High performance thermoplastic compositions with improved melt flow properties

• US 7,019,062 B2
• Filed: 05/06/2003
• Issued: 03/28/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 05/17/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sabic Innovative Plastics IP BV (Government of Saudi Arabia)
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Zarnoch, Kenneth Paul, Puyenbroek, Robert, Merfeld, Glen D., Oshinski, Alan, van Beek, Franciscus Johannes Maria
• Primary Examiner(s): WOODWARD, ANA LUCRECIA
• Application Number:
  US10/431,160
• Publication Number:
  US 20030225221A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,057 Days
• Field of Search: 524/425, 524/449, 524/451, 524/492, 524/494, 524/495, 524/212, 524/210, 524/200, 524/538, 524/540, 525/397, 525/390
• US Class Current: 524/425
• CPC Class Codes: C08L 2666/14 Macromolecular compounds according to C08L59/00 - C08L87/00; Derivatives thereof
• CPC Class Codes: C08L 71/00 Compositions of polyethers obtained by reactions forming an ether link in the main chain of polyacetals C08L59/00; of epoxy resins C08L63/00; of polythioether-ethers C08L81/02; of polyether-sulfones C08L81/06; Compositions of derivatives of such polymers
• CPC Class Codes: C08L 71/123 not modified by chemical after-treatment
• CPC Class Codes: C08L 79/08 Polyimides; Polyester-imides; Polyamide-imides; Polyamide acids or similar polyimide precursors
• CPC Class Codes: C08L 81/06 Polysulfones; Polyethersulfones
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 977/753 with polymeric or organic binder

Abstract

A high performance thermoplastic polymer composition having improved melt flow properties, comprising a thermoplastic polymer resin and a low intrinsic viscosity poly(arylene ether). Preferred thermoplastic polymers are poly(imide) polymers.

Claims

1. A thermoplastic resin composition, comprising, based upon the total weight of the composition

about 40 wt % to about 99.9 wt % of a high Tg amorphous thermoplastic polymer resin selected from the group consisting of poly(imide) polymers, poly (amide imide) polymers, poly(sulfone) polymers, poly(ether sulfone) polymers, poly(etherimide) polymers and combinations of the foregoing resins;

about 0.1 wt % to about 50 wt % of an unfunctionalized poly(arylene ether) having an intrinsic viscosity of about 0.10 to about 0.15 dl/g, as measured in chloroform at 25°

C.; and

an additive.

2. The thermoplastic resin composition of claim 1, wherein the additive is selected from the group consisting of fillers, reinforcing agents, conductive materials, mold release agents, anti-drip agents, compatibilizers, UV absorbers, stabilizers, lubricants, plasticizers, pigments, dyes, colorants, anti-static agents, blowing agents, anti-oxidants, flame retardants, impact modifiers, crystallization nucleators, and mixtures of the foregoing additives.

3. The thermoplastic resin composition of claim 1, wherein the additive is selected from the group consisting of silicates, titanium dioxide, ceramics, continuous glass fibers, chopped glass fibers, milled glass fibers, glass spheres, glass particles, glass flakes, carbon black, graphite, calcium carbonate, talc, mica, carbon fibers, carbon nanotubes, metal flakes, metal particles, metal fibers, metal coated micas, metal coated fibers, metal coated glass flakes, and mixtures of the foregoing additives.

4. The thermoplastic resin composition of claim 1, wherein the additive is present in amount of about 0.1 to about 50 wt % based on the total weight of the composition.

5. The thermoplastic resin composition of claim 4, wherein the additive is present in amount of about 5 to about 40 wt % based on the total weight of the composition.

6. The thermoplastic resin composition of claim 5, wherein the additive is present in amount of about 15 to about 30 wt % based on the total weight of the composition.

7. The thermoplastic resin composition of claim 1, comprising about 50 wt % to about 99 wt % of the high Tg amorphous thermoplastic polymer resin and about 1.0 wt % to about 40 wt % of the poly(arylene ether).

8. The thermoplastic resin composition of claim 7, comprising about 70 wt % to about 95 wt % of the high Tg amorphous thermoplastic polymer resin and about 5 wt % to about 30 wt % of the poly(arylene ether).

9. The thermoplastic resin composition of claim 1, wherein the poly(arylene ether) comprises a plurality of structural units of the formula (XII)

wherein each Q¹ is independently a halogen, primary or secondary lower alkyl having one to four carbon atoms, phenyl, haloalkyl, aminoalkyl, hydrocarbonoxy, or halohydrocarbonoxy wherein at least two carbon atoms separate the halogen and oxygen atoms;

each Q² is independently a hydrogen, halogen, primary or secondary lower alkyl, phenyl, haloalkyl, hydrocarbonoxy or halohydrocarbonoxy wherein at least two carbon atoms separate the halogen and oxygen atoms; and

n is less than 50.

10. The thermoplastic resin composition of claim 9, wherein n is less than about 40.

11. The thermoplastic resin composition of claim 9, wherein each Q¹ is C_1-4 alkyl or phenyl, and Q² is hydrogen.

12. The thermoplastic resin composition of claim 9, wherein the poly(arylene ether) is a homopolymer comprising 2,6-dimethylphenylene ether units, a copolymer comprising 2,6-dimethylphenylene ether and 2,3,6-trimethyl-1,4-phenylene ether units, or a copolymer derived from copolymerization of 2,6-dimethylphenol with 2,3,6-trimethyl phenol.

13. The thermoplastic resin composition of claim 10, wherein n is about 10 to about 25.

14. The thermoplastic resin composition of claim 1, wherein the poly(imide) comprises the structural units of the formula (I)

wherein

a is more than 1;

V is a tetravalent linker selected from the group consisting of (a) substituted or unsubstituted, saturated, unsaturated or aromatic monocyclic and polycyclic groups having about 5 to about 50 carbon atoms, (b) substituted or unsubstituted, linear or branched, saturated or unsaturated alkyl groups having 1 to about 30 carbon atoms, and (c) combinations thereof, wherein the substitutions are ethers, epoxides, amides, esters, or combinations of the foregoing tetravalent linkers; and

R is a divalent organic radical selected from the group consisting of (a) aromatic hydrocarbon radicals having about 6 to about 20 carbon atoms or halogenated derivatives thereof, (b) straight or branched chain alkylene radicals having about 2 to about 20 carbon atoms;

(c) cycloalkylene radicals having about 3 to about 20 carbon atoms, and (d) divalent radicals of the formula (IV)

wherein Q is a divalent moiety selected from the group consisting of —

O—

, —

S—

, —

C(O)—

, —

SO₂—

, C_yH_2y—

, C_yH_2y-2— and

halogenated derivatives thereof, wherein y is an integer from 1 to 10.

15. The thermoplastic resin composition of claim 14, wherein a is about 10 to about 1000.

16. The thermoplastic resin composition of claim 14, wherein a is about 10 to about 500.

17. The thermoplastic resin composition of claim 14, wherein V is selected from the group consisting of the tetravalent aromatic radicals of formula (II):

and halogenated derivatives of tetravalent aromatic radicals of formula (II), wherein W is a divalent moiety selected from the group consisting of —

O—

, —

S—

, —

C(O)—

, —

SO₂—

, CyH_2y, C_yH_2y-2—

, and halogenated derivatives thereof, wherein y is an integer from 1 to 10, and a group of the formula —

O-Z-O—

wherein the divalent bonds of the —

O—

or the —

O-Z-O—

group are in the 3,3′

, 3,4′

, 4,3′

, or the 4,4′

positions, and wherein Z is selected from the group consisting of divalent radicals of formula (III)

18. The thermoplastic resin composition of claim 1, wherein the poly(etherimide) polymer comprises structural units of the formula (V)

wherein T is —

O—

or a group of the formula —

O-Z-O—

wherein the divalent bonds of the —

O—

or the —

O-Z-O—

group are in the 3,3′

, 3,4′

, 4,3′

, or the 4,4′

positions; and

wherein Z is one or more of the divalent radicals of formula (III)

R is a divalent organic radical selected from the group consisting of (a) aromatic hydrocarbon radicals having about 6 to about 20 carbon atoms or halogenated derivatives thereof, (b) straight or branched chain alkylene radicals having about 2 to about 20 carbon atoms;

(c) cycloalkylene radicals having about 3 to about 20 carbon atoms, and (d) divalent radicals of the formula (IV)

wherein Q is a divalent moiety selected from the group consisting of —

O—

, —

S—

, —

C(O)—

, —

SO₂—

, C_yH_2y—

, C_yH_2y-2— and

halogenated derivatives thereof, wherein y is an integer from 1 to 10.

19. The thermoplastic resin composition of claim 18, wherein the poly(etherimide) further comprises the polyimide structural units of the formula (VI)

wherein R is a divalent organic radical selected from the group consisting of (a) aromatic hydrocarbon radicals having about 6 to about 20 carbon atoms or halogenated derivatives thereof, (b) straight or branched chain alkylene radicals having about 2 to about 20 carbon atoms;

(c) cycloalkylene radicals having about 3 to about 20 carbon atoms, and (d) divalent radicals of the formula (IV)

wherein Q is a divalent moiety selected from the group consisting of —

O—

, —

S—

, —

C(O)—

, —

SO₂—

, C_yH_2y—

, C_yH_2y-2—

, and halogenated derivatives thereof, wherein y is an integer from 1 to 5; and

wherein M is one or more of the radicals of formula (VII)

20. The thermoplastic resin composition of claim 18, wherein the R is independently p-phenylene, m-phenylene, or a mixture comprising of the foregoing and T is a divalent radical of the formula (XI)

21. The thermoplastic resin composition of claim 1, wherein the poly(imide) is prepared by reaction of a first material selected from the group consisting of 2,2-bis[4-(3,4-dicarboxyphenoxy)phenyl]propane dianhydride, 4,4′

-bis(3,4-dicarboxyphenoxy)diphenyl ether dianhydride, 4,4′

-bis(3,4-dicarboxyphenoxy)diphenyl sulfide dianhydride, 4,4′

-bis(3,4-dicarboxyphenoxy)benzophenone dianhydride, 4,4′

-bis(3,4-dicarboxyphenoxy)diphenyl sulfone dianhydride, 2,2-bis[4-(2,3-dicarboxyphenoxy)phenyl]propane dianhydride, 4,4′

-bis(2,3-dicarboxyphenoxy)diphenyl ether dianhydride, 4,4′

-bis(2,3-dicarboxyphenoxy)diphenyl sulfide dianhydride, 4,4′

-bis(2,3-dicarboxyphenoxy)benzophenone dianhydride, 4,4′

-bis(2,3-dicarboxyphenoxy)diphenyl sulfone dianhydride, 4-(2,3-dicarboxyphenoxy)-4′

-(3,4-dicarboxyphenoxy)diphenyl-2,2-propane dianhydride, 4-(2,3-dicarboxyphenoxy)-4′

-(3,4-dicarboxyphenoxy)diphenyl ether dianhydride, 4-(2,3-dicarboxyphenoxy)-4′

-(3,4-dicarboxyphenoxy)diphenyl sulfide dianhydride, 4-(2,3-dicarboxyphenoxy)-4′

-(3,4-dicarboxyphenoxy)benzophenone dianhydride, 4-(2,3-dicarboxyphenoxy)-4′

-(3,4-dicarboxyphenoxy)diphenyl sulfone dianhydride, and mixtures of the foregoing first materials, with a second material selected from the group consisting of ethylenediamine, propylenediamine, trimethylenediamine, diethylenetriamine, triethylenetetramine, hexamethylenediamine, heptamethylenediamine, octamethylenediamine, nonamethylenediamine, decamethylenediamine, 1,12-dodecanediamine, 1,18-octadecanediamine, 3-methylheptamethylenediamine, 4,4-dimethylheptamethylenediamine, 4-methylnonamethylenediamine, 5-methylnonamethylenediamine, 2,5-dimethylhexamethylenediamine, 2,5-dimethylheptamethylenediamine, 2,2-dimethylpropylenediamine, N-methyl-bis (3aminopropyl) amine, 3-methoxyhexamethylenediamine, 1,2-bis(3-aminopropoxy) ethane, bis(3-aminopropyl) sulfide, 1,4-cyclohexanediamine, bis-(4-aminocyclohexyl) methane, m-phenylenediamine, p-phenylenediamine, 2,4-diaminotoluene, 2,6-diaminotoluene, m-xylylenediamine, p-xylylenediamine, 2-methyl-4,6-diethyl-1,3-phenylenediamine, 5-methyl-4,6-diethyl-1,3-phenylene-diamine, benzidine, 3,3′

-dimethylbenzidine, 3,3′

-dimethoxybenzidine, 1,5-diaminonaphthalene, bis(4-aminophenyl) methane, bis(2-chloro-4-amino-3,5-diethylphenyl) methane, bis(4-aminophenyl) propane, 2,4-bis(b-amino-t-butyl) toluene, bis(p-b-amino-t-butylphenyl) ether, bis(p-b-methyl-o-aminophenyl) benzene, bis(p-b-methyl-o-aminopentyl) benzene, 1,3-diamino-4-isopropylbenzene, bis(4-aminophenyl) sulfide, bis (4-aminophenyl) sulfone, bis(4-aminophenyl) ether, 1,3-bis(3-aminopropyl) tetramethyldisiloxane, and mixtures of the foregoing second materials.

22. The thermoplastic resin composition of claim 1, wherein the poly(etherimide) is prepared by reaction of aromatic dianhydrides selected from the group consisting of pyromellitic dianhydride, 2,2-bis[4-(3,4-dicarboxyphenoxy)phenyl]propane dianhydride, and mixtures of the foregoing dianhydrides, with diamines selected from the group consisting of aliphatic diamines, hexamethylenediamine, 1,3-bis(3-aminopropyl) tetramethyldisiloxane, m-phenylenediamine, p-phenylenediamine, or mixtures of the foregoing diamines.

23. The thermoplastic resin composition of claim 1, wherein the high Tg amorphous thermoplastic polymer has a Tg of about 170°

C. or greater.

24. The thermoplastic resin composition of claim 23, wherein the high Tg amorphous thermoplastic polymer has a Tg of about 200°

C. or greater.

25. The thermoplastic resin composition of claim 1, wherein the poly(arylene ether) was recovered from a reaction solution as a solid mass and granulated or pelletized to a desired size or is recovered from a reaction solution as an agglomerate with an average particle size greater than 100 μ

m.

26. The thermoplastic resin composition of claim 1, wherein the poly(arylene ether) was recovered from a reaction solution of the poly(arylene ether) as a solid mass by evaporating solvent from said reaction solution in a film evaporator, cooling the recovered poly(arylene ether) to form a solid and granulating or pelletizing the solid.

27. The thermoplastic resin composition of claim 1, wherein the poly(arylene ether) is recovered from a reaction solution of the poly(arylene ether) as a solid mass by evaporating solvent from said reaction solution with a vented extruder and extruding the poly(arylene ether), cooling the extruded poly(arylene ether) to from a solid and granulating or pelletizing the solid.

28. A thermoplastic resin composition comprising, based upon the total weight of the composition, about 0.1 wt % to about 50 wt % of an unfunctionalized poly(arylene ether) having an intrinsic viscosity of about 0.10 to about 0.15 dl/g, as measured in chloroform at 25°

C., wherein the poly(arylene ether) polymer comprises a plurality of structural units of the formula (XII)

wherein each Q¹ is independently a halogen, primary or secondary lower alkyl having one to four carbon atoms, phenyl, haloalkyl, aminoalkyl, hydrocarbonoxy, or halohydrocarbonoxy wherein at least two carbon atoms separate the halogen and oxygen atoms;

each Q² is independently a hydrogen, halogen, primary or secondary lower alkyl, phenyl, haloalkyl, hydrocarbonoxy or halohydrocarbonoxy wherein at least two carbon atoms separate the halogen and oxygen atoms; and

n is less than 50;

about 40 wt % to about 99.9 wt % of a high Tg amorphous thermoplastic polymer resin, wherein the high Tg amorphous thermoplastic polymer resin comprises structural units of the formula (V)

wherein T is —

O—

or a group of the formula —

O-Z-O—

wherein the divalent bonds of the —

O—

or the —

O-Z-O—

group are in the 3,3′

, 3,4′

, 4,3′

, or the 4,4′

positions; and

wherein Z is one or more of the divalent radicals of formula (III);

R is a divalent organic radical selected from the group consisting of (a) aromatic hydrocarbon radicals having about 6 to about 20 carbon atoms or halogenated derivatives thereof, (b) straight or branched chain alkylene radicals having about 2 to about 20 carbon atoms;

(c) cycloalkylene radicals having about 3 to about 20 carbon atoms, and (d) divalent radicals of the formula (IV)

wherein Q is a divalent moiety selected from the group consisting of —

O—

, —

S—

, —

C(O)—

, —

SO₂—

, C_yH_2y—

, C_yH_2y-2—

, and halogenated derivatives thereof, wherein y is an integer from 1 to 10; and

an additive.

29. The thermoplastic resin composition of claim 28, comprising about 50 wt % to about 99 wt % of the high Tg amorphous thermoplastic polymer resin and about 1 wt % to about 40 wt % of the poly(arylene ether).

30. The thermoplastic resin composition of claim 29, comprising about 70 wt % to about 95 wt % of the high Tg amorphous thermoplastic polymer resin and about 5 wt % to about 30 wt % of the poly(arylene ether).

31. The thermoplastic resin composition of claim 28, wherein each Q¹ is C_1-4 alkyl or phenyl, and Q² is hydrogen.

32. The thermoplastic resin composition of claim 28, wherein the high Tg amorphous thermoplastic resin further comprises poly(imide) structural units of the formula (VI)

wherein R is a substituted or unsubstituted divalent organic radical selected from the group consisting of (a) aromatic hydrocarbon radicals having about 6 to about 20 carbon atoms or halogenated derivatives thereof, (b) straight or branched chain alkylene radicals having about 2 to about 20 carbon atoms;

(c) cycloalkylene radicals having about 3 to about 20 carbon atoms, and (d) divalent radicals of the formula (IV)

wherein Q is a divalent moiety selected from the group consisting of —

O—

, —

S—

, —

C(O)—

, —

SO₂—

, C_yH_2y—

, C_yH_2y-2—

, and halogenated derivatives thereof, wherein y is an integer from 1 to 10; and

M is one or more of the radicals of formula (VII)

33. The thermoplastic resin composition of claim 28, wherein the high Tg amorphous thermoplastic polymers are prepared by reaction of a first material selected from the group consisting of 2,2-bis[4-(3,4-dicarboxyphenoxy)phenyl]propane dianhydride, 4,4′

-bis(3,4-dicarboxyphenoxy)diphenyl ether dianhydride, 4,4′

-bis(3,4-dicarboxyphenoxy)diphenyl sulfide dianhydride, 4,4′

-bis(3,4-dicarboxyphenoxy)benzophenone dianhydride, 4,4′

-bis(3,4-dicarboxyphenoxy)diphenyl sulfone dianhydride, 2,2-bis[4-(2,3-dicarboxyphenoxy)phenyl]propane dianhydride, 4,4′

-bis(2,3-dicarboxyphenoxy)diphenyl ether dianhydride, 4,4′

-bis(2,3-dicarboxyphenoxy)diphenyl sulfide dianhydride, 4,4′

-bis(2,3-dicarboxyphenoxy)benzophenone dianhydride, 4,4′

-bis(2,3-dicarboxyphenoxy)diphenyl sulfone dianhydride, 4-(2,3-dicarboxyphenoxy)-4′

-(3,4-dicarboxyphenoxy)diphenyl-2,2-propane dianhydride, 4-(2,3-dicarboxyphenoxy)-4′

-(3,4-dicarboxyphenoxy)diphenyl ether dianhydride, 4-(2,3-dicarboxyphenoxy)-4′

-(3,4-dicarboxyphenoxy)diphenyl sulfide dianhydride, 4-(2,3-dicarboxyphenoxy)-4′

-(3,4-dicarboxyphenoxy)benzophenone dianhydride, 4-(2,3-dicarboxyphenoxy)-4′

-(3,4-dicarboxyphenoxy)diphenyl sulfone dianhydride, and mixtures of the foregoing first materials, with a second material selected from the group consisting of ethylenediamine, propylenediamine, trimethylenediamine, diethylenetriamine, triethylenetetramine, hexamethylenediamine, heptamethylenediamine, octamethylenediamine, nonamethylenediamine, decamethylenediamine, 1,12-dodecanediamine, 1,18-octadecanediamine, 3-methylheptamethylenediamine, 4,4-dimethylheptamethylenediamine, 4-methylnonamethylenediamine, 5-methylnonamethylenediamine, 2,5-dimethylhexamethylenediamine, 2,5-dimethylheptamethylenediamine, 2,2-dimethylpropylenediamine, N-methyl-bis (3-aminopropyl) amine, 3-methoxyhexamethylenediamine, 1,2-bis(3-aminopropoxy) ethane, bis(3-aminopropyl) sulfide, 1,4-cyclohexanediamine, bis-(4-aminocyclohexyl) methane, m-phenylenediamine, p-phenylenediamine, 2,4-diaminotoluene, 2,6-diaminotoluene, m-xylylenediamine, p-xylylenediamine, 2-methyl-4,6-diethyl-1,3-phenylenediamine, 5-methyl-4,6-diethyl-1,3-phenylene-diamine, benzidine, 3,3′

-dimethylbenzidine, 3,3′

-dimethoxybenzidine, 1,5-diaminonaphthalene, bis(4-aminophenyl) methane, bis(2-chloro-4-amino-3,5-diethylphenyl) methane, bis(4aminophenyl) propane, 2,4-bis(b-amino-t-butyl) toluene, bis(p-b-amino-t-butylphenyl) ether, bis(p-b-methyl-o-aminophenyl) benzene, bis(p-b-methyl-o-aminopentyl) benzene, 1,3-diamino-4-isopropylbenzene, bis(4-aminophenyl) sulfide, bis (4-aminophenyl) sulfone, bis(4-aminophenyl) ether, 1,3-bis(3-aminopropyl) tetramethyldisiloxane, and mixtures of the foregoing second materials.

34. The thermoplastic resin composition of claim 28, wherein the high Tg amorphous thermoplastic polymers are prepared by reaction of aromatic dianhydrides selected from the group consisting of pyromellitic dianhydride, 2,2-bis[4-(3,4-dicarboxyphenoxy)phenyl]propane dianhydride, and mixtures of the foregoing dianhydrides, with diamines selected from the group consisting of aliphatic diamines, hexamethylenediamine, 1,3-bis(3-aminopropyl) tetramethyldisiloxane, m-phenylenediamine, p-phenylenediamine, or mixtures of the foregoing diamines.

35. A thermoplastic resin composition, consisting essentially of, based upon the total weight of the composition

about 40 wt % to about 99.9 wt % of a high Tg amorphous thermoplastic polymer resin wherein the high Tg amorphous thermoplastic polymer resin is selected from the group consisting of poly (imide) polymers, poly(amide imide) polymers, poly(sulfone) polymers, poly(ether sulfone) polymers, poly(etherimide) polymers, and combinations of the foregoing high Tg amorphous thermoplastic polymer resins;

and

about 0.1 wt % to about 50 wt % of an unfunctionalized poly(arylene ether) having an intrinsic viscosity of about 0.10 to about 0.15 dl/g, as measured in chloroform at 25°

C.

36. A thermoplastic resin composition consisting essentially of, based upon the total weight of the composition, about 0.1 wt % to about 50 wt % of an unfunctionalized poly(arylene ether) having an intrinsic viscosity of about 0.10 to about 0.15 dl/g, as measured in chloroform at 25°

C., wherein the poly(arylene ether) polymer comprises a plurality of structural units of the formula (XII)

wherein each Q¹ is independently a halogen, primary or secondary lower alkyl having from one to four carbon atoms, phenyl, haloalkyl, aminoalkyl, hydrocarbonoxy, or halohydrocarbonoxy wherein at least two carbon atoms separate the halogen and oxygen atoms;

each Q² is independently a hydrogen, halogen, primary or secondary lower alkyl, phenyl, haloalkyl, hydrocarbonoxy or halohydrocarbonoxy wherein at least two carbon atoms separate the halogen and oxygen atoms; and

n is less than 50; and

about 40 wt % to about 99.9 wt % of a high Tg amorphous thermoplastic polymer resin, wherein the high Tg amorphous thermoplastic polymer resin comprises structural units of the formula (V)

wherein T is —

O—

or a group of the formula —

O-Z-O—

wherein the divalent bonds of the —

O—

or the —

O-Z-O—

group are in the 3,3′

, 3,4′

, 4,3′

, or the 4,4′

positions; and

wherein Z is one or more of the divalent radicals of formula (III);

R is a divalent organic radical selected from the group consisting of (a) aromatic hydrocarbon radicals having about 6 to about 20 carbon atoms or halogenated derivatives thereof, (b) straight or branched chain alkylene radicals having about 2 to about 20 carbon atoms;

(c) cycloalkylene radicals having about 3 to about 20 carbon atoms, and (d) divalent radicals of the formula (IV)

wherein Q is a divalent moiety selected from the group consisting of —

O—

, —

S—

, —

C(O)—

, —

SO₂—

, C_yH_2y—

, C_yH_2y-2—

, and halogenated derivatives thereof, wherein y is an integer from 1 to 10.

37. A thermoplastic resin composition, consisting essentially of, based upon the total weight of the composition

about 40 wt % to about 99.9 wt % of a high Tg amorphous thermoplastic polymer resin selected from the group consisting of poly(imide) polymers, poly (amide imide) polymers, poly(sulfone) polymers, poly(ether sulfone) polymers, poly(etherimide) polymers and combinations of the foregoing resins;

about 0.1 wt % to about 50 wt % of an unfunctionalized poly(arylene ether) having an intrinsic viscosity of about 0.10 to about 0.15 dl/g, as measured in chloroform at 25°

C.; and

an additive.