Phosphate-containing catalyst composition for the preparation of polyesters, and related processes

US6043335A · kind A · utility

Assignee

• General Electric Company · US

Inventors

• Timothy Edward Banach · Scotia, US
• Maurizio Fiorini · Bologna, IT
• Bimal Patel · Evansville, US
• Francesco Pilati · Bologna, IT
• Corrado Berti · Lugo, IT
• Elisabetta Marianucci · Bologna, IT
• Massimo Messori · Modena, IT
• Martino Colonna · Bologna, IT
• Maurizio Toselli · Ascoli Piceno, IT

Key dates

• Filing date: Oct 4, 1999
• Grant date: Mar 28, 2000
• Expiry date: Oct 4, 2019

Classification

• Technology area (CPC C): Chemistry; Metallurgy
• CPC primary: C08G63/87
• WIPO field: Chemical engineering
• WIPO sector: Chemistry

Abstract

Polyesters are prepared by the reaction of a dicarboxylic acid, preferably an aromatic acid such as terephthalic acid, or an ester or ester-forming derivative thereof with a dihydroxy compound such as 1,4-butanediol in the presence of a catalyst composition comprising the combination of a titanium-based compound such as tetra-n-butyl titanate, a zirconium-based compound such as zirconium tetrakis(2,4-pentanedionate) and a phosphate-forming compound such as sodium dihydrogen phosphate. This catalyst composition affords polyesters having relatively low melt viscosities in short reaction times and does not produce an excessive level of undesirable reaction by-products.