REINFORCED POLYARYLENE ESTERS

ESTERS DE POLYARYLENE RENFORCES

English Abstract

REINFORCED POLYARYLENE ESTERS
ABSTRACT
Molding resins comprising an intimate blend of
polyarylene ester of 1,2-bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)ethane and a
reinforcing filler. The molding resins provide molded poly-
ester articles possessing improved fire safety performance,
higher heat distortion temperature and resistance to flow at
elevated temperatures.

Claims

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive
property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:
l. A molding resin comprising an intimate blend of a
polyarylene ester and a reinforcing amount of a reinforcing
filler, wherein the polyarylene ester consists essentially
of units derived from at least one C8 to C25 aromatic dicar-
boxylic acid and a diphenol comprising from about 60 to 100
mol percent 1,2-bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)ethane and from about 40
to 0 mol percent of at least one other C6 to C25 diphenol
and wherein the inherent viscosity of the polyarylene ester
at 30°C. determined at a concentration of 0.5 grams polyester
per 100 ml solution in a solvent mixture of 60 parts by weight
of phenol and 40 parts by weight of sym-tetrachloroethane
is at least about 0.5, and the melt viscosity of the poly-
arylene ester at 350°C. determined at a shear rate of 100
sec -1 with a capillary rheometer is less than about 105 poises.
2. The molding resin of claim l wherein the reinforcing
filler is a granular, plate-like, acicular or fibrous filler
and comprises from about 2 to about 60 weight percent of the
molding resin.
3. The molding resin of claim 2 wherein the reinforcing
filler is a fibrous non-metallic filler.
4. The molding resin of claim 2 wherein the reinforcing
filler is glass fiber.
17

5. The molding resin of claim 2 wherein the aromatic
dicarboxylic acid comprises at least one acid selected from
the group consisting of isophthalic acid, terephthalic acid,
t-butyl-isophthalic acid, 3,3'-, 3,4'- and 4,4'-bibenzoic
acids and bis(carboxyphenyl)ethers, bis(carboxyphenyl)-
sulfides, bis(carboxyphenyl)sulfones, bis(carboxyphenyl)-
methanes, 1,2-bis(carboxyphenyl)ethanes, and 2,2 bis(4-
carboxyphenyl)propanes, wherein the carboxy groups are in
the 3- or 4-positions.
6. The molding resin of claim 2 wherein the C6 to C25
diphenol comprises at least one diphenol selected from the
group consisting of resorcinol, hydroquinone, 3,3'-, 3,4'-
and 4,4'-diphenols, 1,2-bis(3-hydroxyphenyl)ethane, 1-(3-
hydroxyphenyl)-2-(4-hydroxyphenyl)ethane, and diphenols
represented by the formula
<IMG>
wherein the hydroxyl groups are in the 3- or 4-positions,
Y is 0, S, SO2, C=O, CH2, CH(CH3), C(CH3)2, or (CH2)3, and
R is H or a C1 to C4 alkyl radical and n = 0 to 4.
7. The molding resin of claim 2 wherein the C6 to C25
diphenol comprises at least one diphenol selected from the
group consisting of hydroquinone, resorcinol, bis(4-hydroxy
phenyl)methane, 1,2-bis(3-hydroxyphenyl)ethane, 1-(3-hydroxy-
phenyl)-2-(4-hydroxyphenyl)ethane, 2,2-bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)-
propane, bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)ether, bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)
sulfide and bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)sulfone.
18

8. The molding resin of claim 2 wherein the diphenol
comprises from about 90 to 100 mol percent 1,2-bis(4-hydroxy-
phenyl)ethane and from about 10 to 0 mol percent of at least
one C6 to C25 diphenol.
9. The molding resin of claim 2 wherein the inherent
viscosity of the polyester is at least about 0.7.
10. A molding resin comprising an intimate blend of a
crystalline polyarylene ester and from about 2 to about 60
weight percent of the total composition of a reinforcing
filler, wherein the polyarylene ester consists essentially
of units derived from at least one aromatic dicarboxylic
acid selected from the group consisting of isophthalic acid,
terephthalic acid, t-butylisophthalic acid, bis(4-carboxy-
phenyl)ether, bis(4-carboxyphenyl)sulfide, bis(4-carboxy-
phenyl)sulfone, bis(4-carboxyphenyl)methane, 1,2-bis(4-
carboxyphenyl)ethane, 2,2-bis(4-carboxyphenyl)propane,
3,3'-, 3,4'- and 4,4'-bibenzoic acids, and units derived
from a diphenol comprising from about 90 to 100 mol percent
1,2-bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)ethane and from about 10 to 0 mol
percent of at least one C6 to C25 diphenol and wherein the
inherent viscosity of the polyarylene ester at 30°C. deter-
mined at a concentration of 0.5 grams polyester per 100 ml
solution in a solvent mixture of 60 parts by weight of phenol
and 40 parts by weight of sym-tetrachloroethane is at least
about 0.5, and the melting point of the polyarylene ester is
less than about 350°C.
19

11. The molding resin of claim 10 wherein the reinforcing
filler is a granular, plate-like acicular or fibrous filler.
12. The molding resin of claim 10 wherein the reinforcing
filler is a fibrous non-metallic filler.
13. The molding resin of claim 10 wherein -the reinforcing
filler is glass fiber.
14. The molding resin of claim 10 wherein the C6 to C25
diphenol comprises at least one diphenol selected from the
group consisting of hydroquinone, resorcinol, bis(4-hydroxy-
phenyl)methane, 1,2-bis(3-hydroxyphenyl)ethane, 1-(3-
hydroxyphenyl)-2-(4-hydroxyphenyl)ethane, 2,2-bis(4-
hydroxyphenyl)propane, bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)ether, bis(4-
hydroxyphenyl)sulfide and bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)sulfone, and
wherein the inherent viscosity of the polyarylene ester is
at least about 0.7.
15. The molding resin of claim 10 wherein the polyarylene
ester has a crystallization rate of at least about 0.2 min -l.
16. The molding resin of claim 10 wherein the polyarylene
ester has a crystallization rate of at least about 0.5 min -l.
17. A molding resin comprising an intimate blend of a
crystalline polyarylene ester and from about 2 to about 60
weight percent of the total composition of a reinforcing
filler wherein the polyarylene ester consists essentially
of units derived from an aromatic dicarboxylic acid com-
prising at least about 67 mol percent of isophthalic acid
and a diphenol comprising at least about 90 mol percent of
1,2-bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)ethane and wherein the inherent
viscosity of the polyarylene ester at 30°C. determined at
a concentration of 0.5 grams polyester per 100 ml solution

in a solvent mixture of 60 parts by weight of phenol and 40
parts by weight of sym-tetrachloroethane is at least about
0.7, and the melting point of the polyarylene ester is less
than about 350°C.
18. The molding resin of claim 17 wherein the reinforcing
filler is a granular, plate like, acicular or fibrous filler.
19. The molding resin of claim 17 wherein the reinforcing
filler is a fibrous non-metallic filler.
20. The molding resin of claim 17 wherein the reinforcing
filler is glass fiber.
21. The molding resin of claim 17 wherein the polyarylene
ester has a crystallization rate of at least about 0.2 min -1.
22. The molding resin of claim 17 wherein the polyarylene
ester has a crystallization rate of at least about 0.5 min -1.
23. A molding resin comprising an intimate blend of a
polyarylene ester and from about 2 to about 60 weight percent
of the total composition of a reinforcing filler, wherein the
polyarylene ester consists essentially of recurring units
represented by the formula
<IMG>
and has an inherent viscosity at 30°C. determined at a con-
centration of 0.5 grams polyester per 100 ml solution in a
solvent mixture of 60 parts by weight of phenol and 40 parts
by weight of sym-tetrachloroethane of at least about 0.7.
21

24. The molding resin of claim 23 wherein the reinforcing
filler is a granular, plate-like, acicular or fibrous filler.
25. The molding resin of claim 23 wherein the reinforcing
filler is a fibrous non-metallic filler.
26. The molding resin of claim 23 wherein the reinforcing
filler is glass fiber.
22

Description

08-12~0361A
REINFORCED POLYARYLENE ESTERS
This invention relates to a molding resin, ~o a
method of producing the molding resin and to shapea arti-
cles formed from the molding resin. More particularlyt
S it pertains to molding resins comprising a polyarylene
ester containing recurring units derived from 1,2-bis(4-
hydroxyphenyl~ethane and a reinforcing filler, to a method
of producing such molding resins and to shaped articles
formed from such molding resins.
Many polyesters have been suggested for use as
molding resins and engineering thermoplastics since the
earliest practical development of such polymers by Whin-
field and DicksonO Although several of such polyesters
and copolyesters have found commercial success as film and
lS fiber products, few have been successful as molding resins
and engine~ring thermoplastics. Two of the more success~
ful, polyethylene terephthalate and polytetramethylene
terephthalate prepared from aliphatic diols and tere-
phthalic acid, suffer from certain deficiencies as Pngin-
eering thermoplastics. They are both quite flammable andhave rather low glass transition temperatures which can
limit their use~ulness to relatively low temperatures.
Recently polyarylene esters from bis(hydroxyphenyl)
ethane have been developed and have been found to give su
perior fir~ safety performance and to be capable o~ yield-
ing crystalline compositions which have superior solvent
resistance and stress cracking resistance.
. The present invention discloses impxoved molding
resins provided by the intimate blending of reinforcing
~illers with such polyarylene esters. The improved molding
resins have been found to yield molded articles possessing
a)improved fire safety per:Eormance, particularly reduced
a~terglow, b)improved resistance to heat distortion and
s)improved resistance to flow at elevated temperatures in
--2-- -

08-12-0361A
comparison with reinforced polyalkylene~erephthalates. The
molding resins ofthe presentinvention comprisean intimate
blend ofa polyarylenees~er anda reinforcing filler, ranging
from 2to 60weight percentof the total composition. Such poly-
arylene esters consistessentially ofunits derivedfrom atleast oneC8 to C25 aromatic dicarboxylic acid and a diphenol
comprising from~0 to 100 molpercent 1,2-bis-(4-hydroxyphenyl)
ethane andfrom 40to Omol percentof atleast oneC6 toC25 di
phenol.
Also disclQsed in the present invention is a pro-
cess of manufacture of molding resin by intimately blending
these polyarylene esters with a reinforcing filler and the
shaped articles molded from these molding resins.
The polyarylene ester component of the molding
resin of the present .invention is the condensation product of
at leastone C8 to C25 aromatic dicarboxylic acid and a di-
p~.enol comprising from 60 to 100 molpercent 1,2-bis(4-hy-
droxyphenyl)ethane and from 40 to 0 molpercent of at least
one C6 to C25 diphen~l. The polyesters are described in Bel-
gîan Patent 850,978 andhave been found topossess superior
fire safety performance.
~ile essentially any suitable C8 to C25 aromatic
dicarboxylic acid and admixture thereof can be used in the
preparation of the polyarylene esters, the preferred aro-
matic dicarboxylic ac~ds comprise at least one acid of iso-
phthalic acid, terephthalic acid, 3,3'-, 3,4'- and 4,4'-
bibenzoic acids and bis(carboxyphenyl)ethers, bis(carboxy-
phenyl~sulfides, bis(carboxyphenyl~sulfones, bis(carboxy-
phenyl)methanes, 1,2-bis(carboxyphenyl)ethanes and 2,2-bis
(carboxyphenyl3propanes in which the carboxy groups are in
th~ 3 or 4 positions. Mixtures of one or more of the aro-
matic dicarboxylic diacids with minor quantities, generally
less than 25 mol percent, of C2 to C20 aliphatic diacids
can also be used. The quantities of aliphatic diacids in
general are selected so that they do not cause a sig-
nificant 105s in Tg of the resulting polyestersO Prefer-

08~ 0~61
ably the quantity is limited to a loss in Tg of not m~r~than 10C. The acid or admixture o~ acids is combinc~ with
1,2-bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)ethane or with 1,2-bis(4-hyd~oxy-
phenyl)ethane in admixture with essentially any oth~r suit-
able diphenol or mixture of diphenols to provide the ~ro-
matic polyesters of the present invention. Represen~aeiye
diphenols comprise at least one diphenol of resorcinol,
hydroquinone t 3,3'-, 3,4'- and 4,4'- diphenols, or di-
phenols represented by the formula:
R m R m
(I) ~ ~ ~
H OH
wherein the hydroxyl groups are in the 3- or 4- position~,
Y is 0, S, SO2, C=0, CX2, CH(CH3), C(CH3)2, (CH2)2 or
(CH2)3 and R is H or a Cl to C4 alkyl radical. Example~
of diphenols according to formula I include resorcinol,
hydroquinone, bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)methane, 1,2-bis(3-hy-
droxyphenyl)ethane, l-(3-hydroxyphenyl)-2-(4-hydroxyphenyl)
ethane 2,2-bis(4~hydroxyphenyl)propane, bis(4-hydroxy-
phenyl)ether, bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)sulfide and bis(4-hy-
droxyphenyl)sul~one.
While the diphenol may contain at least 60 mol per-
cent 1,2-bis~4-hydroxyphenyl)ethahe, it is preferred to
use a diphenol which comprises at least 90 mol percent,
1,2-bis(~-hydroxyphenyl~ethane because these polyesters
are generally crystalline and exhibit a rather rapi~ rate
of crystallization and polyarylene esters in which 1~2-
bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)ethane is substantially the only di-
phenolic component which can be used to advantage to ob-
tain more rapid rates of crystallization.
~4~

o~
~s-l2-a~
The inherent viscosi~y of the polyesters de~
mined at 30C. and in a solvent combination o 60 p~
by weight phenol and 40 parts by weight sym-tetrachlor
ethane at a concentration of 0.5 g per dl, is at le~
0.5 and is preferably at least 0.7. The selection o
acid and diphenol components is made so that the poly-
ester preferably has a glass transition temperature of at
least 100C. and a melt viscosity at 350C. determined in
a capillary rheometer at a shear rate of 100 sec o
less than 105 poise. For crystalline polyesters prepared
by condensation of aromatic diacid and diphenol comprising
at least 90 mol percent 1,2-bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)ethane,
the aromatic dicarboxylic acid is preferably selected so
that the melting point of the polyaryle~e ester is less
than 350C. A preferred group of the polyarylene e~ters
comprises those polyesters obtained by condensation of a
diphenol comprising at least 90 mol percent 1,2 bis(4-
hydroxyphenyl)ethane and a dicarboxy:Lic acid comprising
at least 67 mol percent isophthalic ~Icid. O this group,
29 one of the preferred combination is obtained from 1,2~
bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)ethane and isophtha7ic acid without
addi~ional components. Such preferences are based on the
availability and cost of the acid as well as on the de-
sirable glass transition and melting points of the re-
sulting polyesters.
Since molding cycles are preferably rapid, it i~desirable that a crystalline polyester crystallize in the
short period during which the polymer is coolin~ in the
mold. Thus a molding material for uses where high temper-
ature dimensional stability is important, needs to have arapid rate of crystallization. The glass transition ~em-
perature, the melting point and the rate of crystalliza-
tion can be determined by means of differential scanning
calorimetry as described in Belgian Patent 850,978.

08~
The crystallization rate is exprcssed ~ ~he in-
verse of ~he time required for one half of th~ cry~tal-
lization exotherm observed when a sample is coolcd at a
rate of 20C. per minute. A rate of crystalliz~tion of
~bout 0.2 minutes 1 or greater as determined by ~his
method is satisfactory in injection molding of polymers
because the cooling rate in the molding operation is
generally much faster than the cooling rate used in the
determination of rate of crystallization. However, a
crystallization rate of about 0.5 minutes or greater
is more preferable and fox rapid molding cycles a cry-
stallization rate of a~out one minute 1 or greater is
even more preferred.
The polyarylene ester component of the present in-
vention can be produced by a convenient method such as by
melt condensation or solvent condensation of mixtures of
aromatic dicarboxylic acids and diphenol diesters selected
to provide polyarylene esters of the desired fire safety
performance and procAessability. They can be produced by
melt or solution pol~merization of selected mixtures of
phenol esters of aromatic dicarboxylic acids and diphenols
and by interfacial polymerization of salts of diphenols and
aromatic dicarboxylic acid dihalides. Thus, while the com-
bination is formally a condensate of diacid and diphenol, in
practice the reactants are diacids and diphenol esters, or
phenyl esters of diacids and diphenols, or salts of diphen-
ols and diacid halides. One method of preparation is the
melt condensation of mixtures of aromatic dicarboxylic
acids and diphenol diesters. Another method is the melt
condensation o mixtures of aromatic dicarboxylic acid~
and diph~nol diesters to a prepolymer sta~e of inherent
viscosity in the range of 0.1 to 0.4 followed by solid
state pol~merization to advance the polymer to an inherent
viscosity above 0O5~

08-12 03~1A
The molding resins of the present inventlon ~r~
prepared by intimately blending the polyarylene e~tcr
with sufficient reinforcing filler which is generally
from 2 to 60 weight percent of the total composition.
Preferably, the amount of reinforcing filler is in the
range of from 5 to 40 weight percent of the total com-
position to achieve a sufficient degree of reinforcement
without an excessive increase in melt viscosity. It i~
to be understood that the indicia of reinforcement are
increases in the tensile strength, stiffness or impact
strength of the filled composition in comparison with
the unfilled composition.
In general, any reinforcement can be used such as
granular, plate-like, acicular or fibrous fillers of
suitable size for reinforcement. The fillers may be
metallic such as aluminum, iron, ni.ckel, copper or ~inc
or may be non-metallic such as carbon filaments, sili-
cates, clays, calcined clays, asbestos, silica, titanium
dioxide, titanate whiskers, glass flakes and fibers and
the like.
The preferred reinforcing fillers include any
kind of glass fibers usually used for reinforcing thermo-
plastic resins and are relatively soda free glasses com-
prising lime-alumin~m borosilicate glass such as types
"C" and "E" glass. The fibers may be in the ~orm sf
filaments, or bundled into strands, ropes or rovings a~d
the like. They are -conveniently used in the form of
chopped strands of up to 5 cm. in length and prefera~ly
in the range o~ 0.3 c~ to 2.5 cm. in length. Other addi-
tives such as colorants, plasticizers, stabilizers,hardeners and the like can be incorporated into the
molding resins.

08-12~0361~
,,
Blending of the polyarylene ester and ~he rein-
forcing filler is carried out in any convenient way, such
as by dry mixing pellets or powder of polyarylene ester
with the filler and melt blending and extrusion, or by
adding Xiller to molten polyarylene ester, blending and
extrusîon The polyarylene ester, the reinforcing filler
and any other additives are preferably as ~ree as possible
of water. Mixing is preferably carried out in as short a
time as possible to provide a sufficiently intimate and
uniform blend and at a temperature selected for adequate
melt viscosity but .insufficient to cause thermal degrada-
tion of the resin. The blend can be extruded and cut up
into molding compounds such as granules, pellets, etc. by
conventional techniques.
The molding resins can be molded in any equipment
conveniently used for reinforced thermoplastic composi
tions e.g., a 14 gm. Arburg machine with temperature in the
range of 250 to 350C. and mold temperature of lOb to
150C. can be used. Depending on the molding properties o
the polyarylene ester, tne amount of reinforcing filler and
the crystalli~ation behavior of the polyarylene ester,
those skilled in the art will be able to make the conven-
tional adjustments in molding cycles to accommodate the
composition.
The invention is further illustrated but is not in-
tended to be limited by the following examples in which
ratios of monomers are mol ratios and all other part~ and
percentages are by weight unless specified otherwiseO
-8-

08-12-03
EX~MPLE A
_ _
POLY(1,2-BISt4-HYDROXYPllENYL)ETHANE)ISOPHTHAL~TE
A charge consisting of 8.2 parts of isophthal~
acid and 14.8 parts of 1,2-bis(4-acetoxyphenyl)ethane i~
placed in a reaction vessel equipped with a stirrer, con~
denser and receiver. The vessel is evacuated and purg~d
with nitrogen -three times~ A nitrogen blanket is mai~
tained in the reactor while it is heated to 250 C, for
about three hours during which period approximately 3.5
4.0 parts of acetic acid distills. Thereupon the veS
is evacuated to a pressure of 125 mm. and heating at 2~5~
is continued for one half hour duriny which period an add~-
tional 1 to 1.5 parts of acetic acid distills. The va~u~
is then increased to reduce the pressure to about 0.1 to
0.2 mm. and the temperature is raised to 290 C~ for an
additional hour. Ak this point the reaction mixture ba~
comes so viscous that further stirring is diffioult.
Heating is stopped, the reaction mixture is again blanX~t~
; with nitrogen and allowed to cool. The resultant polym~
is light yellow in color, crystalline and demonstrates a~
inherent viscosity of 0.57 in the phenol~tetrachloroeth~na
solvent.
EXAMPLE B
POLY ~ 2-BIS(4-~YDROXYPHENYL)ETHANE~ISOPHTHAL~TE
A similar reaction is carried out under the sam~
conditions and with th~ reactants and equipment describQd
in Example A except that a~ter the initial three hour
period the temperature is raised to 275C. and the pre~
sure is reduced to 125 mm. for 30 minutes. Thereafter,
the.temperature is raised to 290 C. during the final per~od
a~ high vacuum of 0.1 to 0.2 mm. The resultant polymer
demonstrates an inherent viscosiky of 0.83 and is crystal~
line and a clear light yellow in color.
_g_

08-12-0361
EXAMPLES C ~ U
Examples C to U are carried out by reacting mix-
tures of diphenol diacetates and isophthalic acid by the
melt method of Example A, with adjustment in the tempera-
ture and heating cycle appropriate for the rheology andmorphology of the particular polyest~r or by melt poly-
merization to a prepolymer followed by solid state poly-
merization of the crystalline polyester. Compositions
and physical property data are set forth in Table 1. Melt
~iscosities are determined at 316 C. with a SieglaCf-
McKelvey Rheometer at a shear rate of 100 sec 1, using a
capillary with a length to diameter ratio of 25 to 1.
The data show that polyester combinations contain-
ing high levels of 1,2-bis(hydroxyphenyl)ethane and acids
such as isophthalic acid are opaque and exhibit crystal-
line melting points below 300 C~ and crystallize rapidly
while in contrast, polyester combinations containing sub-
stantial amounts of other diphenols and polyester combin-
ations containing substantial amounts of substituted acids
such as 5-t-butyl-isophth,alic acid are amorphous.
Fire safety performance is conveniently determined
by the Underwriter's Laboxatory "Test for Flammability of
Plastic Materials - UL-94, September 17, 1973" using the
ratings which became effective February 1, 1974. The
polyesters of 1,2-bis-(4-hydroxyphenyl)ethane are found
to be superior in their UL-94 rating to polyesters con-
taining a substantial amount of bisphenol A(2,2-bis~4
hydroxyphenyl)propane.
--10--

8~
u~ ~ ~ 08-12-0361A
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08-12-0361A
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-12-

~:~L2~
08-12-0361A
PREPARATION OF MOLDING RESINS
EXAMPLE 1
Polyisophthalate of 1,2-bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)
ethane prepared as in Example C, is extruded and chopped
to yield pellets of approximately 3 to 5 mm in length and
2 mm in diametex. 85 parts by weight of the pellets are
blended in a tum~le blender with 15 parts by weight of
chopped glass strand, 4.8 mm length, containing B00 fila-
ments of .13 micron,diameter per strand supplied by Owens
10 Corning Fiberglas Corporation under the trade name Owens- !
Corning Fiberglas 4~9. The blend of polyester and glass
fiber is force fed to the chopper o~ a single stage ex-
truder heated to 320C. and is slowly extruded through the
strand die. The strand is cooled and c'hopped to provide
lS pellets of molding resin.
The molding resin is injection molded in a 14 gm.
Arburg machine at a temperature of 315C. and a mold temper-
ature of 122C. to provide test bars, The test bars are
tested or tensile strength and elon~ation, AST~ D-638;
flexural strength and modulus~ ASTM D-790; impact strength
AST~ D-256; heat distortion ASTM D-648. The data are pre-
sented in T~ble 2.
EXAMPLES ? and 3
Molding,resins are prepared as in Example l with
the polyisophthalate of l,2-bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)ethane and
respectively 22.5 and 30 parts by weight'of glass fiber
per 100 parts by weight of total composition. The molding
resins are injection molded into test bars and subjected
t~ physical testing. The data are pxesen~ed in Table 2.
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08-12-0361A
TABLE 2
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES OF ARTICLES MOLDED FROM THE
POLYISOPHTHALATE OF 1, 2 -BIS ~ 4 -HYDROXYPIIENYL) ETHANE
. Examples
1 2 3 4
Wt. % Glass Fiber ' 15 22.5 30 'None
Tensile Strength, Kg cm 10.5 12 12.7 6.3
X 10-2`
Elongation % ' 4.4 3.1 1.8 18
Modulus Kg. cm 2 X 10 5.3 7.0 8.4 2.3
Izod(64 cm X 1.3 cm X 0.18 0.24 0.26 0.25
0.64 cm~ Kg m
HDTUL, C. (16.4 cm X 158 183 204 137
' 1.3 cm X 0.~4 cm;
18.6 kg cm~~
Example 2 is subjected to the Underwriter's UL-94
test~ The rating for samples,1.58 mm in thickness is V-0
(average flame out time within 5 seconds, no afterglow~.
In comparison, the polyester of Example 2 without glass
fiber rein~orcement is rated V-o (average flame out time
within 3 seconds with a$terglow). A test bar of Example 2
with a heat distortion temperature of 183C. was subject-
ed to a load in the range of 0.14 to 0,28 kg cm 2 for 20
minutes at 210 C. No flow or deformation occurs. In
contrast, a test bar of a reinforced polytetramethylene
terephthalate, containing 30 weight percent glass fiber,
having a heat distortion temperature of 212C, show~ con-
siderable flow and deformation under similar conditions
and fails the UL-94 test.
EXAMPLES 4 9
Molding resins are prepared as in Example l.by
blending polyarylene ester Examples Kl L, M, ~, P and R
with 30 weight percent of the total composition of Owens-
Corning Fiberglas 419. The molding resins ar~ molded in-
to test bars. Considera~le enhancement of the tensile
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08-12-0361~
strength~ modulu~ and heat distortion temperature is ob-
tained i~ co~parison with the unfilled polyester~.
EXAMPLES 10 - 13
These exampIes are prepared for comparative pur-
poses~ A polyarylene ester similar to Example U comprising
the condensation product o~ bisphenol A and isophthalic
acid, of inherent viscosity 0.8 is blended with glass fiber
in the manner described in Example 1. The molding resins
thus obtained are molded into test bars and tested for
physical properties. Examples 10, 11 and 12 contain 15,
22.5 and 30 weight percent of glass fiber; Example 13 is
the unreinforcedpolyester. The data are presented in Table
3 and show that the heat distortion temperature of this
polyester is relatively unaffected by the reinforcing fil-
ler in contrast to the pronounced effect obtained in Exa~-
ples 1-3 comprising the polyisophthalate of 1,2-bis(4-
hydroxyphenyl)ethane.
TABLE 3
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES OF ARTICLES MOLDED FROM THE
20 POLYISO ~ ~ ~ ~ ~OPANE
Examples
10 11 1213
-- . .
Wt. ~ Glass Fiber 15 22.5 30None
Tensile Strength kg cm 2 9.333.2 12.5 7.7
X 10-2
Elongation ~ 5.63.9 3.8 4.0
_~ -4
Modulus kg cm X 10 4.05.8 6.7 2.24
HDTUL, C, 18.6 kg cm 175 173 177 160

08-12-0361A
EXAMPLES 14 - 16
Molding resins containing 30 weight percent glass
fiber are prepared in the manner of Example 1 from poly~
ester Example~ S and T, The molding resins are molded
S into test bars. T~e tensile strength and modulus of the
polyesters are enhanced by the addition of glass fiber.
However, little improvement in heat distortion temperature
is obtained.
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