Patent · US Expired

Process for making pen/pet blends and transparent articles therefrom

US6194536A · kind A · utility

14Cited by
2References
48Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateJul 23, 1999
Grant dateFeb 27, 2001
Priority date
Expiry dateJul 23, 2019

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY10S264/917
  • WIPO fieldOther special machines
  • WIPO sectorMechanical engineering

Abstract

The present invention relates to a process for controlling the change of intrinsic viscosity and transesterification during solid stating of a polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and polyethylene naphthalate (PEN) blend, with an effective amount of an alkylene glycol compound. The process enables the production of a copolymer based on predefined initial and final IV's and final transesterification level, by varying the solid-stating time and/or effective amount of alkylene glycol. In one embodiment, a relatively greater amount of post-consumer PET (e.g., 70%) having an IV of on the order of 0.72-0.73, is incorporated in the blend to provide a final IV on the order of 0.80-0.85, and a moderate, controlled level of transesterification; the blend is used to injection mold a sleeve layer of a preform. In another embodiment, a substantially transparent neck finish for a preform is made from a PEN/PET blend having an amount of alkylene glycol which enables substantial transesterification, without excessive increase in IV.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.