Method of making poly(arylene ether) compositions

Abstract

A method of making a thermoplastic composition comprises melt mixing a concentrate comprising a first thermoplastic, a second thermoplastic and an additive with a component selected from the group consisting of a third thermoplastic, fire retardant additive, reinforcing agent, electrically conductive filler, non-electrically conductive filler and combinations of two or more of the foregoing.

1 . A thermoplastic composition comprising a blend comprising:
 a first thermoplastic,   a second thermoplastic and   an additive with a component selected from the group consisting of a third thermoplastic, fire retardant additive, reinforcing agent, electrically conductive filler, non-electrically conductive filler, and combinations of two or more of the foregoing,   wherein the first thermoplastic comprises poly(arylene ether),   wherein the second thermoplastic and third thermoplastic are selected from the group consisting of poly(alkenyl aromatic) homopolymer resin, rubber modified poly(alkenyl aromatic) homopolymer resin, polyamide, polyolefin and combinations of two or more of the foregoing,   wherein the composition comprises less than or equal to about 800 parts per million by weight butyraldehyde based on the total weight of the poly(arylene ether), less than or equal to about 30 parts per million by weight trimethylanisole based on the total weight of the poly(arylene ether), less than or equal to about 100 parts per million by weight toluene based on the total weight of the poly(arylene ether), or a combination thereof.   
   
   
       2 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the second and third thermoplastics are the same. 
   
   
       3 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the second and third thermoplastics are different. 
   
   
       4 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the second and third thermoplastics comprise rubber modified polystyrene. 
   
   
       5 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the concentrate further comprises an impact modifier. 
   
   
       6 . The composition of  claim 5 , wherein the impact modifier is present in an amount of about 1 to about 10 weight percent based on the total weight of the concentrate. 
   
   
       7 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the second thermoplastic comprises a poly(alkenyl aromatic) resin and the poly(alkenyl aromatic) resin is present in an amount of about 3 to about 50 weight percent based on the total weight of the concentrate. 
   
   
       8 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the second thermoplastic comprises a polyamide and the polyamide is present in an amount of about 5 to about 50 weight percent based on the total weight of the concentrate. 
   
   
       9 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the second thermoplastic comprises a polyolefin and the polyolefin is present in an amount of about 5 to about 80 weight percent based on the total weight of the concentrate. 
   
   
       10 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the additive is present in an amount of about 1 to about 25 weight percent based on the total weight of the concentrate. 
   
   
       11 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the concentrate comprises a combination of additives and the combination of additives is present in an amount of about 1 to about 25 weight percent based on the total weight of the concentrate. 
   
   
       12 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the composition further comprises a blowing agent. 
   
   
       13 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the additive is selected from the group consisting of coupling agents, antioxidants, mold release agents, UV absorbers, light stabilizers, heat stabilizers, lubricants, plasticizers, pigments, dyes, colorants, anti-static agents, nucleating agents, anti-drip agents, acid scavengers, and combinations of two or more of the foregoing. 
   
   
       14 . A thermoplastic composition comprising a blend comprising
 a poly(arylene ether),   a second thermoplastic and   an additive with a component selected from the group consisting of a third thermoplastic, fire retardant additive, reinforcing agent, electrically conductive filler, non-electrically conductive filler, and combinations of two or more of the foregoing,   wherein the second thermoplastic and third thermoplastic are selected from the group consisting of polystyrene, rubber modified polystyrene and combinations thereof, and   wherein the composition comprises less than or equal to about 800 parts per million by weight butyraldehyde, based on the total weight of the poly(arylene ether), less than or equal to about 30 parts per million by weight trimethylanisole, based on the total weight of the poly(arylene ether), and less than or equal to about 100 parts per million by weight toluene, based on the total weight of the poly(arylene ether).   
   
   
       15 . A method of making a thermoplastic composition comprising melt mixing a concentrate comprising poly(arylene ether), a second thermoplastic and an additive with a component selected from the group consisting of a third thermoplastic, fire retardant additive, reinforcing agent, electrically conductive filler, non-electrically conductive filler, and combinations of two or more of the foregoing,
 wherein the second thermoplastic and third thermoplastic are selected from the group consisting of poly(alkenyl aromatic) homopolymer resin and rubber modified poly(alkenyl aromatic) homopolymer resin and combinations of two or more of the foregoing,   wherein the concentrate is solid prior to melt mixing,   wherein the concentrate comprises 50 to 99 weight percent poly(arylene ether) based on the total weight of the concentrate, and   wherein the composition comprises greater than or equal to 34 weight percent poly(arylene ether), based on the total weight of the composition.   
   
   
       16 . A method of making a thermoplastic composition comprising melt mixing a concentrate comprising a poly(arylene ether), a second thermoplastic and an additive with a component selected from the group consisting of a third thermoplastic, fire retardant additive, reinforcing agent, electrically conductive filler, non-electrically conductive filler, and combinations of two or more of the foregoing,
 wherein the second thermoplastic and third thermoplastic are polyamide,   wherein the concentrate is solid prior to melt mixing,   wherein the concentrate comprises 50 to 99 weight percent poly(arylene ether) based on the total weight of the concentrate.