A biobased additive is provided that is both a nucleating and a reinforcing agent when added to thermoplastic polyester (e.g., biopolyesters). A composite material, which is an additive-reinforced biopolyester, was prepared and improved thermo-mechanical properties were quantified. This composite material is a new class of biobased material that offers a sustainable, environmentally-friendly solution for packaging and other applications.

A process for the synthesis of a granular polymer, the process comprising (a) providing an active polymerization mixture that includes polymer, monomer, catalyst and optional solvent; (b) introducing a hydroxy-containing diaryl acetyl compound to the active polymerization mixture to thereby provide an inactive polymer mixture; (c) separating the polymer solution into a first stream and a second stream, where the first stream includes the polymer and the hydroxy-containing diaryl acetyl compound, and the second stream includes the monomer and the optional solvent; and (d) fabricating granules from the first stream.

A process for the synthesis of a granular polymer, the process comprising (a) providing an active polymerization mixture that includes polymer, monomer, catalyst and optional solvent; (b) introducing a hydroxy-containing diaryl acetyl compound to the active polymerization mixture to thereby provide an inactive polymer mixture; (c) separating the polymer solution into a first stream and a second stream, where the first stream includes the polymer and the hydroxy-containing diaryl acetyl compound, and the second stream includes the monomer and the optional solvent; and (d) fabricating granules from the first stream.

A composition for production of injection-molded articles is made of recycled polyethylene terephthalate in an amount of over 90 wt %, a nucleation agent selected from salts of citrate acid, salts of carbonic acid, titanium oxide and mixtures thereof in an amount of 0.2-1 phr, and an impact modifier in the form of an unsaturated organic compound selected from acids, anhydrides, esters and metallic salts of at least one of the following: maleic, acrylic, methacrylic, itaconic, crotonic, alpha-methyl crotonic and cinnamic, in an amount of 2-4 phr. Optical brighteners, heat stabilizers and wax can also be added. The composition has high tensile strength, low shrinkage and high color stability, especially when compared to pure RPET.

A composition for production of injection-molded articles is made of recycled polyethylene terephthalate in an amount of over 90 wt %, a nucleation agent selected from salts of citrate acid, salts of carbonic acid, titanium oxide and mixtures thereof in an amount of 0.2-1 phr, and an impact modifier in the form of an unsaturated organic compound selected from acids, anhydrides, esters and metallic salts of at least one of the following: maleic, acrylic, methacrylic, itaconic, crotonic, alpha-methyl crotonic and cinnamic, in an amount of 2-4 phr. Optical brighteners, heat stabilizers and wax can also be added. The composition has high tensile strength, low shrinkage and high color stability, especially when compared to pure RPET.

Methods may include modifying the crystallization properties of a polymer composition including a polyolefin and a nucleating agent with the structure: ##STR00001##
wherein R1 and R2 are independently selected from hydrogen, alkyl, alkenyl, or aryl, wherein the alkyl, alkenyl, or aryl may be substituted with one or more carboxylate groups and M is a metal selected from Group I of the Periodic Table; or wherein R1 and R2 are independently hydrogen, alkyl, alkenyl, or aryl with the proviso that at least one of R1 or R2 is a carbon chain having 1 to 12 carbons with at least one of the carbons in the carbon chain covalently bound to the polyolefin, and wherein the alkyl, alkenyl, or aryl may be substituted with one or more carboxylate groups; and M is a metal selected from Group I of the Periodic Table.

Methods may include modifying the crystallization properties of a polymer composition including a polyolefin and a nucleating agent with the structure: ##STR00001##
wherein R1 and R2 are independently selected from hydrogen, alkyl, alkenyl, or aryl, wherein the alkyl, alkenyl, or aryl may be substituted with one or more carboxylate groups and M is a metal selected from Group I of the Periodic Table; or wherein R1 and R2 are independently hydrogen, alkyl, alkenyl, or aryl with the proviso that at least one of R1 or R2 is a carbon chain having 1 to 12 carbons with at least one of the carbons in the carbon chain covalently bound to the polyolefin, and wherein the alkyl, alkenyl, or aryl may be substituted with one or more carboxylate groups; and M is a metal selected from Group I of the Periodic Table.

Compression blow formed articles having improved barrier properties and methods of making the same are provided herein.

A polymer composition comprises a polypropylene polymer and a salt of a branched alkyl phosphonic acid.

Provided are a resin additive composition which is excellent in fluidity and can impart excellent physical properties to a thermoplastic resin, a thermoplastic resin composition, and a molded article thereof. A resin additive composition is composed of a phosphoric acid ester compound (A) represented by the following general formula (1): ##STR00001##
(in the formula (1), R.sup.1 to R.sup.4 each independently represent a hydrogen atom or a linear or branched alkyl group having 1 to 9 carbon atoms, and R.sup.5 represents an alkylidene group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms) and a fatty acid sodium salt (B) represented by the following general formula (2): ##STR00002##
(in the formula (2), R.sup.6 represents a group introduced From an aliphatic organic acid having 7 to 30 carbon atoms), and the mass ratio of (B)/(A) is 0.55 to 2.0.