Butylene terephthalate

Chlorinated polyether Poly(butylene terephthalate) (PBT) talso called... 

Poly(butylene Terephthalate). Poly(butylene terephthalate) is prepared in a condensation reaction between dimethyl terephthalate and 1,4-butanediol and its repeating unit has the general structure... 

Low viscosity 30% glass-fiber reinforced Poly(butylene terephthalate) Poly(ethylene terephthalate) ... 

Uses. The largest uses of butanediol are internal consumption in manufacture of tetrahydrofuran and butyrolactone (145). The largest merchant uses are for poly(butylene terephthalate) resins (see Polyesters,thermoplastic) and in polyurethanes, both as a chain extender and as an ingredient in a hydroxyl-terminated polyester used as a macroglycol. Butanediol is also used as a solvent, as a monomer for vadous condensation polymers, and as an intermediate in the manufacture of other chemicals. 

Poly(ethylene terephthalate), the predominant commercial polyester, has been sold under trademark names including Dacron (Du Pont), Terylene (ICI), Eortrel (Wellman), Trevira (Hoechst-Celanese), and others (17). Other commercially produced homopolyester textile fiber compositions iaclude p oly (1,4-cyc1 oh exa n e- dim ethyl en e terephthalate) [24936-69-4] (Kodel II, Eastman), poly(butylene terephthalate) [26062-94-2] (PBT) (Trevira, Hoechst-Celanese), and poly(ethylene 4-oxyben2oate) [25248-22-0] (A-Tell, Unitika). Other polyester homopolymer fibers available for specialty uses iaclude polyglycoHde [26124-68-5] polypivalolactone [24937-51-7] and polylactide [26100-51-6],... 

Polyester sheet products may be produced from amorphous poly(ethylene terephalate) (PET) or partiaHy crystallized PET. Acid-modified (PETA) and glycol modified (PETG) resins are used to make ultraclear sheet for packaging. Poly(butylene terephthalate) (PBT) has also been used in sheet form. Liquid-crystal polyester resins are recent entries into the market for specialty sheet. They exhibit great strength, dimensional stabHity, and inertness at temperatures above 250°C (see Polyesters,thermoplastic). 

Butanediol. 1,4-Butanediol [110-63-4] made from formaldehyde and acetylene, is a significant market for formaldehyde representing 11% of its demand (115). It is used to produce tetrahydrofuran (THF), which is used for polyurethane elastomers y-butyrolactone, which is used to make various pyrroHdinone derivatives poly(butylene terephthalate) (PBT), which is an engineering plastic and polyurethanes. Formaldehyde growth in the acetylenic chemicals market is threatened by alternative processes to produce 1,4-butanediol not requiring formaldehyde as a raw material (140) (see Acetylene-derived chemicals). 

The white cell adsorption filter layer is typically of a nonwoven fiber design. The biomaterials of the fiber media are surface modified to obtain an optimal avidity and selectivity for the different blood cells. Materials used include polyesters, eg, poly(ethylene terephthalate) and poly(butylene terephthalate), cellulose acetate, methacrylate, polyamides, and polyacrylonitrile. Filter materials are not cell specific and do not provide for specific filtration of lymphocytes out of the blood product rather than all leukocytes. 

Small amounts of polymer-grade terephthaHc acid and dimethyl terephthalate are used as polymer raw materials for a variety of appHcations, eg, adhesives and coatings. They are also used to make high performance polymers or engineering resins. Poly(ethylene terephthalate) is itself an engineering resin, although one more widely used is poly (butylene) terephthalate, formed by reaction with 1,4-butanediol as the comonomer. 

Automotive appHcations account for about 116,000 t of woddwide consumption aimuaHy, with appHcations for various components including headlamp assembHes, interior instmment panels, bumpers, etc. Many automotive appHcations use blends of polycarbonate with acrylonitrile—butadiene—styrene (ABS) or with poly(butylene terephthalate) (PBT) (see Acrylonitrile polymers). Both large and smaH appHances also account for large markets for polycarbonate. Consumption is about 54,000 t aimuaHy. Polycarbonate is attractive to use in light appHances, including houseware items and power tools, because of its heat resistance and good electrical properties, combined with superior impact resistance. 

During the eady development of polycarbonates, many bisphenols were investigated for potential useftil products. Some of these monomers and polymers are hsted in Table 3. Despite this intensive search, however, no homopolycarbonates other than that of BPA have been produced. Copolymers and blends, on the other hand, have been quite successhil. Blends of polycarbonate with ABS and with poly(butylene terephthalate) (PBT in particular have shown significant growth since the mid-1980s. 

The principal polymers to be described are poly(butylene terephthalate) [26062-94-2] (PBT) poly(ethylene terephthalate [25038-59-9] (PET) poly(cyclohexanedimethylene terephthalate) [24936-69-4] (CHDMT), and mention will be made of poly(ethylenenaphthalene-2,6-dicarboxylate)... 

Noncrystalline aromatic polycarbonates (qv) and polyesters (polyarylates) and alloys of polycarbonate with other thermoplastics are considered elsewhere, as are aHphatic polyesters derived from natural or biological sources such as poly(3-hydroxybutyrate), poly(glycoHde), or poly(lactide) these, too, are separately covered (see Polymers, environmentally degradable Sutures). Thermoplastic elastomers derived from poly(ester—ether) block copolymers such as PBT/PTMEG-T [82662-36-0] and known by commercial names such as Hytrel and Riteflex are included here in the section on poly(butylene terephthalate). Specific polymers are dealt with largely in order of volume, which puts PET first by virtue of its enormous market volume in bottie resin. 

Work had gone on in both the United States and Europe, notably at Du Pont and ICI Ltd. in the United Kingdom, on exploring the whole series of alkylene terephthalate polymers in connection with new synthetic fibers. Poly(l,4-butylene terephthalate) (PBT) was investigated in detail, as it had very... 

Hydroformylation. Hydroformylation of aEyl alcohol is a synthetic route for producing 1,4-butanediol [110-63-4] a raw material for poly(butylene terephthalate), an engineering plastic (qv) many studies on the process have been carried out. 

Polyesters. Polyesters (qv) are widely used as the matrix for conventional composites. Two resins of particular importance because of the large amounts used are (poly(ethylene terephthalate) [25038-59-9] (PET) and poly(butylene terephthalate) [24968-12-5] (PBT). Although polyesters can be made from diacids and diols by direct condensation. 

Alloys and blends are of great commercial significance. The archetype of "alloys" is the poly(phenylene oxide)—polystyrene resin discussed eadier. Important examples of blends based on immiscible resins are afforded by the polycarbonate—poly(butylene terephthalate) resins and polycarbonate—ABS blends. 

Engineering resins can be combined with either other engineering resins or commodity resins. Some commercially successhil blends of engineering resins with other engineering resins include poly(butylene terephthalate)—poly(ethylene terephthalate), polycarbonate—poly(butylene terephthalate), polycarbonate—poly(ethylene terephthalate), polysulfone—poly (ethylene terephthalate), and poly(phenylene oxide)—nylon. Commercial blends of engineering resins with other resins include modified poly(butylene terephthalate), polycarbonate—ABS, polycarbonate—styrene maleic anhydride, poly(phenylene oxide)—polystyrene, and nylon—polyethylene. 

Table 18. Properties of Polycarbonate—Poly(butylene terephthalate) Blends ...

The use of ABS has in recent years met considerable competition on two fronts, particularly in automotive applications. For lower cost applications, where demands of finish and heat resistance are not too severe, blends of polypropylene and ethylene-propylene rubbers have found application (see Chapters 11 and 31). On the other hand, where enhanced heat resistance and surface hardness are required in conjunction with excellent impact properties, polycarbonate-ABS alloys (see Section 20.8) have found many applications. These materials have also replaced ABS in a number of electrical fittings and housings for business and domestic applications. Where improved heat distortion temperature and good electrical insulation properties (including tracking resistance) are important, then ABS may be replaced by poly(butylene terephthalate). 

Other blends such as with poly (butylene terephthalate) and poly(phenylene sulphide) which are niche materials not further discussed in this chapter. 

With the expiry of the basic ICI patents on poly(ethylene terephthalate) there was considerable development in terephthalate polymers in the early 1970s. More than a dozen companies introduced poly(butylene terephthalate) as an engineering plastics material whilst a polyether-ester thermoplastic rubber was introduced by Du Pont as Hytrel. Polyfethylene terephthalate) was also the basis of the glass-filled engineering polymer (Rynite) introduced by Du Pont in the late 1970s. Towards the end of the 1970s poly(ethylene terephthalate) was used for the manufacture of biaxially oriented bottles for beer, colas and other carbonated drinks, and this application has since become of major importance. Similar processes are now used for making wide-neck Jars. 

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