (i) about 10 to about 50 mole % of 2,2,4,4-tetramethyl-1,3-cyclobutanediol residues; (ii) about 50 to about 90 mole % residues of modifying glycols; wherein the total mole % of the dicarboxylic acid component is 100 mole %, wherein the total mole % of the diol component is 100 mole %; and (2) residues of a catalyst system comprising lithium atoms, aluminum atoms, and, optionally, less than 30 ppm, or less than 20 ppm, or less than 10 ppm, or less than 5 ppm, or from 0 to 30 ppm, or from 0 to 20 ppm, or from 0 to 10 ppm, or 0 ppm of tin atoms, relative to the mass of final polyester being prepared.

This invention relates to a polyester composition comprising: (1) at least one polyester which comprises: (a) a dicarboxylic acid component comprising: (i) about 70 to about 100 mole % residues of terephthalic acid or esters thereof; (ii) about 0 to about 30 mole % of aromatic and/or aliphatic dicarboxylic acid residues having up to 20 carbon atoms; (b) a glycol component comprising: (i) about 10 to about 50 mole % of 2,2,4,4-tetramethyl-1,3-cyclobutanediol residues; (ii) about 50 to about 90 mole % residues of modifying glycols; wherein the total mole % of the dicarboxylic acid component of the final polyester is 100 mole %; wherein the total mole % of the glycol component of the final polyester is 100 mole %; and (2) residues comprising titanium atoms and zinc atoms, and less than 30 ppm, or less than 20 ppm, or less than 10 ppm, or less than 5 ppm, or less than 2 ppm, or from 0 to 30 ppm, or from 0 to 20 ppm, or from 0 to 10 ppm, or 0 ppm of tin atoms.

This invention relates to a process for making at least one polyester comprising: (a) a dicarboxylic acid component comprising: (i) 70 to 100 mole % of terephthalic acid residues; (ii) 0 to 30 mole % of aromatic dicarboxylic acid residues having up to 20 carbon atoms; and (iii) 0 to 10 mole % of aliphatic dicarboxylic acid residues having up to 16 carbon atoms; (b) a glycol component comprising: (i) 10 to 50 mole % of 2,2,4,4-tetramethyl-1,3-cyclobutanediol residues, which is a combination of greater than 80 mole % of cis-2,2,4,4-tetramethyl-1,3-cyclobutanediol and less than 20 mole % of trans-2,2,4,4-tetramethyl-1,3-cyclobutanediol, or greater than 85 mole % of cis-2, 2,4,4-tetramethyl-1,3-cyclobutanediol and less than 15 mole % of trans-2,2,4,4-tetramethyl-1,3-cyclobutanediol, or greater than 90 mole % of cis-2,2,4,4-tetramethyl-1,3-cyclobutanediol and less than 10 mole % of trans-2,2,4,4-tetramethyl-1,3-cyclobutanediol, or greater than 95 mole % of cis-2, 2,4,4-tetramethyl-1,3-cyclobutanediol and less than 5 mole % of trans-2,2,4,4-tetramethyl-1,3-cyclobutanediol; (ii) 50 to 90 mole % of cyclohexanedimethanol residues; and (iii) optionally, residues of at least one modifying glycol; wherein the total mole % of the dicarboxylic acid component of the final polyester is 100 mole %; wherein the total mole % of the glycol component of the final polyester is 100 mole %; and wherein the inherent viscosity of the final polyester is from 0.35 to 1.2 dL/g as determined in 60/40 (wt/wt) phenol/tetrachloroethane at a concentration of 0.25 g/50 ml at 25 C.; and wherein the final polyester has a Tg from 85 C. to 150 C.