U.S. patent application number 11/613449 was filed with the patent office on 2007-04-26 for aliphatic polyester and process for producing the same.
This patent application is currently assigned to MITSUBISHI CHEMICAL CORPORATION. Invention is credited to Takayuki Aoshima, Toyomasa Hoshino, Yasuaki Miki, Tadashi Uyeda.
Application Number | 20070093636 11/613449 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 33475105 |
Filed Date | 2007-04-26 |
United States Patent
Application |
20070093636 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Aoshima; Takayuki ; et
al. |
April 26, 2007 |
ALIPHATIC POLYESTER AND PROCESS FOR PRODUCING THE SAME
Abstract
An object of the present invention is to provide an aliphatic
polyester which is produced as a high-molecular-weight one without
using a chain extender such as an isocyanate compound or a
carbonate compound and is excellent in moldability in injection
molding, blow molding, or extrusion molding, thermal stability, and
mechanical properties such as tensile properties. The invention
relates to an aliphatic polyester comprising an aliphatic diol
unit, an aliphatic dicarboxylic acid unit, and a unit of an organic
acid having a pKa value of 3.7 or below at 25.degree. C., wherein a
content of a carbonate bond contained in the polyester is less than
1 mol %, a content of a urethane bond is less than 0.06 mol %, a
content of an aliphatic monooxymonocarboxylic acid unit is less
than 0.02 mol %, a content of the phosphorus atom derived from a
phosphorus compound selected from among organic phosphinic acids,
organic phosphonic acids, and hydrogen phosphate salts is less than
10.sup.-9 mol %, based on the whole monomer units constituting the
polyester, and a reduced viscosity (.eta.sp/C) is 1.6 or more.
Inventors: |
Aoshima; Takayuki;
(Yokohama-shi, JP) ; Hoshino; Toyomasa;
(Yokohama-shi, JP) ; Uyeda; Tadashi;
(Yokkaichi-shi, JP) ; Miki; Yasuaki;
(Yokkaichi-shi, JP) |
Correspondence
Address: |
OBLON, SPIVAK, MCCLELLAND, MAIER & NEUSTADT, P.C.
1940 DUKE STREET
ALEXANDRIA
VA
22314
US
|
Assignee: |
MITSUBISHI CHEMICAL
CORPORATION
Tokyo
JP
|
Family ID: |
33475105 |
Appl. No.: |
11/613449 |
Filed: |
December 20, 2006 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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11282622 |
Nov 21, 2005 |
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11613449 |
Dec 20, 2006 |
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PCT/JP04/07135 |
May 19, 2004 |
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11282622 |
Nov 21, 2005 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
528/272 |
Current CPC
Class: |
C08G 63/78 20130101;
C08G 63/16 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
528/272 |
International
Class: |
C08G 63/02 20060101
C08G063/02 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
May 21, 2003 |
JP |
2003-142914 |
Claims
1. An aliphatic polyester having a retention rate of the reduced
viscosity of 80% or more when the aliphatic polyester is
transformed into a film-shape test piece having 150.+-.25 .mu.m and
the test piece is kept under conditions of a temperature of
50.degree. C. and a relative humidity of 90% R.H. for 28 days.
2. The aliphatic polyester according to claim 1, which comprises an
aliphatic diol unit, an aliphatic dicarboxylic acid unit and a unit
of an organic acid having a pKa value of 3.7 or below at 25.degree.
C., the polyester having a carbonate bond content of less than 1
mol %, an aliphatic monooxymonocarboxylic acid unit content of less
than 0.02 mol %, phosphorus atom content of less than 10.sup.-9 mol
%, as derived from a phosphorus compound selected from the group
consisting of an organic phosphinic acid, an organic phosphonic
acid, and a hydrogen phosphate salt, based on all the monomer units
which constitute the polyester, and the polyester having a reduced
viscosity (.eta.sp/C) of 1.6 or more.
3. The aliphatic polyester according to claim 1, wherein the unit
content of the organic acid having a pKa value of 3.7 or below at
25.degree. C. ranges from 0.0001 to 0.4 mol %, based on the
aliphatic dicarboxylic acid unit.
4. The aliphatic polyester according to claim 1, wherein the
aliphatic diol unit is an ethylene glycol unit and/or a
1,4-butanediol unit.
5. The aliphatic polyester according to claim 1, wherein the
aliphatic dicarboxylic acid unit is adipic acid and/or succinic
acid.
6. The aliphatic polyester according to claim 1, wherein the unit
of the organic acid having a pKa value of 3.7 or below at
25.degree. C. is at least one selected from the group consisting of
malic acid, tartaric acid, maleic acid, and fumaric acid.
7. The aliphatic polyester according to claim 1, wherein the number
of terminal COOH groups in the aliphatic polyester is 50 eg/ton or
less.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to an aliphatic polyester and
a process for producing the same. More specifically, it relates to
an aliphatic polyester which is produced as a high-molecular-weight
one without using a chain extender such as an isocyanate compound
or a carbonate compound and is excellent in moldability in
injection molding, blow molding, or extrusion molding, thermal
stability, and tensile properties as well as which has an excellent
biodegradability and is good for the environment, and a process for
producing the same.
BACKGROUND ART
[0002] Because of an increasing interest in environmental issues,
aliphatic polyesters having biodegradability have been intended to
apply to fibers, molded articles, films, sheets, and the like, as
resins for further avoiding environmental burden. For example,
since polybutylene succinate and/or polybutylene adipate having
biodegradability have mechanical properties resemble to those of
polyethylene, they have been developed as alternative polymers for
polyethylene.
[0003] As an economically advantageous process for producing an
polyester, there is known and adopted since a long time ago a
process for producing a polyester having a high degree of
polymerization wherein an ester oligomer is produced by a direct
esterification reaction of a dicarboxylic acid with a diol or an
ester exchange reaction of an alkyl ester of a dicarboxylic acid
with a diol in the presence of a catalyst and then the polyester
having a high degree of polymerization is produced by subjecting
the oligomer to an ester exchange reaction under heating and under
reduced pressure with removing the diol formed by distillation.
[0004] However, since thermal stability of an aliphatic polyester
is generally low and hence a decrease of the molecular weight due
to thermal degradation is caused during the polymerization
reaction, it is impossible to obtain a polyester having a high
degree of polymerization which has a practically sufficient
strength by a conventional process for producing the polyester. It
is proposed that the concentration of the polymer terminal
(hydroxyl group or carboxyl group), particularly the remaining
carboxyl group remarkably affects adversely thermal stability of
polymer (e.g., cf. Patent Document 1). Based on such a background,
various kinds of contrivance are applied to the production
process.
[0005] For example, there are proposed processes for enhancing melt
viscosity of the polymer through extension of the polymer chain
length by carrying out melt polymerization using a titanium
compound or a zirconium compound as a catalyst with adding a
diisocyanate (e.g., cf. Patent Document 2) or a diphenyl carbonate
(e.g., cf. Patent Document 3). Since these processes of adding the
chain extenders can easily increase the molecular weight of the
polyester, the processes are apparently considered to be effective
production processes for aliphatic polyesters but there are
problems that the reaction is carried out in two steps and thus is
complicated and also, with regard to the resulting polyester, in
addition to a slight decrease of crystallinity and melting point
thereof, biodegradability of the resulting polyester tends to
decrease owing to the urethane bond contained in the molecule.
[0006] Moreover, there is disclosed a process of converting the
structure of the polyester into a crosslinked structure by adding a
trifunctional oxycarboxylic acid in an amount of 0.5 to 5 mol % or
a tetrafunctional oxycarboxylic acid in an amount of 0.1 to 3 mol %
as a branching agent (e.g., cf. Patent Document 4). However, the
polyester wherein melt viscosity is enhanced by introducing a large
amount of the trifunctional or tetrafunctional oxycarboxylic acid
as above exhibits a tendency to increase the concentration of the
polymer terminal (hydroxyl group or carboxyl group) which is a
cause for decreasing thermal stability and also has insufficient
practical physical properties. Therefore, in most cases, there is
applied contrivance that the terminal number in the polymer is
reduced and also the molecular weight of the polymer is enhanced by
adding a diisocyanate at the late stage of the polymerization
(e.g., cf. Patent Document 5).
[0007] Furthermore, there is also proposed an aliphatic polyester
wherein elasticity is enhanced by incorporating a dibasic acid
having a hydroxyl group into an aliphatic polyester in an amount of
0.05 to 5% by weight (e.g., cf. Patent Document 6). Since the
actually produced polyester in the Example has a content of the
dibasic acid of so much as 1 to 2 mol %, thermal stability thereof
tends to decrease and also, as mentioned above, a chain extension
is conducted by further adding a diisocyanate.
[0008] Additionally, it is proposed that, as a polyester carbonate,
by reducing the content of specific dicarboxylic acid impurities
including malic acid as a trifunctional oxycarboxylic acid in the
starting dicarboxylic acids to 0.4% by weight or less,
reproducibility of the amount of gel formation, thermal stability,
color tone, and moldability at the molding of the polyester
carbonate is improved (e.g., cf. Patent Document 7). In this case,
the lesser total content of dicarboxylic acid impurities (malic
acid, maleic acid, and fumaric acid) is considered to be preferable
but a polyester having a high degree of polymerization is also not
obtained in this case, so that a carbonate compound which is an
chain extender is still added.
[0009] On the other hand, there are proposed several processes for
producing a high-molecular-weight one without using a chain
extender such as an isocyanate or a carbonate.
[0010] For example, in order to enhance the rate of the
polymerization reaction, there are disclosed a process of carrying
out dehydrative condensation with azeotropic removal of water
formed during the reaction and an organic solvent in the solvent
using a tin compound as a catalyst (e.g., cf. Patent Document 8)
and a process of carrying out a polycondensation reaction under
vary high vacuum of 0.005 to 0.1 mmHg (e.g., cf. Patent Document
9). However, since these production processes, especially the
latter process produce a polyester substantially having hydroxyl
group terminals, they are expected as processes for producing
polyesters excellent in thermal stability from the aforementioned
viewpoints but have disadvantages that not only the production
steps are complicated but also extremely large investment in
facilities is necessary. Moreover, since this process takes a long
period of time for production of the polyester having a high degree
of polymerization, there are fears of thermal degradation and
coloration of the polymer during the production.
[0011] Furthermore, as the other process, there is proposed a
catalyst system of combining a proton-releasing phosphorus compound
such as an organic phosphinic acid and a hydrogen phosphate salt
and a polymerization catalyst (e.g., cf. Patent Document 10). These
proton-releasing acidic compounds not only generate by-products
such as tetrahydrofuran from starting butanediol (Encyclopaedia
Chimica, vol. 7, p. 850, Kyoritsu Shuppan (1962)) but also possibly
deteriorate thermal stability and hydrolysis resistance of the
polyester by increasing acid concentration in the final
product.
[0012] As a method for overcoming such various problems, the
present applicant has proposed that a polyester having a high
degree of polymerization can be easily produced by adding a
bifunctional oxycarboxylic acid such as lactic acid to the
polymerization components to form a ternary system (1,4-butylene
glycol, succinic acid, and lactic acid) or a quaternary system
(1,4-butylene glycol, succinic acid, adipic acid, and lactic acid)
and using a Ge-based catalyst as a catalyst (e.g., cf. Patent
Document 11). Moreover, for the purpose of further enhancing melt
viscosity, a process of adding a trifunctional oxycarboxylic acid
to the above polymerization systems has been proposed (e.g., cf.
Patent Document 12). However, in the process of adding lactic acid
to these polymerization system, since lactide which is a cyclic
dimer of lactic acid is apt to be generated at the heating, during
the polymerization reaction, not only problems such as blockage of
reaction tubes are sometimes induced but also a polyester
containing a lactic acid component has a slight odor of lactic acid
or thermal degradation and coloration are caused owing to
generation of lactide or the like under a high temperature
condition in some cases.
[0013] Furthermore, such an aliphatic polyester exhibiting
biodegradability generally has a characteristic that it is apt to
undergo a hydrolysis reaction and hence there still remains a
problem of improving durability of mechanical properties such as
tensile properties for relatively long-term storage and use. As a
method for improving hydrolysis resistance, there is proposed a
method of mixing an aliphatic polyester with a carbodiimide
compound (e.g., cf. Patent Document 13). However, the effect is not
sufficient, for example, the tensile elongation percentage at break
decreases to less than 50% of the initial value after four weeks of
test, and thus there is practically a serious problem.
[Patent Document 1]
[0014] JP-A-7-53700
[Patent Document 2]
[0015] JP-A-4-189822
[Patent Document 3]
[0016] JP-A-8-301999
[Patent Document 4]
[0017] JP-A-5-170885
[Patent Document 5]
[0018] JP-A-5-178956
[Patent Document 6]
[0019] JP-A-5-271377
[Patent Document 7]
[0020] JP-A-11-60709
[Patent Document 8]
[0021] JP-A-9-77862
[Patent Document 9]
[0022] JP-A-5-310898
[Patent Document 10]
[0023] JP-A-2002-187943
[Patent Document 11]
[0024] JP-A-8-239461
[Patent Document 12]
[0025] JP-A-8-259679
[Patent Document 13]
[0026] JP-A-11-80522
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
[0027] An object of the invention is to provide a polyester which
is produced as a sufficiently high-molecular-weight one by a simple
and convenient production process without using a chain extender
such as an isocyanate compound or a carbonate compound and a large
amount of a branching agent, an acidic phosphorus compound, and the
like causing decrease in physical properties such as thermal
stability and which has sufficient tensile properties, especially
tensile elongation property of molded film and thermal
stability.
[0028] As a result of the extensive studies in consideration of the
above circumstances, the present inventors have enabled the
production of the polyester having a sufficiently high molecular
weight and excellent in environmental properties with using
substantially no starting materials affecting adversely physical
properties, such as a chain extender and an acidic phosphorus
compound and without using a large amount of a branching agent.
[0029] Namely, the gist of the invention lies on an aliphatic
polyester comprising an aliphatic diol unit, an aliphatic
dicarboxylic acid unit and a unit of an organic acid having a pKa
value of 3.7 or below at 25.degree. C., wherein a content of a
carbonate bond contained in the polyester is less than 1 mol %, a
content of a urethane bond is less than 0.06 mol %, a content of an
aliphatic monooxymonocarboxylic acid unit is less than 0.02 mol %,
a content of the phosphorus atom derived from a phosphorus compound
selected from among an organic phosphinic acid, an organic
phosphonic acid, and a hydrogen phosphate salt is less than
10.sup.-9 mol %, based on the whole monomer units constituting the
polyester, and a reduced viscosity (.eta.sp/C) is 1.6 or more.
[0030] Since the polyester of the invention is produced as a
sufficiently high-molecular-weight one by a simple and convenient
production process without using a chain extender such as an
isocyanate compound or a carbonate compound, the polyester is
excellent in environmental properties and also excellent in
moldability in injection molding, blow molding, or extrusion
molding, and mechanical properties such as thermal stability and
tensile properties.
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
[0031] The following will explain the present invention in
detail.
(Aliphatic Dial Unit)
[0032] The aliphatic dial unit constituting the aliphatic polyester
of the invention is not particularly limited as far as it is
derived from an aliphatic and alicyclic compound component having
two OH groups but there may be mentioned an aliphatic dial having a
lower limit of the carbon number of 2 or more and an upper limit of
usually 10 or less, preferably 6 or less.
[0033] Specific examples of the aliphatic diol include ethylene
glycol, 1,3-propylene glycol, neopentyl glycol, 1,6-hexamethylene
glycol, decamethylene glycol, 1,4-butanediol,
1,4-cyclohexanedimethanol, and the like. These may be used solely
or as a mixture of two or more of them.
[0034] Of these, ethylene glycol, 1,4-butanediol, 1,3-propylene
glycol, and 1,4-cyclohexanedimethanol are preferred. In particular,
ethylene glycol and 1,4-butanediol are preferred and furthermore
1,4-butanediol is particularly preferred.
[0035] Moreover, in addition to the above aliphatic diols, aromatic
diols may be used in combination as diol components. The aromatic
diol is not particularly limited as far as it is an aromatic
compound having two OH groups but there may be mentioned an
aromatic diol having a lower limit of the carbon number of 6 or
more and an upper limit of usually 15 or less. Specific examples of
the aromatic diol include hydroquinone, 1,5-dihydroxynaphthalene,
4,4'-dihydroxydiphenyl, bis(p-hydroxyphenyl)methane,
bis(p-hydroxyphenyl)-2,2-propane, and the like. The content of
these aromatic diols is usually 30 mol % or less, preferably 20 mol
% or less, more preferably 10 mol % or less in the total amount of
the diols.
[0036] Furthermore, a polyether having hydroxyl end groups may be
used in combination with the above aliphatic diol. As the polyether
having hydroxyl end groups, the carbon number has a lower limit of
usually 4 or more, preferably 10 or more and an upper limit of
usually 1,000 or less, preferably 200 or less, more preferably 100
or less. Specific examples of the polyether having hydroxyl end
groups include diethylene glycol, triethylene glycol, polyethylene
glycol, polypropylene glycol, polytetramethylene glycol,
poly-1,6-hexamethylene glycol, and the like. Moreover,
copolymerized polyether of polyethylene glycol and polypropylene
glycol, and the like can be also used. These polyethers having
hydroxyl end groups can be usually used in the amount of 90% by
weight or less, preferably 50% by weight or less, more preferably
30% by weight or less in the polyester.
(Aliphatic Dicarboxylic Acid Unit)
[0037] The aliphatic dicarboxylic acid unit constituting the
aliphatic polyester of the invention is derived from an aliphatic
dicarboxylic acid and/or a derivative thereof. As the aliphatic
dicarboxylic acid, specifically, there may be usually mentioned a
linear or alicyclic dicarboxylic acid having 2 to 12 carbon atoms,
such as oxalic acid, malonic acid, succinic acid, glutaric acid,
adipic acid, suberic acid, sebacic acid, cyclohexanedicarboxylic
acid, and the like. Moreover, as the derivatives of the aliphatic
dicarboxylic acid, there may be used lower alkyl esters such as
methyl esters, ethyl esters, propyl esters, butyl esters, and the
like esters of the above aliphatic dicarboxylic acids and cyclic
acid anhydrides of the above aliphatic dicarboxylic acids, such as
succinic anhydride. These may be used solely or as a mixture of two
or more of them. Of these, as the aliphatic dicarboxylic acid,
adipic acid, succinic acid, or a mixture thereof is preferred and
as the derivative of the aliphatic dicarboxylic acid, a methyl
ester of adipic acid or succinic acid or a mixture thereof is
preferred.
[0038] With regard to the aliphatic polyester of the invention, as
described blow, a process for producing a polyester with removing
these aliphatic dicarboxylic acids and acid anhydrides thereof from
the reaction system by distillation can be adopted as one
embodiment of a preferred process for producing the polyester. In
this case, in order to form free aliphatic dicarboxylic acid and/or
an acid anhydride thereof, it is advantageous that the terminal is
a carboxyl group, so that an aliphatic dicarboxylic acid is
preferably used as the above dicarboxylic acid component.
Specifically, since an aliphatic dicarboxylic acid having a
relatively small molecular weight and/or an acid anhydride thereof
can be relatively easily removed by heating under reduced pressure,
adipic acid and succinic acid are preferred and particularly
succinic acid is preferred.
[0039] Moreover, in addition to the above aliphatic dicarboxylic
acid or the derivative thereof, an aromatic dicarboxylic acid or a
derivative thereof may be used in combination. Specific examples of
the aromatic dicarboxylic acid include terephthalic acid,
isophthalic acid, naphthalenedicarboxylic acid,
diphenyldicarboxylic acid, and the like. As the derivative of the
aromatic dicarboxylic acid, there may be mentioned low alkyl esters
of the above aromatic dicarboxylic acids, specifically methyl
esters, ethyl esters, propyl esters, butyl esters, and the like.
These may be used solely or as a mixture of two or more thereof in
addition to the above aliphatic carboxylic acids. Of these, as the
aromatic dicarboxylic acid, terephthalic acid is preferred and as
the derivative of the aromatic dicarboxylic acid, dimethyl
terephthalate is preferred.
[0040] The amount of these other dicarboxylic acid components to be
used is usually 50 mol % or less, preferably 30 mol % or less, more
preferably 10 mol % or less in the total amount of the dicarboxylic
acids.
(Unit of Organic Acid Having pKa Value of 3.7 or Below at
25.degree. C.)
[0041] The polyester of the invention essentially contains a unit
of an organic acid having a pKa value of 3.7 or below at 25.degree.
C. in addition to the above diol unit and dicarboxylic unit. In
general, since an aliphatic polyester has a low thermal stability
to decrease molecular weight due to thermal degradation during the
polymerization reaction, it has been considered that a polyester
having a high degree of polymerization and a practically sufficient
strength cannot be easily obtained. However, by adding the unit of
an organic acid having a pKa value of 3.7 or below at 25.degree.
C., an aliphatic polyester having a high degree of polymerization
which has been hitherto difficult to produce can be easily obtained
with adding substantially no chain extender or aliphatic
monooxymonocarboxylic acid component since the polymerization rate
is enhanced because of exhibition of activity thereof as an acid
catalyst and the thermal stability of the polymer is improved
depending on the kind of the organic acid component. Thereby, it
becomes possible to provide an aliphatic polyester having a high
degree of polymerization having a particularly low harmfulness and
excellent in thermal stability and color tone among the aliphatic
polyesters having a high degree of polymerization which have been
hitherto difficult to produce.
[0042] As the organic acid having a pKa value of 3.7 or below at
25.degree. C., there may be, for example, mentioned organic acids
described in Kagaku Binran (kiso-hen) p. 1054-1058, Maruzen
Publishing (1966) and CRC Handbook of chemistry and Physics, 7th
Edition, p. 8-43 to 8-56, CRC Press (1995). Of these, a lower limit
of the pKa value is preferably 2.0 or more, more preferably 2.5 or
more, particularly preferably 3.1 or more and an upper limit is
preferably 3.5 or less. In this regard, there are compound showing
two or more pKa values among the organic acids. In the invention,
the pKa value of the compounds in that case is the lowest pKa
value. When an organic acid having a pKa value exceeding 3.7 is
used at the polymerization, it is difficult to produce a polyester
having a high degree of polymerization and practically excellent in
tensile strength. To the contrary, when an organic acid having a
too low pKa value is used at the polymerization, properties such as
thermal stability and hydrolysis resistance of the polyester formed
decrease in some cases. Particularly, in the latter case, since the
activity thereof as an acid catalyst is too strong, there are cases
that thermal degradation is caused at the polymerization and thus a
polyester having a high degree of polymerization is not
obtained.
[0043] The organic acid having a pKa value of 3.7 or below at
25.degree. C. is not particularly limited but is preferably a
compound which may be a copolymerizable component of the polyester
and a compound having a carboxyl group because an acid
concentration in the polyester after production is reduced and
thermal stability of the polyester is improved. Among them, because
of easy availability and easy production of a polyester having a
high degree of polymerization, polybasic oxycarboxylic acids,
particularly polybasic aliphatic oxycarboxylic acids are preferred.
Specifically, malic acid (pKa=3.5), tartaric acid (pKa=3.0), citric
acid (pKa=3.1), maleic acid (pKa=1.9), fumaric acid (pKa=3.0), and
mixtures thereof are preferred. The pKa values shown here are
values described in Kagaku Binran (kiso-hen) p. 1054-1058, Maruzen
Publishing (1966).
[0044] Among them, malic acid, citric acid, fumaric acid, and
mixtures thereof are preferred, furthermore, malic acid, fumaric
acid, and mixtures thereof are preferred, and especially, malic
acid is preferred. Particularly, in the case of producing a
polyester starting from succinic acid, depending on the processes
for producing succinic acid, a minute amount of malic acid is
contained in the starting succinic acid in some cases. In such
cases, succinic acid containing malic acid is selected and the
production of a polyester can be carried out, in combination with
diol component(s), using the succinic acid as it is or, if
necessary, with adding malic acid. Since the production of the
starting succinic acid can be simplified, such a process is the
most preferable one.
[0045] The content of these organic acids in the polyester is not
particularly limited but when it is controlled within a specific
range, not only a polyester having a high degree of polymerization
is easily obtained with an extremely minute amount of the chain
extender or the aliphatic monooxymonocarboxylic acid component
which has been hitherto added for obtaining a polyester having a
high degree of polymerization or without them but also a polyester
excellent in tensile properties of molded film such as improvement
of anisotropy in tensile elongation percentage of molded film can
be easily obtained.
[0046] For example, the case of malic acid which is an organic acid
having a pKa value of 3.5 or below at 25.degree. C. is explained as
an example in the following. That is, when the content of malic
acid is too small, it is difficult to obtain the polyester having a
high degree of polymerization and thus it becomes necessary to add
the chain extender or the aliphatic monooxymonocarboxylic acid
component. To the contrary, when the amount thereof is too large,
there arises a risk of gel formation or even when the gel formation
is avoided, the resulting polyester not only is poor in thermal
stability and hydrolysis resistance, e.g., easy formation of
tetrahydrofuran and cyclic oligomers at heating and easy hydrolysis
because of a high terminal concentration of the polymer but also
tends to exhibit no good properties as a film because of occurrence
of anisotropy in tensile elongation percentage of molded film.
[0047] For such a reason, the amount of the organic acid having a
pKa value of 3.7 or below at 25.degree. C. to be used is usually
0.0001 mol % or more, preferably 0.001 mol % or more, more
preferably 0.005 mol % or more, particularly preferably 0.009 mol %
or more as a lower limit and usually 0.4 mol % or less, preferably
0.35 mol % or less, more preferably 0.30 mol % or less,
particularly preferably 0.25 mol % or less as an upper limit, based
on the aliphatic dicarboxylic acid unit.
(Other Copolymerizable Component)
[0048] In the invention, copolymerizable component(s) other than
the above may be added.
[0049] As specific examples of the copolymerizable component, there
may be mentioned at least one polyfunctional compound selected from
the group consisting of bifunctional oxycarboxylic acids,
polyhydric alcohols having three or more hydroxyl groups and
polybasic carboxylic acids having three or more carboxyl groups and
anhydrides thereof for forming a crosslinked structure.
[0050] Specifically, as the bifunctional oxy carboxylic acids,
there may be mentioned lactic acid, glycolic acid, hydroxybutyric
acid, hydroxycaproic acid, 2-hydroxy-3,3-dimethylbutyric acid,
2-hydroxy-3-methylbutyric acid, 2-hydroxyisocaproic acid, and the
like and they may be derivatives thereof, such as esters or
lactones of the oxycarboxylic acids, or polymers of the
oxycarboxylic acids. Moreover, these oxycarboxylic acids may be
used solely or as mixtures of two or more thereof. In the case that
optical isomers are present, they may be any of D-form, L-form, or
racemic-form and they may be solids, liquids, or aqueous solutions.
Of these, easily available lactic acid or glycolic acid is
especially preferred. However, since polyesters produced in the
case of using these bifunctional oxycarboxylic acids as
copolymerizable components are sometimes apt to be colored or be
thermally degraded through cyclization of the oxycarboxylic acid
part at heating depending on the amount to be used, the amount of
the oxycarboxylic acid to be used is usually less than 0.02 mol %,
preferably 0.01 mol % or less, based on the whole monomer units
constituting the polyester.
[0051] As the polyhydric alcohols having three or more hydroxyl
groups, there may be specifically mentioned glycerin,
trimethylolpropane, pentaerythritol, and the like and they may be
used solely or as mixtures of two or more thereof.
[0052] As the polybasic carboxylic acids having three or more
carboxyl groups or anhydrides thereof, there may be specifically
mentioned propanetricarboxylic acid, pyromellitic anhydride,
benzophenonetetracarboxylic anhydride, cyclopentatetracarboxylic
anhydride, and the like and they may be used solely or as mixtures
of two or more thereof.
[0053] The amount of the above compounds having three or more
functional groups to be used is usually 5 mol % or less, preferably
1 mol % or less, more preferably 0.1 mol % or less, based on the
whole monomer units constituting the polyester since the compounds
may cause gel formation.
(Chain Extender)
[0054] The aliphatic polyester of the invention may contain a chain
extender such as a carbonate compound or a diisocyanate compound
but the amount is less than 1 mol %, preferably 0.5 mol % or less,
more preferably 0.1 mol % or less in the case of a carbonate bond,
and is less than 0.06 mol %, preferably 0.01 mol % or less, more
preferably 0.001 mol % or less in the case of a urethane bond,
based on the whole monomer units constituting the polyester.
[0055] From the viewpoint of using the polyester of the invention
as a biodegradable resin, a diisocyanate has a problem that a
strongly toxic diamine is formed in the progress of its degradation
and may be accumulated in the soil. Also, a diphenyl
carbonate-based compound generally used as a carbonate compound has
a problem that highly toxic bi-product phenol and unreacted
diphenyl carbonate may remain in the polyester.
[0056] As the carbonate compound, there may be specifically
exemplified diphenyl carbonate, ditolyl carbonate,
bis(chlorophenyl) carbonate, m-cresyl carbonate, dinaphthyl
carbonate, dimethyl carbonate, diethyl carbonate, dibutyl
carbonate, ethylene carbonate, diamyl carbonate, dicyclohexyl
carbonate, and the like. In addition, there can be used carbonate
compounds made of the same or different hydroxy compounds, which
are derived from hydroxy compounds such as phenols and
alcohols.
[0057] As the diisocyanate compound, there may be specifically
exemplified known diisocyanate such as 2,4-tolylene diisocyanate, a
mixture of 2,4-tolylene diisocyanate and 2,6-tolylene diisocyanate,
diphenylmethane diisocyanate, 1,5-naphthylene diisocyanate,
xylylene diisocyanate, hydrogenated xylylene diisocyanate,
hexamethylene diisocyanate, and isophorone diisocyanate and the
like.
[0058] Moreover, as the other chain extenders, dioxazoline,
silicate esters, and the like may be used. As the silicate esters,
there may be specifically exemplified tetramethoxysilane,
dimethoxydiphenylsilane, dimethoxydimethylsilane,
diphenyldihydroxysilane, and the like.
[0059] With regard to the silicate esters, the amount thereof to be
used is not particularly limited from the viewpoint of
environmental protection and safety but the lesser amount thereof
is preferred in some cases since operations become complex or the
esters may influence the polymerization rate. Therefore, the
content thereof is preferably 0.1 mol % or less, more preferably
10.sup.-5 mol % or less.
[0060] In the invention, the polyester containing substantially no
chain extender is most preferred. However, in order to increase
melt tension, a small amount of a peroxide may be added as far as a
compound having a low toxicity is added.
(Process for Producing Aliphatic Polyester)
[0061] As the process for producing the aliphatic polyester in the
invention, conventionally known processes may be used. For example,
the polyester can be produced by a general process, e.g., a melt
polymerization wherein a polycondensation reaction is carried out
under reduced pressure after an esterification reaction and/or an
ester exchange reaction between the above aliphatic dicarboxylic
acid component and the diol component, or a known thermal
dehydrative condensation process in a solution using an organic
solvent. A process for producing the polyester by melt
polymerization without solvent is preferred in view of economical
efficiency and simplicity of production step.
[0062] Moreover, the polycondensation reaction is preferably
carried out in the presence of a polymerization catalyst. The
timing of the addition of the polymerization catalyst is not
particularly limited as far as the timing is before the
polycondensation reaction. Thus, the catalyst may be added at the
feed of the starting materials or at the start of pressure
reduction.
[0063] As the polymerization catalyst, a compound containing at
least one of metal elements of the Groups 1 to 14 of the periodic
table. As the metal elements, there may be specifically mentioned
scandium, yttrium, samarium, titanium, zirconium, vanadium,
chromium, molybdenum, tungsten, tin, antimony, cerium, germanium,
zinc, cobalt, manganese, iron, aluminum, magnesium, calcium,
strontium, sodium, potassium, and the like. Of these, scandium,
yttrium, titanium, zirconium, vanadium, molybdenum, tungsten, zinc,
iron, and germanium are preferred and particularly, titanium,
zirconium, tungsten, iron, and germanium are preferred.
Furthermore, in order to diminish the polymer terminal
concentration affecting thermal stability of the polymer, among the
metals, metal elements of the Group 3 to 6 of the periodic table,
which exhibit Lewis acidity, are preferred. Specifically, scandium,
titanium, zirconium, vanadium, molybdenum, and tungsten are
mentioned and particularly, in view of easy availability, titanium
and zirconium are preferred.
[0064] In the invention, as the catalyst, there may be preferably
used compounds containing an organic group, such as carboxylate
salts, alkoxy salts, organic sulfonate salts, or .beta.-diketonate
salts containing these metal elements, further, inorganic compounds
such as oxides and halides of the above metals, and mixtures
thereof.
[0065] Furthermore, when a catalyst composed of a known layered
silicate salt described in "Nendo Kobutsu Gaku" written by Haruo
Shiramizu, Asakura shoten (1995) solely or in combination with the
above metal compound is used, the polymerization rate is sometimes
enhanced, so that such a catalyst system is also preferably
used.
[0066] As the layered silicate salt, there may be specifically
mentioned kaolin Group such as dickite, nacrite, kaolinite,
anorchisite, and metahalloysite, halloysite, serpentine Group such
as chrysotile, lizardite, and antigorite, smectite Group such as
montmorillonite, sauconite, beidellite, nontronite, saponite,
hectorite, and stevensite, vermiculite Group such as vermiculite,
mica Group such as mica, illite, sericite, and glauconite,
attapulgite, sepiolite, palygorskite, bentonite, pyrophyllite,
talc, and chlorite group.
[0067] In the invention, the catalyst is preferably liquid at the
polymerization or a compound soluble in an ester oligomer or
polyester because the polymerization rate is increased when the
catalyst is in a melted or dissolved state. Moreover, the
polycondensation is preferably carried out without solvent but,
aside from this, a small amount of a solvent may be used for
dissolving the catalyst.
[0068] As the solvent for dissolving the catalyst, there may be
mentioned alcohols such as methanol, ethanol, isopropanol, and
butanol, the above diols such as ethylene glycol, butanediol, and
pentanediol, ethers such as diethyl ether and tetrahydrofuran,
nitrites such as acetonitrile, hydrocarbon compounds such as
heptane and toluene, water and mixtures thereof. The amount thereof
to be used is such an amount that the catalyst concentration may be
usually 0.0001% by weight or more and 99% by weight or less.
[0069] As the titanium compound, tetraalkyl titanates are
preferred. Specifically, there may be mentioned tetra-n-propyl
titanate, tetraisopropyl titanate, tetra-n-butyl titanate,
tetra-t-butyl titanate, tetraphenyl titanate, tetracyclohexyl
titanate, tetrabenzyl titanate, and mixed titanates thereof. In
addition, titanium(oxy)acetylacetonate, titanium
tetraacetylacetonate, titanium(diisopropoxide)acetylacetonate,
titanium bis(ammonium lactate)dihydroxide, titanium
bis(ethylacetoacetate)diisopropoxide,
titanium(triethanolaminate)isopropoxide, polyhydroxytitanium
stearate, titanium lactate, titanium triethanolaminate, butyl
titanate dimer, and the like are also preferably used.
[0070] Of these, tetra-n-propyl titanate, tetraisopropyl titanate,
and tetra-n-butyl titanate, titanium(oxy)acetylacetonate, titanium
tetraacetylacetonate, titanium bis(ammonium lactate)dihydroxide,
polyhydroxytitanium stearate, titanium lactate, and butyl titanate
dimer are preferred, and tetra-n-butyl titanate,
titanium(oxy)acetylacetonate, titanium tetraacetylacetonate,
polyhydroxytitanium stearate, titanium lactate, and butyl titanate
dimer are more preferred. Particularly, tetra-n-butyl titanate,
polyhydroxytitanium stearate, titanium(oxy)acetylacetonate, and
titanium tetraacetylacetonate are preferred.
[0071] As the zirconium compound, there may be specifically
exemplified zirconium tetraacetate, zirconium acetate hydroxide,
zirconium tris(butoxy)stearate, zirconyl diacetate, zirconium
oxalate, zirconyl oxalate, zirconium potassium oxalate,
polyhydroxyzirconium stearate, zirconium ethoxide, zirconium
tetra-n-propoxide, zirconium tetraisopropoxide, zirconium
tetra-n-butoxide, zirconium tetra-t-butoxide, zirconium tributoxy
acetylacetonate, and mixtures thereof. Of these, zirconyl
diacetate, zirconium tris(butoxy)stearate, zirconium tetraacetate,
zirconium acetate hydroxide, zirconium ammonium oxalate, zirconium
potassium oxalate, polyhydroxyzirconium stearate, zirconium
tetra-n-propoxide, zirconium tetraisopropoxide, zirconium
tetra-n-butoxide, and zirconium tetra-t-butoxide are preferred, and
zirconyl diacetate, zirconium tetraacetate, zirconium acetate
hydroxide, zirconium tris(butoxy)stearate, zirconium ammonium
oxalate, zirconium tetra-n-propoxide, and zirconium
tetra-n-butoxide are more preferred. Particularly, zirconium
tris(butoxy)stearate is preferred because a colorless polyester
having a high degree of polymerization is easily obtained.
[0072] As the germanium compound, there may be specifically
mentioned inorganic germanium compounds such as germanium oxide and
germanium chloride and organic germanium compounds such as
tetraalkoxygermanium. In view of price and availability, germanium
oxide, tetraethoxygermanium, tetrabutoxygermanium, and the like are
preferred and particularly, germanium oxide is preferred.
[0073] As the other metal-containing compound, there may be
mentioned scandium compounds such as scandium carbonate, scandium
acetate, scandium chloride, and scandium acetylacetonate, yttrium
compounds such as yttrium carbonate, yttrium chloride, yttrium
acetate, and yttrium acetylacetonate, vanadium compounds such as
vanadium chloride, vanadium oxide trichloride, vanadium
acetylacetonate, and vanadium acetylacetonate oxide, molybdenum
compounds such as molybdenum chloride and molybdenum acetate,
tungsten compounds such as tungsten chloride, tungsten acetate,
tungstenic acid, lanthanoid compounds such as cerium chloride,
samarium chloride, and ytterbium chloride, and the like.
[0074] The amount of the catalyst to be added in the case of using
a metal compound as the polymerization catalyst is usually 0.1 ppm
or more, preferably 0.5 ppm or more, more preferably 1 ppm or more
as a lower limit and is usually 30,000 ppm or less, preferably
1,000 ppm or less, more preferably 250 ppm or less, particularly
preferably 130 ppm or less as an upper limit, as a metal amount
based on the formed polyester. In particular, when the metal amount
in the polyester is 50 ppm or less, more preferably 10 ppm or less,
a polyester having a remarkably low terminal concentration of the
carboxyl group in the polymer can be produced in some cases, so
that the case is preferred.
[0075] When the amount of the catalyst used is too large, not only
it is disadvantageous in economical efficiency but also, although
the reason is yet unclear, the terminal concentration of the
carboxyl group in the polymer sometimes increases, so that thermal
stability and hydrolysis resistance may be deteriorated by the
increase of the terminal amount of the carboxyl group and residual
catalyst concentration. To the contrary, when the amount is too
small, the polymerization rate decreases and thus thermal
degradation of the polymer is induced during the polymer production
as the activity decreases, so that the polymer showing practically
useful physical properties is difficult to obtain.
[0076] On the other hand, from the gist of the invention to provide
an aliphatic polyester having a biodegradable function and not
harmful to the environment, it is preferred to restrict the amount
of a tin-containing compound or an antimony-containing compound
since they have particularly a relatively high toxicity among the
above polymerization catalysts. Therefore, the amount in the case
of using the tin-containing compound or antimony-containing
compound as a polymerization catalyst is usually 60 ppm or less,
preferably 10 ppm or less, more preferably 1 ppm or less as a metal
amount, based on the formed polyester, in the case of a tin
compound as a metal amount based on the formed polyester. On the
other hand, in the case of an antimony compound, the amount is
usually 100 ppm or less, preferably 50 ppm or less, more preferably
10 ppm or less as a metal amount based on the formed polyester.
[0077] Moreover, there may be also used a catalyst system using a
mineral acid such as hydrochloric acid or sulfuric acid or a salt
thereof, a sulfate ester such as dimethyl sulfate, diethyl sulfate,
or ethyl sulfate, an organic sulfonic acid such as methanesulfonic
acid, trifluoromethanesulfonic acid, or p-toluenesulfonic acid, an
inorganic phosphoric acid such as phosphoric acid, hypophosphorous
acid, pyrophosphorous acid, phosphorous acid, hypophosphoric acid,
pyrophosphoric acid, triphosphoric acid, metaphosphoric acid,
peroxophosphoric acid, or polyphosphoric acid, an inorganic
hydrogen phosphate salt such as ammonium hydrogen phosphate,
magnesium hydrogen phosphate, calcium hydrogen phosphate, ammonium
hydrogen polyphosphate, magnesium hydrogen polyphosphate, or
calcium hydrogen polyphosphate, an organic phosphinic acid such as
phenylphosphinic acid, benzylphosphinic acid, methylphosphinic
acid, n-butylphsophinic acid, cyclohexylphosphinic acid, or
diphenylphosphinic acid, and an organic phosphonic acid such as
phenylphosphonic acid, benzylphosphonic acid, methylphosphonic
acid, n-butylphosphonic acid, or cyclophosphonic acid as a
co-catalyst.
[0078] However, these acidic compounds releasing protons generally
not only generate, for example, a by-product such as
tetrahydrofuran from starting butanediol (Encyclopaedia Chimica,
vol. 7, p. 850, Kyoritsu Shuppan (1962)) but also possibly
deteriorate thermal stability and hydrolysis resistance of the
polyester owing to an increased acid concentration of the final
product, so that its use is not preferred. Therefore, the content
of these acidic compounds releasing protons in the polyester is not
particularly limited but the range of usually 10.sup.-5 mol % or
less, preferably 10.sup.-8 mol % or less, particularly preferably
10.sup.-9 mol % or less is a preferred range. However, the
polyester containing substantially no such compounds is most
preferred.
[0079] Moreover, among these acidic compounds, particularly in the
case of using an organic phosphinic acid and/or organic phosphonic
acid as a co-catalyst, since these compounds are apt to form
adducts with a polymerization catalyst and thus tend to inhibit a
Lewis acid point as a reactive active point of the catalyst in
addition to the above disadvantages of the acidic compounds, the
catalytic reaction is retarded and, as a result, the polyester
having a high degree of polymerization is not obtained in some
cases. Moreover, in the case of using a hydrogen phosphate salt as
a co-catalyst, the salt not only has the same disadvantages as an
acidic compound but also counter cations of the hydrogen phosphate
salt remains in the polymer after the polymerization reaction
unlike an acid such as phosphoric acid and hence these remaining
cations act as a Lewis acid to deteriorate hydrolysis resistance of
the polyester in some cases. Therefore, in the polyester of the
invention, an upper limit of the content of the phosphorus atom in
the polyester derived from the phosphorus-containing compound
selected from the organic phosphinic acids, organic phosphonic
acids, and hydrogen phosphate salts is necessarily less than
10.sup.-9 mol %, preferably 10.sup.-10 mol % or less, based on the
whole component units constituting the polyester but the polyester
containing substantially no such acids is most preferred.
[0080] Hitherto known ranges can be adopted as conditions for
temperature, time, pressure, and the like.
[0081] The reaction temperature for the esterification reaction
and/or ester-exchange reaction of the dicarboxylic acid
component(s) and the diol component(s) is usually 150.degree. C. or
higher, preferably 180.degree. C. or higher as a lower limit and
usually 260.degree. C. or lower, preferably 250.degree. C. or lower
as an upper limit. The reaction atmosphere is usually an atmosphere
of an inert gas such as nitrogen or argon. The reaction pressure is
usually normal pressure to 10 kPa but normal pressure is
preferred.
[0082] The reaction time is usually 1 hour or more, and an upper
limit is usually 10 hour or less, preferably 4 hour or less.
[0083] The subsequent polycondensation reaction is carried out
under a pressure, i.e., a degree of vacuum, of usually
0.01.times.10.sup.3 Pa or higher, preferably 0.03.times.10.sup.3 Pa
or higher as a lower limit and usually 1.4.times.10.sup.3 Pa or
lower, preferably 0.4.times.10.sup.3 Pa or lower. When the pressure
at the production by polymerization is too high, the production of
the polyester by polymerization takes longer time and decrease in
molecular weight and coloration due to thermal degradation of the
polyester are caused along with the longer production time and
hence there is a tendency that the polyester showing practically
sufficient properties is difficult to produce. On the other hand, a
process for producing the same using an ultrahigh vacuum
polymerization facility is a preferred embodiment in view of
enhancing the polymerization rate but the process is economically
disadvantageous since extremely large investment in facilities is
necessary.
[0084] The reaction temperature at this occasion is in the range of
usually 150.degree. C. or higher, preferably 180.degree. C. or
higher as a lower limit and usually 260.degree. C. or lower,
preferably 250.degree. C. or lower as an upper limit. When the
temperature is too low, the polymerization rate is low and the
production of the polyester having a high degree of polymerization
not only requires a long period of time but also necessitates a
high-power stirring machine, so that the case is economically
disadvantageous. On the other hand, when the reaction temperature
is too high, thermal degradation of the polymer at the production
is caused and there is a tendency that the polyester having a high
degree of polymerization is difficult to produce.
[0085] The reaction time is usually 2 hours or more as a lower
limit and usually 15 hours or less, preferably 8 hours or less,
more preferably 6 hours or less as an upper limit. When the
reaction time is too short, the reaction proceeds insufficiently to
obtain the polyester having a low degree of polymerization which is
low in tensile elongation percentage at break. Moreover, the
terminal amount of the carboxyl group in the polymer is sometimes
large and deterioration of the tensile elongation percentage at
break is remarkable in many cases as mentioned below. On the other
hand, when the reaction time is too long, decrease in molecular
weight by thermal degradation of the polyester becomes remarkable
and not only the tensile elongation percentage at break is
deteriorated but also the terminal amount of the carboxyl group,
which affects durability of the polymer, increases through thermal
degradation in some cases.
[0086] In the invention, in the case that an aromatic dicarboxylic
acid or its alkyl ester is used as a dicarboxylic acid component in
combination with the aliphatic carboxylic acid, the order of the
addition is not particularly limited and various methods can be
adopted, for example, as a first method, starting monomers can be
charged at once into a reaction vessel and reacted or, as a second
method, a method of subjecting diol component(s) and aliphatic
dicarboxylic acid(s) or derivative(s) thereof to an esterification
reaction or an ester-exchange reaction, then subjecting diol
component(s) and aromatic dicarboxylic acid(s) or derivative(s)
thereof to an esterification reaction or an ester-exchange
reaction, and further subjecting the product to a polycondensation
reaction.
[0087] In the invention, as a reaction apparatus for producing the
polyester, known vertical or horizontal stirring vessel-type
reactors can be used. For example, there may be mentioned a method
wherein the melt polymerization is carried out using the same or
different reaction apparatus in two stages composed of a step of
esterification and/or ester exchange reaction and a step of
polycondensation under reduced pressure and a stirring vessel-type
reactor fitted with an exhaust tube for pressure reduction
connecting a vacuum pump and the reactor is used as a reactor for
polycondensation under reduced pressure. Moreover, there is
preferably used a method wherein a condenser is connected in the
middle of the exhaust tube for reduced pressure connecting the
vacuum pump and the reactor and volatile components formed during
the polycondensation reaction and unreacted monomers are recovered
in the condenser.
[0088] In the invention, as processes for producing the polyester,
there is used a process of carrying out an esterification reaction
and/or an ester exchange reaction between dicarboxylic acid
component(s) including the above aliphatic dicarboxylic acid(s) and
aliphatic diol component(s) and then increasing the degree of
polymerization by removing diol(s) formed through the ester
exchange reaction by distillation or a process of increasing the
degree of polymerization of the polyester with removing aliphatic
dicarboxylic acid(s) and/or acid anhydride(s) thereof from the
aliphatic carboxyl terminal of the polyester by distillation. In
the invention, though the polyester having a high degree of
polymerization can be produced using a compound containing a metal
element of the Groups 3 to 6 of the periodic table as a catalyst
even by the former process, the latter process of removing the
aliphatic dicarboxylic acid(s) and/or acid anhydride(s) thereof by
distillation is preferred because the polyester having a high
degree of polymerization is easily obtained within a relatively
short period of time without using any chain extender or the like.
In this case, for the removal of the aliphatic dicarboxylic acid(s)
and/or acid anhydride(s) thereof, there is adopted a method of
distilling out the aliphatic dicarboxylic acid(s) and/or acid
anhydride(s) thereof under heating during the polycondensation
reaction under reduced pressure at later stage of the above melt
polymerization step but, since the aliphatic dicarboxylic acid(s)
are easily converted into acid anhydride(s) under the
polycondensation reaction conditions, the acid(s) are distilled out
under heating in the form of the acid anhydride(s) in many cases.
Moreover, at that time, linear or cyclic ether(s) and/or diol(s)
derived from the diol may be also removed together with the
aliphatic dicarboxylic acid(s) and/or acid anhydride(s) thereof.
Furthermore, the method of removing the cyclic monomer(s) of the
dicarboxylic acid component and the diol component concurrently by
distillation is a preferred embodiment because the polymerization
rate increases.
[0089] In the case of producing the polyester using the process of
removing the aliphatic dicarboxylic acid(s) and/or acid
anhydride(s) thereof by distillation, when the amount of the
aliphatic dicarboxylic acid(s) and/or acid anhydride(s), which is
not particularly limited, is usually 30 mol % or more, preferably
50 mol % or more, more preferably 70 mol % or more, further
preferably 80 mol % or more, most preferably 90 mol % or more based
on the total amount of the aliphatic dicarboxylic acid(s) and/or
acid anhydride(s) and the diol to be removed by distillation, the
polyester having a high degree of polymerization can be easily
produced. Particularly, in the case of a typical element such as
germanium, the tendency is remarkable.
[0090] In the invention, in the case of producing the polyester
having a high degree of polymerization by the process of removing
the aliphatic dicarboxylic acid(s) and/or acid anhydride(s) thereof
by distillation, when the temperature at the outlet at the reaction
vessel side of the exhaust tube for reduced pressure connecting the
vacuum pump and the reactor is maintained at a temperature equal to
or higher than an either lower temperature of the melting point of
the aliphatic dicarboxylic anhydride or the boiling point of the
aliphatic dicarboxylic anhydride at the degree of vacuum at the
polycondensation reaction, the acid anhydride formed can be
effectively removed from the reaction system and the aimed
polyester having a high degree of polymerization can be produced
for a short period of time, so that the case is preferred.
Furthermore, it is more preferred to maintain the temperature of
the exhaust tube from the outlet at the reaction vessel side to the
condenser at a temperature equal to or higher than an either lower
temperature of the melting point of the anhydride or the boiling
point of the anhydride at the degree of vacuum at the
polycondensation reaction.
[0091] In the invention, a preferable range of the molar ratio of
the diol component to the dicarboxylic acid component for obtaining
the polyester having an aimed degree of polymerization varies
depending on the purpose thereof and the kinds of the starting
materials but the amount of the diol component relative to 1 mol of
the acid component is usually 0.8 mol or more, preferably 0.9 mol
or more as a lower limit and usually 1.5 mol or less, preferably
1.3 mol or less, particularly preferably 1.2 mol or less.
[0092] Furthermore, in the case of producing the polyester having a
high degree of polymerization by removing the aliphatic
dicarboxylic acid(s) and/or acid anhydride(s) thereof by
distillation, it is not necessary to use more excessive diol as a
starting material as is used in conventional processes since a
larger terminal amount of the carboxylic acid is advantageous for
the polymerization. In this case, a preferable range of the molar
ratio of the diol component to the dicarboxylic acid component also
varies depending on the aimed degree of polymerization and kind of
the polyester but the amount of the diol component relative to 1
mol of the acid component is usually 0.8 mol or more, preferably
0.9 mol or more, more preferably 0.95 or more as a lower limit and
usually 1.15 mol or less, preferably 1.1 mol or less, particularly
preferably 1.07 mol or less as an upper limit.
[0093] On the other hand, when the process for producing the
polyester by removing the aliphatic dicarboxylic acid(s) and/or
acid anhydride(s) thereof by distillation is used, the polyester
produced has a large terminal amount of the carboxylic acid in the
case of a low degree of polymerization as compared with the cases
of conventional processes. Moreover, by lowering the feed ratio of
diol/dicarboxylic acid, the tendency becomes remarkable. The
polyester obtained by such a procedure is finally converted into a
polyester having a low amount of the terminal carboxylic acid and
excellent in thermal stability and hydrolysis resistance by
enhancing reduced viscosity (.eta.sp/C) but it is possible to
control the terminal amount of the carboxyl group in the polyester
produced by regulating the above feed ratio. Thereby, it becomes
also possible to control hydrolysis resistance and biodegradability
of the polyester.
(Aliphatic Polyester and Application Thereof)
[0094] The reduced viscosity (.eta.sp/C) value of the aliphatic
polyester produced in the invention is 1.6 or more because
practically sufficient mechanical properties are obtained.
Particularly, 2.0 or more is preferred and furthermore 2.2 or more,
particularly 2.3 or more is preferred. An upper limit of the
reduced viscosity (.eta.sp/C) value is usually 6.0 or less,
preferably 5.0 or less, further preferably 4.0 or less in view of
operability such as removability and moldability of the polyester
after the polymerization reaction. The factor is a factor also
affecting the terminal concentration of the carboxyl group in the
polyester but, by increasing the viscosity of the polymer,
hydrophobicity is increased and thus hydrolysis resistance is
enhanced in some cases. In this regard, the reduced viscosity in
the invention is measured under the following conditions.
[Measuring Conditions for Reduced Viscosity (.eta.sp/C)]
[0095] Viscosity tube: Ubbelohde's viscosity tube
[0096] Measuring temperature: 30.degree. C.
[0097] Solvent: phenol/tetrachloroethane (1:1 weight ratio)
solution
[0098] Polyester concentration: 0.5 g/dl
[0099] With regard to the polyester having a reduced viscosity of
1.6 or more, even when the polyester is produced by the process of
removing the aliphatic dicarboxylic acid(s) and/or acid
anhydride(s) thereof by distillation, the number of the terminal
COOH groups in the resulting polyester becomes 50 eq/ton or less
and thus the polyester becomes a polyester excellent in thermal
stability. The number of the terminal COOH groups in the polyester
of the invention is usually 50 eq/ton or less, preferably 35 eq/ton
or less, more preferably 25 eq/ton or less. Such a polyester has
characteristics that thermal stability is excellent and the quality
is less deteriorated during molding, that is, little side reactions
such as cleavage of the terminal group and cleavage of the main
chain occur during melt molding.
[0100] On the other hand, in view of practical durability, the
aliphatic polyester of the invention preferably has a retention
rate of the reduced viscosity of 80% or more when the aliphatic
polyester is transformed into a film-shape test piece having a
thickness of 150.+-.25 .mu.m and the test piece is kept under
conditions of a temperature of 50.degree. C. and a relative
humidity of 90% R.H. for 28 days. The retention rate of the reduced
viscosity means (reduced viscosity after the retention test/reduced
viscosity before the retention test).times.100 (%). Preferable
retention rate of the reduced viscosity is 80% or more, more
preferably 85% or more, further preferably 90% or more.
[0101] The aliphatic polyester having such characteristics shows an
excellent durability that a retention rate of tensile elongation
percentage at break before and after the retention test (=(tensile
elongation percentage at break after test/tensile elongation
percentage at break before test).times.100 (%)) is usually 50% or
more, preferably 75% or more. Namely, it has been found during the
process for accomplishing the invention that the degree of
deterioration of the tensile elongation percentage at break is
determined by not a value of reduced viscosity of the aliphatic
polyester after use or after storage but a change rate of the
reduced viscosity at use or at storage. Since the aliphatic
polyester having such characteristics is a resin which is excellent
in practical mechanical properties in addition to the tensile
elongation percentage at break and also which exhibits small degree
of deterioration thereof, the polyester is a suitable resin for
long-term use or storage as molded products, and is a particularly
useful resin for a film material for the purpose of long-term
use.
[0102] Such an aliphatic polyester is considered to exhibit
durability such as hydrolysis resistance by combination of some
factors such as the terminal amount of the carboxyl group, the
ratio of terminal carboxyl group/terminal hydroxyl, the reduced
viscosity, and the metal content of the catalyst in the polyester,
although the detail is not clear.
[0103] First, one factor is the terminal concentration of the
carboxyl group which is considered to remarkably affect thermal
stability of the polyester. In the process of accomplishing the
invention, in the case of the aliphatic polyester, it has been
clarified that there is observed an indication that the tensile
properties represented by hydrolysis resistance at relatively
long-term use and storage are less deteriorated as the terminal
concentration of the carboxyl group decreases and when the amount
is reduced to a specific concentration or less, the retention rate
of the tensile properties is extremely improved. In order to
remarkably enhance the durability of the tensile elongation
percentage at break, the terminal concentration of the carboxyl
group is usually 10 eq/ton or less, further 6 eq/ton or less,
particularly 4 eq/ton or less.
[0104] On the other hand, for the production of the polyester in
which terminal carboxyl group is substantially not present, since
the polymerization rate is extremely low and investment for highly
expensive ultrahigh vacuum facilities is required in the
conventional production process, it becomes necessary to use an
isocyanate or carbonate compound as an economically advantageous
procedure. To the contrary, when the terminal carboxyl group is
present in the polyester and/or oligoester formed, the
polymerization rate is high and the polyester having a high degree
of polymerization is easily obtained. For the reasons, it is
important that the terminal carboxyl group is present in the
aliphatic polyester of the invention in a concentration of usually
0.1 eq/ton or more, preferably 0.5 eq/ton or more, particularly 1
eq/ton or more.
[0105] The terminal concentration can be controlled by regulating
feed balance of the dicarboxylic acid/diol at the above production.
Moreover, as an alternative for controlling the terminal
concentration, there is preferably used a method of controlling the
concentration by incorporating into the polymerization system an
appropriate amount of at least one compound unit having three or
more functional groups selected from the group consisting of
polyhydric alcohols having three or more hydroxyl groups, polybasic
carboxylic acids having three or more carboxylic groups, and
oxycarboxylic acids having three or more functional groups, such as
pentaerythritol, pyromellitic acid, malic acid, tartaric acid, and
citric acid.
[0106] By suitably regulating the balance of the dicarboxylic
acid/diol at the above production, the kinds and amounts of the
compounds having three or more functional groups, the upper limit
of the amount ratio of terminal carboxyl group/terminal hydroxyl
group in the polyester can be regulated to usually 0.20 or less,
preferably 0.15 or less, more preferably 0.10 or less and the lower
limit can be regulated to usually 0.001 or more, preferably 0.01 or
more, more preferably 0.02 or more.
[0107] In the polymerization system where the terminal amount ratio
is too low, since the production of the polyester by polymerization
takes a longer period of time and a decrease in molecular weight
and coloration due to thermal degradation of the polyester are
caused, extremely expensive investment in facilities is necessary
for production of the polyester showing practically sufficient
properties. On the other hand, in the polymerization system where
the amount ratio is too large, a polyester having a low hydrolysis
resistance is produced at the production of the polyester which is
suitable in operability such as removability or moldability after
the polymerization reaction, but at the production of a polyester
having an increased hydrolysis resistance, the viscosity of the
resulting polyester is too high to tend to induce adverse effects
in operability such as removability or moldability after the
polymerization reaction.
[0108] The metal amount of the catalyst contained in the aliphatic
polyester of the invention depends on the metal species of the
catalyst used but the smaller amount thereof may not only reduce
possibility of hydrolysis and thermal degradation of the polyester
but also enables production of a polymer having a low terminal
concentration of the carboxyl group in the polymer in many cases.
For example, when the titanium amount contained in the aliphatic
polyester produced in the case of using a titanium-containing
catalyst as a catalyst is regarded to be 10 ppm or less, a
polyester showing an excellent durability where the above terminal
number of the carboxyl groups is 10 eq/ton or less can be easily
produced, the reason being not yet clear.
[0109] During the production process of the invention or to the
polyester obtained, various additives, for example, a heat
stabilizer, an antioxidant, a crystal nucleating agent, a flame
retardant, an antistatic agent, a release agent, a UV absorber, and
the like may be added at the time of polymerization within a range
not impairing the properties.
[0110] Moreover, at the time of molding, in addition to the above
various additives, a reinforcing agent and a filler, such as glass
fiber, carbon fiber, titanium whisker, mica, talc, CaCO.sub.3,
TiO.sub.2, or silica may be added and then molding can be
effected.
[0111] Since the polyester obtained by the production process of
the invention is excellent in thermal resistance and color tone,
further excellent in hydrolysis resistance and biodegradability,
and also can be produced inexpensively, it is suitable for
applications of various films and applications of injection-molded
articles.
[0112] Specific applications include injection-molded articles
(e.g., trays for fresh foods, containers for fast foods, products
for outdoor leisure, etc.), extrusion-molded articles (films,
sheets, and the like, e.g., fishing lines, fishing nets, vegetation
nets, water-holding sheets, etc.), blow molded articles (bottles,
etc.), and the like. In addition, the polyester can be utilized for
agricultural films, coating materials, coating materials for
fertilizer, laminate films, plates, drawn sheets, monofilaments,
multifilaments, nonwoven fabrics, flat yarn, staple, crimped
staple, striped tapes, split yarn, compound fibers, blow bottles,
foams, shopping bags, garbage bags, compost bags, containers for
cosmetics, containers for detergent, containers for bleach, ropes,
lashings, surgical strings, sanitary cover stock materials, cold
boxes, cushioning films, synthetic papers, and the like.
EXAMPLES
[0113] The following will describe the invention further in detail
with reference to Examples but the invention is not limited to the
following Examples unless it exceeds the gist.
(Amount of Terminal Carboxyl Group)
[0114] It is a value obtained by dissolving the obtained polyester
in benzyl alcohol and titrating it with 0.1N NaOH and is an
equivalent amount of the carboxyl group per 1.times.10.sup.6 g of
polyester.
(Amount of Terminal OH Group)
[0115] It is a value determined on .sup.1H-NMR and is an equivalent
amount of the OH group per 1.times.10.sup.6 g of polyester.
Example 1
Production of Polyester Having Malic Acid Content of 0.33 mol %
Relative to Aliphatic Dicarboxylic Acid
Example 1-A
[0116] To a reaction vessel equipped with a stirring apparatus, a
nitrogen inlet, a heating apparatus, a thermometer, and an outlet
for pressure reduction were fed 100.3 g (0.85 mol) of succinic
acid, 78.8 g (0.87 mol) of 1,4-butanediol, and 1.34 g
(2.8.times.10.sup.-3 mol, 0.33 mol % relative to succinic acid) of
27.7% by weight of an aqueous malic acid solution in which
germanium dioxide as a catalyst had been dissolved in an amount of
4% by weight beforehand, and the inner system was made a nitrogen
atmosphere by replacement with nitrogen under reduced pressure.
[0117] Then, the inner system was heated to 220.degree. C. under
stirring and they were reacted at this temperature for 1 hour.
Thereafter, the temperature was elevated to 230.degree. C. and, at
the same time, the pressure was reduced to 0.07.times.10.sup.3 Pa
over a period of 1 hour 30 minutes. Furthermore, 2.5 hours of the
reaction was carried out under reduced pressure of
0.07.times.10.sup.3 Pa to obtain a white polyester. During the
polycondensation reaction under reduced pressure, the outlet for
pressure reduction of the reaction vessel was continued to heat at
110.degree. C.
[0118] The reduced viscosity (.eta.sp/C) of the resulting polyester
was 2.4, the amount of the terminal carboxyl group was 18 eq/ton,
the amount of the terminal OH group was 44 eq/ton, and the contents
of a carbonate bond, a urethane bond, an aliphatic
monooxymonocarboxylic acid unit, and a phosphorus atom derived from
a phosphorus-containing compound were each 0. Main volatile
components distilled out from the outlet for pressure reduction
during the polymerization were succinic anhydride (3.8 g), a mixed
solution (32 g) of water and tetrahydrofuran, and a small amount of
1,4-butanediol.
Example 1-B
[0119] A polyester was obtained under the same polycondensation
reaction conditions as in Example 1-A except that, as the feed of
starting materials, 0.33% by weight aqueous germanium dioxide
solution (15.15 g) was fed to a mixture of 100.3 g (0.85 mol) of
succinic acid, 78.8 g (0.87 mol) of 1,4-butanediol, and 0.37 g
(2.8.times.10.sup.-3 mol, 0.33 mol % relative to succinic acid) of
malic acid. The polymerization reaction time under reduced pressure
of 0.07.times.10.sup.3 Pa was 3 hours.
[0120] The reduced viscosity (.eta.sp/C) of the resulting polyester
was 2.3, the amount of the terminal OH group was 60 eq/ton, and the
contents of a carbonate bond, a urethane bond, an aliphatic
monooxymonocarboxylic acid unit, and a phosphorus atom derived from
a phosphorus-containing compound were each 0. Main volatile
components distilled out from the outlet for pressure reduction
during the polymerization were succinic anhydride (3.6 g), a mixed
solution (45 g) of water and tetrahydrofuran, and a small amount of
1,4-butanediol.
Example 1-C
[0121] To a reaction vessel equipped with a stirring apparatus, a
nitrogen inlet, a heating apparatus, a thermometer, and an outlet
for pressure reduction were fed 100.3 g (0.85 mol) of succinic
acid, 80.35 g (0.89 mol) of 1,4-butanediol, and 0.37 g
(2.8.times.10.sup.-3 mol, 0.33 mol % relative to succinic acid) of
malic acid, and the inner system was made a nitrogen atmosphere by
replacement with nitrogen under reduced pressure.
[0122] Then, the inner system was heated to 220.degree. C. under
stirring and they were reacted at this temperature for 1 hour.
Thereafter, a catalyst solution obtained by diluting 0.107 g of
tetra-n-butyl titanate with 0.4 g of butanol was added to the
reaction system and then the temperature was elevated to
230.degree. C. over a period of 30 minutes and, at the same time,
the pressure was reduced to 0.07.times.10.sup.3 Pa over a period of
1 hour 30 minutes. Furthermore, 3.5 hours of the reaction was
carried out under reduced pressure of 0.07.times.10.sup.3 Pa to
obtain a polyester.
[0123] The reduced viscosity (.eta.sp/C) of the resulting polyester
was 2.4, the amount of the terminal carboxyl group was 16 eq/ton,
the amount of the terminal OH group was 55 eq/ton, and the contents
of a carbonate bond, a urethane bond, an aliphatic
monooxymonocarboxylic acid unit, and a phosphorus atom derived from
a phosphorus-containing compound were each 0.
[0124] Main volatile components distilled out from the outlet for
pressure reduction during the polymerization were water, succinic
anhydride, tetrahydrofuran, a cyclic monomer of succinic acid and
butanediol, and a small amount of 1,4-butanediol.
Example 1-D
[0125] A polyester was obtained under the same polycondensation
reaction conditions as in Example 1-C except that 100.3 g (0.85
mol) of succinic acid, 81.12 g (0.90 mol) of 1,4-butanediol, and
0.37 g (2.8.times.10.sup.-3 mol, 0.33 mol % relative to succinic
acid) of malic acid were used as starting materials and a catalyst
solution obtained by diluting 0.107 g of tetra-n-butyl titanate
with 3.1 g of 1,4-butanediol was used as a catalyst. The
polymerization reaction time under reduced pressure of
0.07.times.10.sup.3 Pa was 7 hours.
[0126] The reduced viscosity (.eta.sp/C) of the resulting polyester
was 2.4, the amount of the terminal carboxyl group was 23 eq/ton,
the amount of the terminal OH group was 63 eq/ton, and the contents
of a carbonate bond, a urethane bond, an aliphatic
monooxymonocarboxylic acid unit, and a phosphorus atom derived from
a phosphorus-containing compound were each 0.
[0127] Main volatile components distilled out from the outlet for
pressure reduction during the polymerization were water,
tetrahydrofuran, a cyclic monomer of succinic acid and butanediol,
and tetrahydrofuran.
Example 1-E
[0128] To a reaction vessel equipped with a stirring apparatus, a
nitrogen inlet, a heating apparatus, a thermometer, and an outlet
for pressure reduction were fed 100.3 g (0.85 mol) of succinic
acid, 81.1 g (0.90 mol) of 1,4-butanediol, and 0.37 g
(2.8.times.10.sup.-3 mol, 0.33 mol % relative to succinic acid) of
malic acid, and the inner system was made a nitrogen atmosphere by
replacement with nitrogen under reduced pressure.
[0129] Then, the inner system was heated to 220.degree. C. under
stirring and they were reacted at this temperature for 1 hour.
Thereafter, 0.36 g of Orgatix ZB-320 (zirconium tributoxystearate,
manufactured by Matsumoto Trading Co., Ltd.) was added to the
reaction system, then the temperature was elevated to 230.degree.
C. over a period of 30 minutes and, at the same time, the pressure
was reduced to 0.07.times.10.sup.3 Pa over a period of 1 hour 30
minutes. Furthermore, 4 hours of the reaction was carried out under
reduced pressure of 0.07.times.10.sup.3 Pa to obtain a
polyester.
[0130] The reduced viscosity (.eta.sp/C) of the resulting polyester
was 2.6, the amount of the terminal carboxyl group was 19 eq/ton,
the amount of the terminal OH group was 43 eq/ton, and the contents
of a carbonate bond, a urethane bond, an aliphatic
monooxymonocarboxylic acid unit, and a phosphorus atom derived from
a phosphorus-containing compound were each 0.
[0131] Main volatile components distilled out from the outlet for
pressure reduction during the polymerization were water, succinic
anhydride, tetrahydrofuran, a cyclic monomer of succinic acid and
butanediol, and a small amount of 1,4-butanediol.
Example 1-F
[0132] The same operations as in Example 1-A were conducted except
that the charged amounts were changed to 3420 g (29.0 mol) of
succinic acid, 2689 g (29.8 mol) of 1,4-butanediol, and 45.6 g
(9.4.times.10.sup.-2 mol) of 27.7% by weight of an aqueous malic
acid solution in which germanium dioxide had been dissolved in an
amount of 4% by weight beforehand.
[0133] The reduced viscosity (.eta.sp/C) of the resulting polyester
was 2.4, the amount of the terminal carboxyl group was 29 eq/ton,
the amount of the terminal OH group was 39 eq/ton, and the contents
of a carbonate bond, a urethane bond, an aliphatic
monooxymonocarboxylic acid unit, and a phosphorus atom derived from
a phosphorus-containing compound were each 0.
[0134] The resulting polymer was melted at 150.degree. C. for 3
minutes and further pressed at 150.degree. C. under 20 MPa for 2
minutes using a bench-type press machine to obtain a film having a
thickness of about 150 .mu.m. As a result of measurement of tensile
elongation percentage at break using a test piece punched from the
resulting film into a dumbbell shape (length 10 cm) (speed of
drawing=200 mm/min, distance between marks=10 mm, distance between
chucks=60 mm), the tensile elongation percentage was 400%.
[0135] Moreover, alternatively, the resulting pellets were extruded
at 160.degree. C. from a cylindrical die having a diameter of 75 mm
to obtain a film having a thickness of 50 .mu.m. As a result of
carrying out the test of tensile elongation at break on the
resulting film, the tensile elongation percentages at break in the
MD and TD directions were 390% and 60%, respectively, and thus
anisotropy was observed in the tensile elongation of the film.
Example 1-G
[0136] The same operations as in Example 1-A were conducted except
that the charged amounts were changed to 68.8 g (0.58 mol) of
succinic acid, 36.6 g (0.25 mol) of adipic acid, 77.3 g (0.86 mol)
of 1,4-butanediol, and 1.3 g (2.7.times.10.sup.-3 mol) of 27.7% by
weight of an aqueous malic acid solution in which germanium dioxide
as a catalyst had been dissolved in an amount of 4% by weight
beforehand. The polymerization reaction time under reduced pressure
of 0.07.times.10.sup.3 Pa was 4.5 hours.
[0137] The reduced viscosity (.eta.sp/C) of the resulting polyester
was 2.4, the amount of the terminal carboxyl group was 23 eq/ton,
the amount of the terminal OH group was 55 eq/ton, and the contents
of a carbonate bond, a urethane bond, an aliphatic
monooxymonocarboxylic acid unit, and a phosphorus atom derived from
a phosphorus-containing compound were each 0.
Example 1-H
[0138] The same operations as in Example 1-A were conducted except
that the charged amounts were changed to 2662 g (22.5 mol) of
succinic acid, 825 g (5.7 mol) of adipic acid, 2608 g (28.9 mol) of
1,4-butanediol, and 43.3 g (9.2.times.10.sup.-2 mol) of 27.7% by
weight of an aqueous malic acid solution in which germanium dioxide
as a catalyst had been dissolved in an amount of 4% by weight
beforehand. The polymerization reaction time under reduced pressure
of 0.07.times.10.sup.3 Pa was 5 hours.
[0139] The reduced viscosity (.eta.sp/C) of the resulting polyester
was 2.8, the amount of the terminal carboxyl group was 35 eq/ton,
the amount of the terminal OH group was 37 eq/ton, and the contents
of a carbonate bond, a urethane bond, an aliphatic
monooxymonocarboxylic acid unit, and a phosphorus atom derived from
a phosphorus-containing compound were each 0.
[0140] The resulting pellets were extruded at 160.degree. C. from a
cylindrical die having a diameter of 75 mm to obtain a film having
a thickness of 50 .mu.m. As a result of carrying out the test of
tensile elongation at break on the resulting film, the tensile
elongation percentages at break in the MD and TD directions were
both 700%.
Example 2
Production of Polyester Having Malic Acid Content of 0.16 mol %
Relative to Succinic Acid
Example 2-A
[0141] A polyester having a reduced viscosity (.eta.sp/C) of 2.2
was obtained under the same polycondensation conditions as in
Example 1-A except that, as the feed of starting materials, 0.65 g
(1.3.times.10.sup.-3 mol, 0.16 mol % relative to succinic acid) of
27.7% by weight of an aqueous malic acid solution in which
germanium dioxide had been dissolved in an amount of 4% by weight
beforehand was fed to a mixture of 100.3 g (0.85 mol) of succinic
acid and 78.8 g (0.87 mol) of 1,4-butanediol. The polymerization
reaction time under reduced pressure of 0.07.times.10.sup.3 Pa was
7 hours.
[0142] The amount of the terminal carboxyl group of the resulting
polyester was 23 eq/ton, the amount of the terminal OH group was 82
eq/ton, and the contents of a carbonate bond, a urethane bond, an
aliphatic monooxymonocarboxylic acid unit, and a phosphorus atom
derived from a phosphorus-containing compound were each 0.
[0143] Main volatile components distilled out from the outlet for
pressure reduction during the polymerization were water, succinic
anhydride, tetrahydrofuran, and a small amount of
1,4-butanediol.
[0144] The resulting polymer was melted at 150.degree. C. for 3
minutes and further pressed at 150.degree. C. under 20 MPa for 2
minutes using a bench-type press machine to obtain a film having a
thickness of about 150 .mu.m. As a result of measurement of tensile
elongation percentage at break using a test piece punched from the
resulting film into a dumbbell shape (length 10 cm) (speed of
drawing=200 mm/min, distance between marks=10 mm, distance between
chucks=60 mm), the tensile elongation percentage was 500%.
Example 2-B
[0145] A polyester equal to that of Example 2-A was produced in the
same scale as in Example 1-F. As a result of carrying out the test
of tensile elongation at break on the resulting film, the tensile
elongation percentages at break in the MD and TD directions were
560% and 400%, respectively, and anisotropy of the tensile
elongation of the film was improved.
Example 3
Production of Polyester Having Malic Acid Content of
8.8.times.10.sup.-3 mol % Relative to Succinic Acid
Example 3-A
[0146] A polyester having a reduced viscosity (.eta.sp/C) of 2.04
was obtained under the same polycondensation conditions as in
Example 1-C except that 100.3 g (0.85 mol) of succinic acid
containing malic acid in an amount of 0.01% by weight and 76.6 g
(0.85 mol) of 1,4-butanediol were fed and malic acid was not added.
The polymerization reaction time under reduced pressure of
0.07.times.10.sup.3 Pa was 5 hours.
[0147] The amount of the terminal carboxyl group of the resulting
polyester was 11 eq/ton, the amount of the terminal OH group was 50
eq/ton, and the contents of a carbonate bond, a urethane bond, an
aliphatic monooxymonocarboxylic acid unit, and a phosphorus atom
derived from a phosphorus-containing compound were each 0.
Example 3-B
[0148] A polyester having a reduced viscosity (.eta.sp/C) of 2.8
was obtained under the same polycondensation conditions as in
Example 1-E except that 100.3 g (0.85 mol) of succinic acid
containing malic acid in an amount of 0.01% by weight and 76.6 g
(0.85 mol) of 1,4-butanediol were fed and malic acid was not added.
The polymerization reaction time under reduced pressure of
0.07.times.10.sup.3 Pa was 5.5 hours.
[0149] The amount of the terminal carboxyl group of the resulting
polyester was 20 eq/ton, the amount of the terminal OH group was 33
eq/ton, and the contents of a carbonate bond, a urethane bond, an
aliphatic monooxymonocarboxylic acid unit, and a phosphorus atom
derived from a phosphorus-containing compound were each 0.
[0150] The resulting polymer was melted at 150.degree. C. for 3
minutes and further pressed at 150.degree. C. under 20 MPa for 2
minutes using a bench-type press machine to obtain a film having a
thickness of about 150 .mu.m. As a result of measurement of tensile
elongation percentage at break using a test piece punched from the
resulting film into a dumbbell shape (length 10 cm) (speed of
drawing=200 mm/min, distance between marks=10 mm, distance between
chucks=60 mm), and the tensile elongation percentage was 500%.
Example 4
Production of Polyester Having Malic Acid Content of 0.64 mol %
Relative to Succinic Acid
[0151] As a result of production of a polyester in the same manner
as in Example 1-A except that 100.3 g (0.85 mol) of succinic acid,
80.4 g (0.89 mol) of 1,4-butanediol, 0.37 g (2.8.times.10-3 mol) of
malic acid, and 1.34 g (2.8.times.10.sup.-3 mol, 0.64 mol %
relative to succinic acid as a whole) of 27.7% by weight of an
aqueous malic acid solution in which germanium dioxide as a
catalyst had been dissolved in an amount of 4% by weight beforehand
were added at the feed of the starting materials in Example 1-A, a
polyester having a reduced viscosity (.eta.sp/C) of 2.8 was
obtained. The polymerization reaction time under reduced pressure
of 0.07.times.10.sup.3 Pa was 1.5 hours. The amount of the terminal
carboxyl group was 22 eq/ton, the amount of the terminal OH group
was 60 eq/ton, and the contents of a carbonate bond, a urethane
bond, an aliphatic monooxymonocarboxylic acid unit, and a
phosphorus atom derived from a phosphorus-containing compound were
each 0.
[0152] The resulting polymer was melted at 150.degree. C. for 3
minutes and further pressed at 150.degree. C. under 20 MPa for 2
minutes using a bench-type press machine to obtain a film having a
thickness of about 150 .mu.m. As a result of measurement of tensile
elongation percentage at break using a test piece punched from the
resulting film into a dumbbell shape (length 10 cm) (speed of
drawing=200 mm/min, distance between marks=10 mm, distance between
chucks=60 mm), the tensile elongation percentage was 300%.
Example 5
Durability Test of Polyester
Example 5-A
(Production of Polyester A)
[0153] To a reaction vessel equipped with a stirring apparatus, a
nitrogen inlet, a heating apparatus, a thermometer, and an outlet
for pressure reduction were fed 100.3 g (0.85 mol) of succinic
acid, 80.35 g (0.89 mol) of 1,4-butanediol, and 0.37 g
(2.8.times.10.sup.-3 mol, 0.33 mol % relative to succinic acid) of
malic acid as starting materials, and the inner system was made a
nitrogen atmosphere by replacement with nitrogen under reduced
pressure.
[0154] Then, the inner system was heated to 220.degree. C. under
stirring and they were reacted at this temperature for 1 hour.
Thereafter, 0.4 g of a butanol solution containing 0.017 g (Ti
content in the produced polymer: 8 ppm) of Orgatix TC-401 (titanium
tetraacetylacetonate, manufactured by Matsumoto Trading Co., Ltd.)
was added to the reaction system using a syringe, then the
temperature was elevated to 230.degree. C. over a period of 30
minutes and, at the same time, the pressure was reduced to
0.07.times.10.sup.3 Pa over a period of 1 hour 30 minutes.
Furthermore, 6.5 hours of the reaction was carried out under
reduced pressure of 0.07.times.10.sup.3 Pa to obtain a polyester.
During the polycondensation reaction under reduced pressure, the
outlet for pressure reduction of the reaction vessel was continued
to heat at 130.degree. C. The reduced viscosity (.eta.sp/C) of the
resulting polyester was 2.5, the amount of the terminal carboxyl
group was 3 eq/ton, and the amount of the terminal OH group was 59
eq/ton.
(Formation and Evaluation of Film)
[0155] The resulting polymer was melted at 150.degree. C. for 3
minutes and further pressed at 150.degree. C. under 20 MPa for 2
minutes using a bench-type press machine to obtain a film having a
thickness of about 150 .mu.m. The resulting press film was placed
in a constant temperature and humidity chamber of 50.degree. C. and
90% R.H. and sampled at fixed intervals, and solution viscosity and
tensile elongation percentage at break were measured.
[0156] The tensile test was carried out using a test piece punched
from the film into a dumbbell shape (length 10 cm) (speed of
drawing=200 mm/min, distance between marks=10 mm, distance between
chucks=60 mm).
[0157] The results are shown in Table 1.
Example 5-B
(Production of Polyester B)
[0158] To a reaction vessel equipped with a stirring apparatus, a
nitrogen inlet, a heating apparatus, a thermometer, and an outlet
for pressure reduction were fed 3420 g (29.0 mol) of succinic acid,
2689 g (29.8 mol) of 1,4-butanediol, and 45.64 g
(9.4.times.10.sup.-2 mol, 0.33 mol % relative to succinic acid) of
a 27.7% by weight aqueous malic acid solution in which germanium
dioxide as a catalyst had been dissolved in an amount of 4% by
weight as starting materials, and the inner system was made a
nitrogen atmosphere by replacement with nitrogen under reduced
pressure.
[0159] Then, the inner system was heated to 220.degree. C. under
stirring and they were reacted at this temperature for 1 hour.
Thereafter, the temperature was elevated to 230.degree. C. over a
period of 30 minutes and, at the same time, the pressure was
reduced to 0.07.times.10.sup.3 Pa over a period of 1 hour 30
minutes. Furthermore, 2.5 hours of the reaction was carried out
under reduced pressure of 0.07.times.10.sup.3 Pa to obtain a white
polyester. During the polycondensation reaction under reduced
pressure, the outlet for pressure reduction of the reaction vessel
was continued to heat at 110.degree. C. The reduced viscosity
(.eta.sp/C) of the resulting polyester was 2.4, the amount of the
terminal carboxyl group was 29 eq/ton, and the amount of the
terminal OH group was 39 eq/ton.
(Formation and Evaluation of Film)
[0160] The formation and evaluation were carried out in the same
manner as in Example 5-A. The results are shown in Table 1.
Example 5-C
(Production of Polyester C)
[0161] To a reaction vessel equipped with a stirring apparatus, a
nitrogen inlet, a heating apparatus, a thermometer, and an outlet
for pressure reduction were fed 100.3 g (0.85 mol) of succinic
acid, 80.35 g (0.89 mol) of 1,4-butanediol, and 0.37 g
(2.8.times.10.sup.-3 mol, 0.33 mol % relative to succinic acid) of
malic acid as starting materials, and the inner system was made a
nitrogen atmosphere by replacement with nitrogen under reduced
pressure.
[0162] Then, the inner system was heated to 220.degree. C. under
stirring and they were reacted at this temperature for 1 hour.
Thereafter, 0.4 g of a butanol solution containing 0.214 g (Ti
content in the produced polymer: 1.times.10.sup.2 ppm) of Orgatix
TC-401 (titanium tetraacetylacetonate, manufactured by Matsumoto
Trading Co., Ltd.) was added to the reaction system using a
syringe, then the temperature was elevated to 230.degree. C. over a
period of 30 minutes and, at the same time, the pressure was
reduced to 0.07.times.10.sup.3 Pa over a period of 1 hour 30
minutes. Furthermore, 3.5 hours of the reaction was carried out
under reduced pressure of 0.07.times.10.sup.3 Pa to obtain a
polyester. During the polycondensation reaction under reduced
pressure, the outlet for pressure reduction of the reaction vessel
was continued to heat at 130.degree. C. The reduced viscosity
(.eta.sp/C) of the resulting polyester was 2.4, the amount of the
terminal carboxyl group was 15 eq/ton, and the amount of the
terminal OH group was 69 eq/ton.
(Formation and Evaluation of Film)
[0163] The formation and evaluation were carried out in the same
manner as in Example 5-A. The results are shown in Table 1.
TABLE-US-00001 TABLE 1 Days of storage 0 7 21 28 day days days days
Example Polyester .eta.sp/C 2.5 2.5 2.4 2.3 5-A A Elongation (%)
400 300 300 300 Example Polyester .eta.sp/C 2.4 2.0 1.6 1.4 5-B B
Elongation (%) 400 0 0 0 Example Polyester .eta.sp/C 2.4 2.2 1.9
1.7 5-C C Elongation (%) 400 0 0 0
Comparative Example 1
Production of Polyester Containing No Component of an Organic Acid
Having a pKa Value of 3.7 or Below at 25.degree. C.
Comparative Example 1-A
[0164] A polycondensation reaction was carried out in the same
manner as in Example 1-A except that, at the feed of starting
materials, a 0.33% by weight aqueous germanium dioxide solution
(15.15 g) was fed to a mixture of 100.3 g (0.85 mol) of succinic
acid and 76.5 g (0.85 mol) of 1,4-butanediol in Example 1-A. The
polymerization reaction was carried out under reduced pressure of
0.07.times.10.sup.3 Pa for 4.5 hours but only a polyester having a
low viscosity (reduced viscosity (.eta.sp/C): 0.63) was
obtained.
Comparative Example 1-B
[0165] A polycondensation reaction was carried out in the same
manner as in Example 1-A except that, at the feed of starting
materials, a 0.33% by weight aqueous germanium dioxide solution
(15.15 g) was fed to a mixture of 100.3 g (0.85 mol) of succinic
acid and 78.8 g (0.87 mol) of 1,4-butanediol in Example 1-A. The
polymerization reaction was carried out under reduced pressure of
0.07.times.10.sup.3 Pa for 4.5 hours but a polyester having a
viscosity higher than the viscosity obtained in Comparative Example
1-A was not obtained.
Comparative Example 2
Production of Polyester Having Malic Acid Content of 0.33 mol %
Relative to Succinic Acid
[0166] A polycondensation reaction was carried out in the same
manner as in Example 1-A except that 88.8 g (0.98 mol) of
1,4-butanediol was fed instead of 78.8 g (0.87 mol) of
1,4-butanediol in Example 1-A. The polymerization reaction was
carried out under reduced pressure of 0.07.times.10.sup.3 Pa for
4.5 hours but a polyester having a viscosity higher than the
viscosity obtained in Comparative Example 1-A was not obtained.
Comparative Example 3
Production of Polyester Having Malic Acid Content and Lactic Acid
Content of 0.03 mol % and 6.2 mol %, Respectively, Relative to
Succinic Acid
[0167] A polycondensation reaction was carried out in the same
manner as in Example 1-A except that a 90% aqueous lactic acid
solution (5.31 g, 0.053 mol) in which germanium dioxide as a
catalyst had been dissolved in an amount of 1.0% by weight
beforehand was fed to a mixture of 100.3 g (0.85 mol) of succinic
acid, 0.035 g (2.6.times.10.sup.-4 mol, 0.04 mol % relative to
succinic acid as a whole) of malic acid, and 84.18 g (0.93 mol) of
1,4-butanediol in Example 1-A. An increase of stirring torque was
observed until about 4 hours of the polymerization reaction under
reduced pressure of 0.07.times.10.sup.3 Pa (empirically, the
reduced viscosity (.eta.sp/C) was about 1.9) but since then, a
decrease of stirring torque was observed together with distilling
out a lactic acid component. Furthermore, after 1 hour of the
reaction, the reduced viscosity (.eta.sp/C) of the resulting
polyester was 1.5.
[0168] While the invention has been described in detail and with
reference to specific embodiments thereof, it will be apparent to
one skilled in the art that various changes and modifications can
be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope
thereof.
[0169] The present application is based on Japanese Patent
Application No. 2003-142914 filed on May 21, 2003, and the contents
are incorporated herein by reference.
INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY
[0170] According to the present invention, there can be provided a
polyester which is produced as a sufficiently high-molecular-weight
one by a simple and convenient production process without using a
chain extender such as an isocyanate compound or a carbonate
compound and a large amount of a branching agent, an acidic
phosphorus compound, and the like causing decrease in physical
properties such as thermal stability and which has sufficient
tensile properties, especially tensile elongation property of
molded film and thermal stability.
* * * * *