THERMOPLASTIC COMPOSITIONS, METHODS OF MANUFACTURE, AND ARTICLES THEREOF
4 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A laser weldable composition made from a process of melt blending a combination of a partially crystalline thermoplastic polyester component such as poly(butylene terephthalate), an amorphous thermoplastic polycarbonate having a Fries rearrangement of greater than 150 to 10,000 ppm, and a filler such as glass fiber. The laser weldable composition has a polycarbonate aryl hydroxy end-group content of at least 300 ppm and provides improved near infrared transmission at 960 nanometers. A method welding components made from the weldable composition and welded articles made therefrom are also disclosed.
11 Citations
28 Claims
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1-13. -13. (canceled)
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14. A process for welding a laser-transmissive first part to a laser-absorbing second part of an article, wherein
the first part comprises a composition made by a process comprising melt blending: -
(a) from 10 to 70 weight percent of a partially crystalline polyester component selected from poly(butylene terephthalate), poly(ethylene terephthalate), poly(butylene terephthalate) copolymers, poly(ethylene terephthalate) copolymers, and combinations thereof; (b) from 10 to 60 weight percent of an amorphous polycarbonate having a Fries rearrangement of greater than 150 to 10,000 ppm; (c) from 5 to 50 weight percent of a filler; and (d) optionally, from 0.01 to 10 wt. % of an antioxidant, mold release agent, stabilizer, or a combination thereof; wherein the melt blended composition has a polycarbonate aryl hydroxy end-group content of at least 300 ppm; wherein the melt blended composition excludes colorant; and wherein the composition, when molded into an article having a 2.0 mm thickness, provides a near infrared transmission at 960 nanometers of greater than 45%; and the second part comprises a thermoplastic composition comprising an NIR-absorbing agent, and where at least a portion of a surface of the first part is placed in physical contact with at least a portion of a surface of the second part to form a welding join area, the process further comprising applying NIR-laser radiation to the first part such that the radiation substantially passes through the first part and is absorbed by the second part so that sufficient heat is generated to effectively weld the first part to the second part of the article. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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17. A laser welded, molded article comprising a first laser-transmissive part welded to a second laser-absorbing part, wherein the first part comprises a product made by a process comprising melt blending:
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(a) from 10 to 70 weight percent of a partially crystalline thermoplastic polyester component selected from poly(butylene terephthalate), poly(ethylene terephthalate), poly(butylene terephthalate) copolymers, poly(ethylene terephthalate) copolymers, and combinations thereof; (b) from 10 to 60 weight percent of an amorphous polycarbonate having a Fries rearrangement of greater than 150 to 10,000 ppm; (c) from 5 to 50 weight percent of a filler; and (d) optionally, from 0.01 to 10 wt. % of an antioxidant, mold release agent, stabilizer, or a combination thereof; wherein the product made by the process excludes colorant; wherein the melt blended composition has a polycarbonate aryl hydroxy end-group content of at least 300 ppm; and
wherein the composition, when molded into an article having a 2.0 mm thickness, provides a near infrared transmission at 960 nanometers of greater than 45%.
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Specification