METHOD OF MAKING A POLY(PHENYLENE ETHER) AND POLY(PHENYLENE ETHER) PREPARED THEREBY
First Claim
1. A method of making a poly(phenylene ether), the method comprising:
- oxidatively polymerizing a combination comprising, based on the total weight of the combination,90 to 99.5 weight percent of a phenolic monomer; and
0.5 to 10 weight percent of a monofunctional phenylene ether oligomer having an intrinsic viscosity of less than 0.2 deciliters per gram, determined at 25°
C. in chloroform by Ubbelohde viscometer;
in the presence of an organic solvent and a copper-amine catalyst;
terminating the oxidative polymerization to form a post-termination reaction mixture;
combining an aqueous solution comprising a chelant with the post-termination reaction mixture to form a chelation mixture comprisingan aqueous phase comprising chelated copper ion, andan organic phase comprising dissolved poly(phenylene ether);
separating the aqueous phase and the organic phase; and
isolating the poly(phenylene ether) from the organic phase.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method of making a poly(phenylene ether) includes oxidatively polymerizing a combination of a phenolic monomer and a monofunctional phenylene ether oligomer in the presence of an organic solvent and a copper-amine catalyst. The method further includes terminating the oxidative polymerization to form a post-termination reaction mixture; combining an aqueous solution comprising a chelant with the post-termination reaction mixture to form a chelation mixture including an aqueous phase having chelated copper ion, and an organic phase having dissolved poly(phenylene ether); separating the aqueous phase and the organic phase; and isolating the poly(phenylene ether) from the organic phase.
-
Citations
18 Claims
-
1. A method of making a poly(phenylene ether), the method comprising:
-
oxidatively polymerizing a combination comprising, based on the total weight of the combination, 90 to 99.5 weight percent of a phenolic monomer; and 0.5 to 10 weight percent of a monofunctional phenylene ether oligomer having an intrinsic viscosity of less than 0.2 deciliters per gram, determined at 25°
C. in chloroform by Ubbelohde viscometer;in the presence of an organic solvent and a copper-amine catalyst; terminating the oxidative polymerization to form a post-termination reaction mixture; combining an aqueous solution comprising a chelant with the post-termination reaction mixture to form a chelation mixture comprising an aqueous phase comprising chelated copper ion, and an organic phase comprising dissolved poly(phenylene ether); separating the aqueous phase and the organic phase; and isolating the poly(phenylene ether) from the organic phase. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
the organic solvent comprises toluene, benzene, chlorobenzene, or a combination thereof; the monofunctional phenylene ether oligomer has an intrinsic viscosity of 0.10 to 0.15 deciliters per gram, determined at 25°
C. in chloroform by Ubbelohde viscometer;the copper-amine catalyst comprises a copper ion and a hindered secondary amine of the formula RbHN—
Ra—
NHRc, wherein Ra is C2-4 alkylene or C3-7 cycloalkylene and Rb and Rc are isopropyl or C4-8 tertiary alkyl wherein only the α
-carbon atom has no hydrogens, there being at least two and no more than three carbon atoms separating the two nitrogen atoms;the chelant comprises an alkali metal salt of an aminopolycarboxylic acid; the oxidative polymerization is in the presence of a secondary monoamine, a tertiary monoamine, or a combination thereof, and a phase transfer agent wherein the phase transfer agent comprises a quaternary ammonium compound, a quaternary phosphonium compound, a tertiary sulfonium compound, or a combination thereof; initiating oxidative polymerization is in the presence of the monofunctional phenylene ether oligomer and no more than 10 weight percent of the phenolic monomer, wherein the remainder of the phenolic monomer is added to the mixture after initiation, preferably over the course of at least 40 minutes.
-
-
15. The method of claim 14, wherein the hindered secondary amine is di-tert-butylethylenediamine, the secondary monoamine comprises di-n-butylamine, the tertiary monoamine comprises N,N-dimethylbutylamine, and the phase transfer agent comprises N,N,N′
- N′
-didecyldimethyl ammonium chloride.
- N′
-
16. The method of claim 14, wherein the phenylene ether oligomer comprises less than 100 parts per million of incorporated amine groups.
-
17. A poly(phenylene ether) made by the method of claim 1.
-
18. An article comprising the poly(phenylene ether) of claim 17.
Specification