Preparation of Porous Polyester Beads

There is a rapidly growing market for high molecular weight polyester resin. For instance, the market for polyethylene terephthalate bottle resin is rapidly expanding. There is also a large demand for polyethylene terephthalate having a high molecular weight for use in making reinforcements for rubber articles, such as tire cords. High molecular weight polyethylene terephthalate resin can also be used in manufacturing trays for frozen food which can be heated in either microwave ovens or convection ovens. There is a demand for higher and higher molecular weight resin in this application. For instance, there is a demand for polyethylene terephthalate tray resin which has an intrinsic viscosity of greater than 1.0 dl/g. However, polyethylene terephthalate resins having intrinsic viscosities of greater than 1.0 are not widely available due to technical difficulties associated with producing such resins utilizing standard commercial polymerization techniques. These difficulties consequently result in such resins which are produced utilizing standard commercial techniques being very expensive.

High molecular weight polyesters are commonly produced from low molecular weight polyesters of the same composition by solid state polymerization. The low molecular weight polyesters which are used in such solid state polymerizations can be prepared by conventional melt polymerizations. Solid state polymerization is generally considered advantageous in that the handling of high molecular weight ultra-high viscosity molten polymers is eliminated during the solid state polymerization phase. Thermal degradation during the solid state portion of the polymerization is also essentially avoided.

In melt polymerizations, molecular weight increases by esterification as well as transesterification. During the initial polymerization, esterification predominates. As the molecular weight increases, most of the carboxyl ends are consumed by esterification and water is eliminated. The final polycondensation occurs by transesterification and the elimination of glycol. The attainment of high molecular weight is hindered by reduced diffusion of the glycol polymerization by-product due to increased polymer viscosity.

In the solid state polymerization process for low surface area pellets or chips, polymerization proceeds primarily by esterification with the diffusion of water. The slower diffusion of glycol by-product makes transesterification difficult. However, polymerization of high surface area powders can proceed by transesterification due to the fact that there is a reduced mean free path for glycol removal.

The low molecular weight polyester prepolymers utilized in solid state polymerizations are generally in the form of pellets, chips, or finely divided powder. Such pellets can vary greatly in size; however, as a general rule, the smaller the size of the pellets of polyester prepolymer the faster the solid state polymerization with proceed. Such polyester prepolymers are generally converted from the amorphous to the crystalline state prior to solid state polymerization in order to raise their sticking temperature. This is done in order to keep the pellets or chips of polyester prepolymer from sticking together as a solid mass in the solid state polymerization reactor.

In the solid state polymerization of a polyester prepolymer, the polymerization is carried out at an elevated temperature which is below the melting point of the polyester resin. Such polymerizations are normally conducted in the presence of a stream of inert gas or under a vacuum. Solid state polymerizations are normally conducted on a commercial basis in the presence of a stream of inert gas since it serves to remove volatile reaction products and helps to heat the polyester.

Heretofore, the form of the polyester prepolymer has essentially dictated the type of solid state polymerization process which could be employed in order to convert the low molecular weight polyester prepolymer into high molecular weight polyester resin. For example, it has generally been accepted practice to use polyester prepolymer in the form of pellets or chips in vacuum and static bed processes and finely ground powder in fluidized bed processes. The reason for this is that experience has shown that finely ground powders tend to agglomerate in vacuum processes, resulting in slower polymerization rates and a need to regrind the high molecular weight polyester resin produced. Experience has also shown that, in static bed processes finely ground powders will channel or fissure, resulting in uneven polymerization and prolonged polymerization rates. On the other hand, the use of pellets or chips in fluidized bed processes is not economically feasible in view of the velocity and volume of inert gas needed to suspend the pellets or chips and the size of the equipment required to do so.

Polyester prepolymers which are in the form of finely divided powders solid state polymerize at faster rates than do polyester prepolymers which are in the form of pellets or chips. However, polyester prepolymers which are in powder form are difficult to handle and generally must be polymerized in fluidized bed processes. Additionally, the high molecular weight polyester resins which are made utilizing prepolymers which are in powder form are also in the form of powders which are more difficult to process into articles of manufacture. For these reasons polyester prepolymers in powder form have not been widely utilized in commercial solid state polymerization techniques.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,876,326 discloses a process for solid state polymerizing a polyester prepolymer into a high molecular weight polyester resin comprising heating the polyester prepolymer to a temperature of from about 1.degree. C. to about 50.degree. C. below its sticking temperature, wherein the polyester prepolymer is in the form of porous pills, wherein said porous pills were made by agglomerating or compacting a powder of the polyester prepolymer having a particle size of less than about 841 microns. These porous pills are reported to have a substantial volume of interstice which penetrates the porous pills and open to the outside; with the porous pills having a density which is within the range of about 70% to about 99% of the density of solid polyester pellets which are comprised of the same polyester prepolymer. U. S. Pat. No. 4,957,945 discloses a process for preparing ultra-high molecular weight polyester resin which comprises: (1) dissolving a polyester prepolymer in a suitable organic solvent; (2) recovering the polyester prepolymer from the organic solvent to produce a porous, fibrous mass of the polyester prepolymer; and (3) solid state polymerizing the porous, fibrous mass at an elevated temperature to produce the ultra-high molecular weight polyester resin. U.S. Pat. No. 4,957,945 also reveals a process for preparing porous pills which can be solid state polymerized at a very rapid rate into high molecular weight polyester resin which comprises: (1) dissolving a polyester prepolymer in a suitable organic solvent; (2) recovering the polyester prepolymer from the organic solvent to produce a porous, fibrous mass of the polyester prepolymer; and (3) compacting the porous, fibrous mass into the porous pills.

It has been found that polyester prepolymers in the form of a porous bead can be solid state polymerized at very fast polymerization rates to produce high molecular weight resin. In fact, polyester prepolymers in the form of a porous beads can be solid state polymerized at a rate which is essentially equivalent to or faster than the rate at which powdered prepolymers can be solid state polymerized. Such polyester prepolymers in the form of a porous beads can be solid state polymerized in virtually any type of reaction zone, such as a static bed or a fluidized bed. The solid state polymerization can either be conducted under vacuum or in the stream of an inert gas. The resultant high molecular weight polyester resin produced can be processed in conventional equipment which is designed to accept standard pellets or chips of the high molecular weight polyester resin. By utilizing the solid state polymerization technique of this invention, essentially all of the advantages associated with using pellets or chips are realized without being subjected to slow polymerization rates. Additionally, polyester resins having ultra-high molecular weights of greater than 2.0 dl/g can be made. In fact, ultra-high molecular weight resins having IV's of greater than 5.0 dl/g can be made utilizing the process of this invention.

The present invention specifically reveals a process for preparing porous beads which can be solid state polymerized at a very rapid rate into high molecular weight polyester resin which comprises: (1) dissolving a polyester prepolymer in a suitable organic solvent to produce a polyester prepolymer solution; (2) allowing droplets of the polyester prepolymer solution to drip into a coagulation bath to produce porous polyester beads; (3) recovering the porous polyester beads from the coagulation bath; (4) removing residual organic solvent from the porous beads; and (5) solid state polymerizing the porous polyester beads at an elevated temperature to produce the ultra-high molecular weight polyester resin.

This invention also discloses a process for preparing porous polyester beads which comprises: (1) dissolving a polyester prepolymer in a suitable organic solvent to produce a polyester prepolymer solution; (2) allowing droplets of the polyester prepolymer solution to drip into a coagulation bath to produce porous polyester beads; and (3) recovering the porous polyester beads from the coagulation bath.

This invention is applicable to virtually all polyesters. The most common type of polyesters which will be solid state polymerized using the technique of this invention will have at least about 75 mole percent of their acid moieties being provided by an aromatic dicarboxylic acid, such as terephthalic acid, isophthalic acid, or a naphthalenic dicarboxylic acid (preferably 2,6-) with their diol moieties being provided by glycols such as ethylene glycol, butylene glycol, 1,4-dimethylol cyclohexane and the like or aromatic diols such as hydroquinone and catechol. Such polyesters can also contain other dicarboxylic acids such as adipic acid, isophthalic acid, sebacic acid, and the like. Polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polyethylene isophthalate, polyethylene naphthalate, and polybutylene terephthalate homopolymers are some representative examples of such polyesters that can be solid state polymerized to high molecular weights. Blends of various polyesters can also be polymerized using the process of this invention. For instance, it can be utilized in solid state polymerizing melt blends of polyethylene terephthalate and polyethylene isophthalate. Such blends of polyethylene terephthalate and polyethylene isophthalate have excellent gas barrier properties and are very useful in making packaging materials, such as beverage bottles (see: U.S. Pat. No. 4,551,368).

The polyester prepolymers (starting polyesters) utilized in this invention can be made in any manner but are typically prepared by conventional melt polymerization techniques. Thus, conventional temperatures, catalysts, amounts of catalysts, stabilizers, and the like, are utilized in manners well known in the literature and art in making the polyester prepolymer. These polyester prepolymers have an initial starting IV (intrinsic viscosity) of at least about 0.2 dl/g in a 60:40 phenol:tetrachloroethane solvent system at a temperature of 30.degree. C. and at a concentration of 0.4 g/dl. The polyester prepolymers which are solid state polymerized in accordance with this invention will generally have an original or starting IV of from about 0.2 to about 3.0 dl/g. However, the process of this invention can be used to solid state polymerize polyester prepolymers having intrinsic viscosities of greater than 3.0 dl/g. For example, porous beads have been made from polyester prepolymers having an intrinsic viscosity of 5.0 dl/g. Preferably, the polyester prepolymer used will have a starting IV which is within the range of about 0.3 to 3.0 dl/g. In most cases, the polyester prepolymers will have an original IV within the range of 0.7 to 2.5 dl/g. Virtually any type of polyester prepolymer can be solid state polymerized using the technique of this invention. Such polyester prepolymers are comprised of one or more diacid components and one or more diol components.

The diacid component in the polyesters to which this invention pertains are normally alkyl dicarboxylic acids which contain from 4 to 36 carbon atoms, diesters of alkyl dicarboxylic acids which contain from 6 to 38 carbon atoms, aryl dicarboxylic acids which contain from 8 to 20 carbon atoms, diesters of aryl dicarboxylic acids which contain from 10 to 22 carbon atoms, alkyl substituted aryl dicarboxylic acids which contain from 9 to 22 carbon atoms, or diesters of alkyl substituted aryl dicarboxylic acids which contain from 11 to 22 carbon atoms. The preferred alkyl dicarboxylic acids will contain from 4 to 12 carbon atoms. Some representative examples of such alkyl dicarboxylic acids include glutaric acid, adipic acid, pimelic acid, and the like. The preferred diesters of alkyl dicarboxylic acids will contain from 6 to 12 carbon atoms. A representative example of such a diester of an alkyl dicarboxylic acid is azelaic acid. The preferred aryl dicarboxylic acids contain from 8 to 16 carbon atoms. Some representative examples of aryl dicarboxylic acids are terephthalic acid, isophthalic acid, and orthophthalic acid. The preferred diesters of aryl dicarboxylic acids contain from 10 to 18 carbon atoms. Some representative examples of diesters of aryl dicarboxylic acids include diethyl terephthalate, diethyl isophthalate, diethyl orthophthalate, dimethyl naphthalate, diethyl naphthalate and the like. The preferred alkyl substituted aryl dicarboxylic acids contain from 9 to 16 carbon atoms and the preferred diesters of alkyl substituted aryl dicarboxylic acids contain from 11 to 15 carbon atoms.

The diol component utilized in preparing the polyester prepolymers used in the process of this invention is normally comprised of glycols containing from 2 to 12 carbon atoms, glycol ethers containing from 4 to 12 carbon atoms, and polyether glycols having the structural formula HO-(A-O)-.sub.n H wherein A is an alkylene group containing from 2 to 6 carbon atoms and wherein n is an integer from 2 to 400. Generally, such polyether glycols will have a molecular weight of 400 to about 4000. The diol component can be an aromatic diol. Some representative examples of aromatic diols that can be used include 2,2-bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)-propane, resorcinol, hydroquinone, phenyl hydroquinone, 1,4-bis(4-hydroxycumyl)benzene, 1,3-bis(4-hydroxycumyl)benzene, 1,4-bis(3,5-dimethyl 4-hydroxycumyl)benzene, 1,3-bis(3,5-dimethyl 4-hydroxycumyl)benzene, and the like.

Preferred glycols normally contain from 2 to 8 carbon atoms with preferred glycol ethers containing from 4 to 8 carbon atoms. Some representative examples of glycols that can be utilized as the diol component include ethylene glycol, 1,3-propylene glycol, 1,2-propylene glycol, 2,2-diethyl-1,3-propane diol, 2,2-dimethyl 1,3-propane diol, 2-ethyl-2-butyl-1,3-propane diol, 2-ethyl-2-isobutyl 1,3-propane diol, 1,3-butane diol, 1,4-butane diol, 1,5-pentane diol, 1,6-hexane diol, 2,2,4-trimethyl 1,6-hexane diol, 1,3-cyclohexane dimethanol, 1,4-cyclohexane dimethanol, 2,2,4,4-tetramethyl 1,3-cyclobutane diol, and the like. Some representative examples of polyether glycols that can be used include polytetramethylene glycol (Polymeg.TM.) and polyethylene glycol (Carbowax.TM.).

Branched polyester prepolymers can also be solid state polymerized in accordance with the process of the present invention Such branched polyesters normally contain branching agents which contain three or more functional groups and preferably contain three or four functional groups. Such reactive functional groups can be carboxyl groups or aliphatic hydroxyl groups. The branching agent utilized in such branched polyesters can optionally contain both carboxyl groups and hydroxyl groups. Examples of acidic branching agents include trimesic acid, trimellitic acid, pyromellitic acid, butane tetracarboxylic acid, naphthalene tricarboxylic acids, cyclohexane-1,3,5-tricarboxylic acids, and the like. Some representative examples of hydroxyl branching agents (polyols) include glycerin, trimethylol propane, pentaerythritol, dipentaerythritol, 1,2,6-hexane triol, and 1,3,5-trimethylol benzene. Generally, from 0 to 3 percent of a polyol containing from 3 to 12 carbon atoms will be used as the branching agent (based upon the total diol component).

High strength polyesters which utilize at least one bis-hydroxyalkyl pyromellitic diimide in their diol component can also be solid state polymerized in the form of a porous, fibrous mass. The diol component in such high strength polyesters will normally contain from 5 to 50 mole percent of one or more bis-hydroxyalkyl pyromellitic diimides and will preferably be comprised of from 10 to 25 mole percent of at least one bis-hydroxyalkyl pyromellitic diimide. The remaining portion of the diol component in such high strength polyesters is comprised of additional copolymerizable diols. Such high strength polyesters are described in greater detail in U.S. Pat. No. 4,605,728, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

The porous beads can be prepared by dissolving the polyester prepolymer in a suitable organic solvent and subsequently dripping droplets of the polyester prepolymer solution into a coagulation bath. The solution of the polyester prepolymer is prepared by simply dissolving the polyester prepolymer in a suitable organic solvent. The solution of the polyester prepolymer prepared will normally contain from about 1 weight percent to about 50 weight percent polyester, based upon the total weight of the solution. The solution of the polyester prepolymer will preferably contain from 5 weight percent to 25 weight percent polyester. In commercial operations, it is generally preferred for the polyester prepolymer solution to contain from 7 weight percent to 15 weight percent of the polyester. Such solutions are prepared by simply mixing the polyester prepolymer into the organic solvent utilizing sufficient shearing forces so as to dissolve the polyester prepolymer within a reasonable time period.

A wide variety of solvents or solvent systems capable of dissolving the polyester at room temperature or at a slightly elevated temperature can be employed. It is preferred for the solvent used to have a low boiling point so that residual solvent can be more easily removed from the porous beads by evaporation prior to the solid state polymerization. Some representative examples of suitable solvents include nitro-benzene, acetonapthone, hexafluoroacetone, hexafluoroisopropanol, meta-cresol, trifluoroacetic acid/methylene chloride mixed solvent systems, nitro-benzene/tetrachloroethane mixed solvent systems, hexafluoroisopropanol/chloroform mixed solvent systems, and tetrachloroethane/phenol mixed solvent systems. Trifluoroacetic acid/methylene chloride mixed solvent systems which contain from about 25 weight percent to about 75 weight percent trifluoroacetic acid and from about 25 weight percent to about 75 weight percent methylene chloride are preferred. It is generally more preferred for such solvent systems to contain from about 40 to about 60 weight percent tetrafluoroacetic acid and from about 40 to about 60 weight percent methylene chloride.

After the solution of the polyester prepolymer in the organic solvent is prepared porous beads can be made. This can be accomplished by allowing droplets of the polyester solution to fall into a coagulation bath. This can be done by simply pouring the polyester solution in a discontinuous stream into an organic coagulant which is capable of dissolving the solvent utilized in making the polyester prepolymer solution but which is not a good solvent for the polyester prepolymer, such as alcohols or ketones. Some representative examples of alcohols and ketones that can be used include methanol, ethanol, isopropyl alcohol, cyclohexanol, n-butyl alcohol, isobutyl alcohol, s-butyl alcohol, t-butyl alcohol, acetone, methyl ethyl ketone, methyl phenyl ketone, cyclohexenone, and the like. It should be noted that aqueous solutions of alcohols and/or ketones can also be used. The porous beads can then easily be recovered from the organic medium used in the coagulation bath by decantation or filtration.

It is normally important to remove residual organic solvents from the porous beads. This is because the presence of residual organic solvents can lead to the formation of undesirable contaminants and polymer degradation during subsequent solid state polymerization. The level of residual organic solvents in the porous beads is generally reduced by washing the beads in a suitable liquid. Acetone is normally utilized for this purpose. It is typically desirable to reduce the level of organic solvents in the porous beads to a concentration of less than about 10 ppm (parts per million). This can normally be accomplished by washing the porous beads three times with a reasonable volume of acetone being utilized. The number of washes required to reduce the level of residual solvents in the porous beads can be calculated as follows: ##EQU1## where: V.sub.solvent =Volume of solvent remaining in beads

V.sub.f =Pore volume (.apprxeq.solvent volume fraction)

R=Acetone/solvent ratio

N=Number of batch-type washes

The level of residual solvents, including acetone, in the porous beads can be further reduced by evaporation. The evaporation of residual solvent can be accelerated by heating the porous beads to a slightly elevated temperature. This drying temperature will normally be below the glass transition temperature of the polyester prepolymer in order to inhibit hydrolysis. In the case of PET prepolymers, a drying temperature which is within the range of about 20.degree. C. to about 100.degree. C. will normally be used. It is generally preferable to utilize a drying temperature which is within the range of about 25.degree. C. to about 50.degree. C. in drying the porous beads. It is also desirable to utilize vacuum in such low temperature drying procedures.

The porous beads made by the process of this invention are essentially spherical in shape. This is because the droplets of polyester prepolymer solution form spheres as they free fall and enter into the coagulation bath As a general rule the polyester prepolymer solution will be forced through a nozzle or spinnerette which causes it to form essentially spherical beads during the free fall and upon entering the coagulation bath. The distance of the free fall will normally be from about 1 millimeters to about 10 meters. The length of the free fall will more typically be within the range of about 5 millimeters to about 2 meters. To get essentially spherical beads the free fall will generally be from a distance of about 15 centimeters to about 60 centimeters.

The porous beads will generally have a weight which is within the range of about 0.0001 grams to about 0.5 grams. The porous beads will preferably weigh form about 0.005 grams to about 0.02 grams.

The density of porous beads made in accordance with the process of this invention is naturally lower than the density of standard pellets or chips which are comprised of the same polyester having the same crystallinity. For instance, solid pellets which are comprised of polyethylene terephthalate prepolymer have a density that ranges from about 1.33 grams per cubic centimeter at a crystallinity of 0% to a density of about 1.46 grams per cubic centimeter at a crystallinity of 100%. Porous beads which are comprised of polyethylene terephthalate prepolymer typically have a density within the range of 1.0 to 1.3 grams per cubic centimeter at a crystallinity of 25%. Standard polyethylene terephthalate chips have a density of about 1.36 grams per cubic centimeter at a crystallinity of 25%. In most cases porous beads which are comprised of a given polyester prepolymer will have a density within the range of about 1% to about 50% of the density of solid polyester pellets which are comprised of the same polyester prepolymer. It is generally preferred for such porous beads to have a density of 5% to 25% of the density of solid polyester pellets which are comprised of the same polyester prepolymer in commercial operations to reduce shipping costs. However, it is preferred for the porous beads to have a density of about 7% to about 15% of the density of solid polyester pellets which are comprised of the same polyester if ultra-high molecular weights are desired.

The porous beads of this invention have lower densities because they contain a significant amount of void space. The void space in the porous beads is comprised of a substantial amount of open pores or cavities which penetrate the beads. These cavities form passage ways through which water, glycols, acetaldehyde, and other reaction by-products which are formed in the solid state polymerization can more readily escape from the inner most portions of the porous beads. In other words, the porous bead contains a substantial volume of interstices which penetrate it and open to the outside. This results in the reaction by-products having a shorter "free path" for escape.

The polyester prepolymer in the porous beads can optionally be converted to a higher degree of crystallinity prior to solid state polymerization in order to raise the sticking temperature of the porous beads. This is done in order to reduce the possibility of the porous beads sticking together as a solid mass in the solid state polymerization zone. Porous beads have less tendency to stick together if their surface is crystallized even though they may b composed of amorphous polyester on the inside. Increased crystallinity can be achieved by any suitable treatment, such as by controlled heating of the porous beads or by treating the porous beads with the vapor of a suitable organic solvent

The sticking temperature of crystalline or partially crystalline polyethylene terephthalate prepolymers is about 230.degree. C. which is much higher than their sticking temperature in the amorphous state which is about 100.degree. C. to 150.degree. C. Polyester prepolymers are commonly crystallized to a crystallinity of at least about 20% prior to solid state polymerization. Typically, a polyester prepolymer can be converted to about 20% to 40% crystallinity by heating at 150.degree. C. for 5 minutes to 300 minutes. At lower crystallization temperatures, longer heating times are normally required. Suitable time-temperature relationships can be easily determined by persons having skill in the art.

The amount of time required to crystallize the surfaces of porous beads by vapor treatment will vary with the concentration of the vapor, with the type of volatile organic compound being utilized, with the type of polyester prepolymer being utilized and with the crystallinity desired. Since vapor treatment crystallizes the porous pills from their surface inward, generally a lower degree of crystallinity is required to prevent porous beads made out of the polyester prepolymer from sticking than is required when the porous beads are crystallized utilizing a thermal treatment. This increased degree of crystallization in the porous beads is attained by simply exposing the porous beads to the vapors of a suitable organic compound, such as a volatile chlorinated hydrocarbon, a volatile ketone, tetrahydrofuran, ethylene oxide, or propylene oxide. Methylene chloride and acetone are particularly preferred volatile organic compounds for utilization in such vapor crystallizations.

The porous beads can optionally be crystallized in a high frequency energy field. This can be done by subjecting the porous beads to high frequency energy having a frequency which is within the range of about 20 to about 300 megahertz for an exposure time of 20 to 90 seconds. U.S. Pat. No. 4,254,253 describes this process in greater detail and is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.

The porous beads can be solid state polymerized in accordance with the process of this invention in a batch or continuous process. This is can be done in standard equipment. Suitable solid state polymerization temperatures can range from a temperature just above the threshold temperature of the polymerization reaction up to a temperature within a few degrees of the sticking temperature of the porous beads which can be well below their melting point.

The solid state polymerization temperature utilized will typically be from about 1.degree. C. to about 50.degree. C. below the sticking temperature of the porous beads which are comprised of polyester prepolymer. The optimum solid state reaction temperature will differ somewhat for prepolymers of different compositions and of different molecular weights. As a general rule, the optimum solid state polymerization temperature for porous beads will be from about 5.degree. C. to about 20.degree. C. below their sticking temperature. For example, in the solid state polymerization of porous beads comprised of polyethylene terephthalate, the highest temperatures which can normally be employed range from 240.degree. C. to about 255.degree. C. which is just below the sticking temperature and melting point of this polyester. Generally, the polyethylene terephthalate will be solid state polymerized at a temperature of from about 210.degree. C. to about 255.degree. C. In most cases, polyethylene terephthalate will be solid state polymerized at a temperature of from 230.degree. C. to 250.degree. C.

As the solid state polymerization of a polyester prepolymer proceeds, its sticking temperature can increase. Thus, the solid state polymerization temperature can be incrementally increased during the course of the polymerization. For example, in the case of polyethylene terephthalate the process described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,718,621, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety, can be utilized.

The solid state polymerization is conducted under a vacuum or in the presence of a stream of an inert gas. Normally such solid state polymerizations are conducted in the presence of an inert gas stream. It is highly desirable for the inert gas to flow uniformly throughout the solid state polymerization zone which is filled with porous beads which are comprised of polyester prepolymer which is being polymerized. In order to help insure that the inert gas flows homogeneously or uniformly through the solid state polymerization zone without bypassing certain areas in it, a device for dispersing the inert gas is generally used. Thus, a good polymerization reactor will be designed in such a way that the inert gas will flow homogeneously through the porous pills in it. It should be noted that most of the inert gas flows around the porous pills of polyester prepolymer as it streams through the solid state polymerization zone.

Some suitable inert gases for use in the solid state polymerization process of this invention include nitrogen, carbon dioxide, helium, argon, neon, krypton, xenon, and certain industrial waste gases. Various combinations or mixtures of different inert gases can also be used. In most cases nitrogen will be used as the inert gas.

The total amount of inert gas needed to solid state polymerize a polyester prepolymer into a high molecular weight polyester resin in a given solid state polymerization reactor at a given temperature can be greatly reduced by pulsing the inert gas through the polyester prepolymer. The minimum amount of inert gas that needs to be pulsed through a given polyester prepolymer per unit time per unit weight will vary with the polyester, the solid state polymerization temperature used, and the design of the polymerization reactor. The optimum manner of pulsing the inert gas through the porous pills will also vary with the type of polyester used, the polymerization temperature used, and the design and size of the polymerization reactor. Usually, between about 0.05 and about 2 liters of inert gas per hour will be pulsed through the polyester prepolymer per kilogram of the polyester prepolymer. Generally the best way to pulse the inert gas through the polyester prepolymer being solid state polymerized is to repeatedly turn the flow of inert gas on and off. U.S. Pat. No. 4,532,319, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirely describes this technique for reducing the consumption of inert gas in greater detail.

The solid state polymerization zone can be of virtually any design that will allow the polyester prepolymer to be maintained at the desired solid state polymerization temperature for the desired residence time and which allows for removal of reaction by-products, such as acetaldehyde. Such solid state polymerization zones can be reactors which have a fixed bed, a static bed, a fluidized bed, or a moving bed. In most cases, it is preferred to utilize a tubular polymerization reactor wherein the porous beads flow through the reactor for the desired residence time. Such tubular reactors have a substantially uniform cross-section and a sufficient height to allow the porous beads to flow by reason of the force of gravity from the top to the bottom of the reactor in the desired residence time. In other words, the porous beads move from the top to the bottom of such a tubular polymerization reactor in a partially dammed state. The rate of flow through such a reactor can be controlled by regulating discharge at the bottom of the reactor. It is generally preferred to allow an inert gas to flow countercurrently (upwardly) through the reactor at a gas velocity well below the turbulence point so that the porous pills are not fluidized (always remain in contact with each other). The porous beads remain in substantially the same physical form throughout the solid state polymerization process.

The polyester prepolymer will be solid state polymerized for a time sufficient to increase its molecular weight or IV to that of the high molecular weight polyester resin desired. It will be desirable for the high molecular weight polyester resin being prepared to have an IV of at least 0.65 dl/g. In most cases the high molecular weight resin will have an IV of at least 0.7 dl/g and for many applications will preferably have an IV of at least about 1.0 dl/g. Polyester resins having an IV of greater than 3.0 dl/g or even greater than 4.0 dl/g are useful in some applications and can be made by using the process of this invention. It is even possible to make polyester resin having an IV of greater than 5.0 dl/g using the technique of this invention. In fact, ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene terephthalate resin having an IV of greater than 5.0 dl/g can be made in a solid state polymerization time of 6 hours starting with a prepolymer having an IV of about 2.0 dl/g.

The polymerization time required to increase the molecular weight of the polyester prepolymer to a given desired molecular weight will, of course, vary with the polymerization temperature used, the IV of the polyester prepolymer utilized, and with the final IV desired. Very long polymerization times can be utilized if ultra-high molecular weight polyester resins are desired. In most cases the polymerization times utilized in carrying out the process of this invention will range from about 30 minutes to about 12 hours. In most cases it will be preferred to utilize a polymerization time ranging between about 1 hour and about 8 hours. Such solid state polymerizations can, of course, be carried out utilizing batch, semi-continuous, or continuous techniques. In the case of continuous solid state polymerizations, the polymerization times referred to are residence times in the solid state polymerization reaction zone.

The polyester prepolymers which are solid state polymerized in accordance with this invention can be produced utilizing conventional melt polymerization techniques or can be prepared utilizing solid state polymerization techniques. For instance, a polyester prepolymer having an intrinsic viscosity of 0.4 can be produced utilizing conventional melt polymerization techniques. The polyester having an IV of 0.4 can then be solid state polymerized to an IV of 1.0 utilizing conventional solid state polymerization techniques. The polyester resin having an IV of 1.0 can then be used as a polyester prepolymer in the solid state polymerization of this invention so as to produce a polyester resin having an intrinsic viscosity of 5.0. It is, of course, also possible to use polyester resins which have been prepared by utilizing the solid state polymerization technique of this invention as the prepolymer for subsequent polymerizations which, again, utilize the technique of this invention. In other words, polyester resins which have been prepared by solid state polymerizing porous beads can be utilized as the prepolymer in subsequent solid state polymerizations.

This invention is illustrated by the following examples which are merely for the purpose of illustration and are not to be regarded as limiting the scope of the invention or the manner in which it can be practiced. Unless specifically indicated otherwise all parts and percentages are given by weight. The IV's of the high molecular weight polyester resins produced were measured in a 50/50 trifluoroacetic acid/methylene chloride mixed solvent system. The final IV's reported herein were adjusted to conform to IV's as measured in 60/40 phenol/tetrachloroethane solvent systems at 30.degree. C. This was done because the high molecular weight resins produced are not soluble in the phenol/tetrachloroethane mixed solvent system but are soluble in the trifluoroacetic acid/methylene chloride mixed solvent system.

In this experiment an ultra-high molecular weight PET resin was prepared. In the first step of the procedure 3600 grams of a 10% solution of 1.95 IV PET in 50%/50% trifluoroacetic acid/dichloromethane solution was prepared in a mixing vessel. This solution was stirred for 48 hours until clear. The agitation was discontinued and the solution allowed to remain static for 24 hours to remove vapor bubbles. A spinnerette consisting of 91 holes of 75 micron diameter with a length to diameter ratio of 1 was attached to the bottom of the mixing vessel via a braided stainless steel hose. The spinnerette was supported 11 inches (27.9 cm) above the ground such that the solution stream would flow vertically in a downward path toward a 4 inch (10.2 cm) deep acetone bath. The mixing vessel was pressured with nitrogen gas from 30 to 110 psi (207,000 to 758,000 Pascals) to maintain a discontinuous flow. It should be noted that virtually any pressure from atmospheric pressure to about 250 psi (1,724,000 Pascals) can be employed. The polymer dripped from the spinnerette through the air and into the stirred acetone bath.

As the beads formed, they sank to the bottom of the coagulation vessel and were removed after a 5 minute residence time in the bath, these newly coagulated beads were then placed in a fresh acetone bath and soaked for one hour. Subsequently, the beads were removed and placed in another fresh acetone bath and vigorously stirred for 90 minutes. After this final wash, the beads were air-dried for 60 minutes then placed in a heated vacuum oven (-30 psi, 70.degree. C.) for 24 hours.

After removal from the vacuum oven, the beads were solid state in a Blue M brand oven under nitrogen purge with the following temperature profile:

The resultant polymer had a 4.4 IV.

Prior to solid stating, the polymer beads were measured for density, particle size distribution, and packing density with the following results:

Overall, utilizing this method, approximately 0.71 lb. (0.34 kg) of a pound of dried porous PET beads were produced.

Variations in the present invention are possible in light of the description of it provided herein It is, therefore, to be understood that changes can be made in the particular embodiments described which will be within the full intended scope of the invention as defined by the following appended claims.