Polybutylene terephthalate manufacturers

Figure 7.2 Schematic of a polybutylene terephthalate manufacturing flowchart.

Butanediol [110-63-4] (BDO) goes primarily into tetrahydrofuran [109-99-9] (THE) for production of polytetramethylene ether glycol (PTMEG), used ia the manufacture of polyurethane fibers, eg, Du Font s Spandex. THE is also used as a solvent for PVC and ia the production of pharmaceuticals (qv). Lesser amounts of BDO are employed ia the production of polybutylene terephthalate resias and y-butyrolactone. 

In addition to the desired polymerization reaction, the dialcohol reactants can participate in deleterious side reactions. Ethylene glycol, used in the manufacture of polyethylene terephthalate, can react with itself to form a dialcohol ether and water as shown in Fig. 24.4a). This dialcohol ether can incorporate into the growing polymer chain because it contains terminal alcohol units. Unfortunately, this incorporation lowers the crystallinity of the polyester on cooling which alters the polymer s physical properties. 1,4 butanediol, the dialcohol used to manufacture polybutylene terephthalate, can form tetrahydrofuran and water as shown in Fig. 24.4b). Both the tetrahydrofuran and water can be easily removed from the melt but this reaction reduces the efficiency of the process since reactants are lost. 

Injection molding grades of polyethylene terephthalate and polybutylene terephthalate have low melt viscosities. Because of this, they can be used to manufacture intricate parts within... 

The hydroformylation of acrolein cyclic acetals has received considerable attention in the recent patent literature as a route to 1,4-butanediol (76-52). This diol is a comonomer for the production of polybutylene terephthalate, an engineering thermoplastic. The standard method for its manufacture has been from acetylene and formaldehyde, as shown in Eqs. (37) and (38) ... 

Polybutylene Terephthalate (PBT). With the expiration of the original PET patents, manufacturers pursued the polymerization of other polyalkene teiephthalates, particularly polybutylene terephthalate (PBT). The polymer is synthesized by reacting terephthalic acid with butane 1,4-diol to yield the structure shown in Fig. 2.16. 

Gears mannfactnred from fiber-reinforced polybutylene terephthalate have an extremely smooth snrface and high maximum operating temperature up to 170°C. This composite is superior to polyacetal or metals and is often used in the manufacture of engine housings. 

Polymers used in a typical mobile phone include acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (ABS) or PC for the outer case because of their weight reducing qualities and their durability. Good transparency is imperative for the screen for which PC or PMMA may be chosen. Connector manufacturers have several options with polybutylene terephthalate (PBT) and polyamide (PA) providing stability. Eor safety reasons elastomers provide the raw material for antennas. PCB base material is invariably an epoxy resin because it offers heat resistance and design flexibility. The components themselves may... 

Terephthalic acid (TA) produced in a purified form (PTA) is used almost exclusively in the manufacture of polyethylene terephthalate (PET polyester) fibers. A smaller percentage of PTA is used for the manufacture of polyester films, polybutylene terephthalate resins and barrier resins for carbonated beverage bottles. Between 1994 and 1998, global PTA capacity increased by 62%, from lOmilfionto 17 million metric tons. Approximately 70% of worldwide PTA capacity is located in the Asia-Pacific region. ... 

The promise of large-scale low-cost fermentations from renewable resources, especially corn, has spurred interest in the United States to develop chemical production for large-volume chemicals using bio-based processes. Succinic acid can be converted by hydrogenation to 1,4-butanediol, which has a world market in excess of 500,000 metric tons. Butanediol is used to produce polybutylene terephthalate (PBT) resins that have desirable mechanical and thermal properties and are a high-performance version of polyethylene terephthalate resins (PET). Also, 1,4-butanediol is a precursor of tetrahydrofuran, which can be polymerized to polytetrahydrofuran (PTHF). Gamma butyrolactone (GBL) can also be derived from 1,4-butanediol, and much of GBL is used to manufacture the solvent N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone (Szmant 1989). 

BDO is used to produce spandex, a high-technology textile fiber. Also, 1,4-butan-ediol is used as a solvent and humectant in several other industries. The second biggest market for BDO is as a feedstock to produce the engineering plastic PBT (polybutylene terephthalate). It is also used in the production of plastics and in the manufacture of tetrahydrofuran. 

Succinic acid is one of the high-volume specialty chemicals. It is produced by the catalytic hydrogenation of petrochemical maleic acid or anhydride. However, due to cost reductions delivered via the production of succinic acid from the bacterial fermentation of carbohydrates, a large-volume commodity market could be realized. Presently, the bacterial strain used for succinic acid manufacturing is Escherichia coli. However, the requirement for lower costs is moving companies toward other microorganisms, such as Coryne-type bacteria and yeast. Succinic acid can be converted to 1,4-butanediol (EDO) and other products. It also serves as a raw material for diverse important chemicals, including polymers, polybutylene terephthalate, and polybutylene succinate. 

Lightweight reinforced thermoplastics materials with great strength and stiffness are needed in a number of so-called technical applications. Therefore short glass fibers are used to stiffen thermoplastics, for instance polypropylene, polyamides and also more technical polymers such as polybutylene terephthalate. Thermoplastic processors do not compound themselves their materials and consequently there is quite a large choice of ready-to-be-processed SGF reinforced thermoplastic composites. Table 7.6 gives the average properties of typical commercial PP-SGF composites, as compiled from manufacturers data sheets (when available). 

Another class of crystalline polyesters with commercial potential is biodegradable polyesters. Pollet et al. [47] evaluated three different biodegradable polyesters (polybutylene succinate (BIO Bionolle manufactured by Showa High Polymer Co.), and two polybutylene-adipate-co-butylene-terephthalates (ECO Ecoflex F manufactured by BASF and EAS EastasrBio Ultra manufactured by Novamont)). The organo-montmorillonite utilized in the evaluations was Cloisite SOB. The Cloisite 30B was dried at 40°C under reduced pressure for 4 h. Cloisite 30B must be properly dried for this application. The composites with the best mechanical performance were prepared with a two-roll mill (Agila) for 10 min with the temperature set at 150°C for EAS and ECO and 160°C for BIO. The montmorillonite content of the composites was 3 wt.%. Preparing a master batch of polymer with a 36 wt.% Cloisite SOB initially with subsequent formulation was not as effective. 

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