HIGH INTRINSIC VISCOSITY MELT PHASE POLYESTER POLYMERS WITH ACCEPTABLE ACETALDEHYDE GENERATION RATES

摘要

A METHOD FOR THE PRODUCTION OF SOLID POLYESTER POLYMER PARTICLES COMPRISING: A) POLYCONDENSING A MOLTEN POLYESTER POLYMER COMPOSITION IN THE PRESENCE OF A POLYCONDENSATION CATALYST COMPOSITION COMPRISING ANTIMONY SPECIES; B) CONTINUING THE POLYCONDENSATION OF THE MOLTEN POLYESTER POLYMER COMPOSITION TO AN IT.V. OF 0.68 DL/G OR MORE; AND C) AFTER REACHING AN IT.V. OF 0.68 DL/G OR MORE, ADDING A CATALYST STABILIZER OR DEACTIVATOR TO THE POLYMER MELT; AND D) AFTER REACHING AN IT.V. OF 0.68 DL/G OR MORE, SOLIDIFYING THE MELT INTO SOLID POLYESTER POLYMER PARTICLES WHICH DO NOT CONTAIN ORGANIC ACETALDEHYDE SCAVENGERS. IN A FURTHER EMBODIMENT, AFTER SOLIDIFICATION OF THE POLYESTER FROM THE MELT PHASE POLYCONDENSATION PROCESS: E) THE AMOUNT OF RESIDUAL ACETALDEHYDE IN THE PARTICLES IN THE SOLID STATE IS REDUCED TO A LEVEL OF 10 PPM OR LESS WITHOUT INCREASING THE IT.V. OF THE PARTICLES BY MORE THAN 0.03 DL/G. SUCH PARTICLES HAVING AN AA (ACETALDEHYDE) GENERATION RATE OF 20 PPM OR LESS UPON BEING MELTED AFTER SOLIDIFICATION FOLLOWING THE MELT PHASE PRODUCTION AND A FREE AA LEVEL REDUCED AFTER MELT PHASE PRODUCTION TO 10 PPM OR LESS ARE INTRODUCED INTO A MELT PROCESSING ZONE TO MAKE ARTICLES SUCH AS BOTTLE PREFORMS HAVING ACCEPTABLE LEVELS OF RESIDUAL AA.