Nucleating agents

Abstract

A composition includes a thermoplastic polyester or polyolefin; and a nucleant having a chemical formula: and combinations of any two or more thereof; where each R 1 is independently H, NR 2 R 2 , OH, OR 2 , SR 2 , SOR 2 , SO 2 R 2 , CN, COR 2 , CO 2 R 2 , CONR 2 R 2 , NO 2 , F, Cl, Br, or I; and each R 2 is independently H or C 1 -C 6 alkyl.

1 . A composition comprising:
 a thermoplastic polyester; and   a nucleant having a chemical formula selected from the group consisting of:   
     
       
         
         
             
             
         
       
       and combinations of any two or more thereof; 
       wherein:
 each R 1  is independently H, NR 2 R 2 , OH, OR 2 , SR 2 , SOR 2 , SO 2 R 2 , CN, COR 2 , CO 2 R 2 , CONR 2 R 2 , NO 2 , F, Cl, Br, or I; and 
 each R 2  is independently H or C 1 -C 6  alkyl. 
 
     
   
   
       2 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the composition comprises a thermoplastic polyester. 
   
   
       3 . The composition of  claim 2 , wherein the thermoplastic polyester comprises an aliphatic polyester. 
   
   
       4 . The composition of  claim 3 , wherein the aliphatic polyester is selected from the group consisting of polybutylene succinates, polycaprolactones, polyhydroxyalkanoates, polyglycolic acids, polylactic acids, and combinations of any two or more thereof. 
   
   
       5 . The composition of  claim 3 , wherein the aliphatic polyester comprises a polyhydroxyalkanoate. 
   
   
       6 . The composition of  claim 5 , wherein the polyhydroxyalkanoate is a polyhydroxyalkanoate homopolymer selected from the group consisting of poly-3-hydroxybutyrate, polylactic acid, polyglycolic acid, and poly-4-hydroxybutyrate. 
   
   
       7 . The composition of  claim 5 , wherein the polyhydroxyalkanoate is a copolymer of 3-hydroxybutyrate and at least one co-monomer selected from the group consisting of 3-hydroxypropionate, 3-hydroxyvalerate, 3-hydroxyhexanoate, 3-hydroxyheptanoate, 3-hydroxyoctanoate, 3-hydroxynonaoate, 3-hydroxydecanoate, 3-hydroxydodecanoate, 3-hydroxydodecenoate, 3-hydroxytetradecanoate, 3-hydroxyhexadecanoate, 3-hydroxyoctadecanoate, 3-hydroxy-4-pentenoate, 4-hydroxybutyrate, 4-hydroxyvalerate, 5-hydroxyvalerate, and 6-hydroxyhexanoate. 
   
   
       8 . The composition of  claim 7 , wherein the copolymer is poly 3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxypropionate, poly 3-hydroxybutyrate-co-4-hydroxybutyrate, poly 3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate, poly 3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyhexanoate, poly 3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate-co-3-hydroxyhexanoate, or poly 3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyhexanoate-co-3-hydroxyoctanoate-co-3-hydroxydecanoate-co-3-hydroxydodecanotate-co-3-hydroxydodecenotate. 
   
   
       9 . The composition of  claim 7 , wherein the 3-hydroxybutyrate is present in the copolymer in a range of about 60 to 98 weight percent, about 70 to 98 weight percent, about 80 to 98 weight percent, or about 90 to 98 weight percent. 
   
   
       10 . The composition of  claim 3 , wherein the aliphatic polyester comprises polybutylene succinate or polybutylene succinate adipate. 
   
   
       11 . The composition of  claim 2 , wherein the thermoplastic polyester comprises an aromatic polyester. 
   
   
       12 . The composition of  claim 11 , wherein the aromatic polyester comprises a polyethylene terephthalate. 
   
   
       13 . The composition of  claim 12 , wherein the polyethylene terephthalate comprises a co-monomer. 
   
   
       14 . An article comprising the composition of  claim 1 . 
   
   
       15 . The article of  claim 14 , wherein the article is in the form of a fiber, filament, rod, tube, or film. 
   
   
       16 . A process, comprising:
 1. an article from the composition of  claim 1 .   
   
   
       17 . An article made by the process of  claim 16 . 
   
   
       18 . A composition comprising:
 at least one type of thermoplastic polyester; and   a nucleant comprising a compound of the formula:   
     
       
         
         
             
             
         
       
       wherein:
 R 1  is a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms; 
 R 2  and R 3  are each a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group having 1 to 12 carbon atoms; 
 M is a group III or IV metal atom; 
 X is HO, O═, or (HO) 2 ; and 
 the composition is substantially devoid of alkali-metal carboxylates, alkali metal β-diketonates, alkali metal salts of β-ketoacetic esters, and polyethylene terephthalates. 
 
     
   
   
       19 . A process, comprising:
 forming an article from the composition of  claim 18 .   
   
   
       20 . An article made by the process of  claim 19 . 
   
   
       21 . A method of fabricating a thermoplastic composition, comprising:
 contacting a thermoplastic polyester with a nucleant having a chemical formula selected from the group consisting of:   
     
       
         
         
             
             
         
       
       and combinations of any two or more thereof; 
       wherein:
 each R 1  is independently H, NR 2 R 2 , OR 2 , OH, SR 2 , SOR 2 , SO 2 R 2 , CN, COR 2 , CO 2 R 2 , CONR 2 R 2 , NO 2 , F, Cl, Br, or I; and 
 each R 2  is independently H or C 1 -C 6  alkyl. 
 
     
   
   
       22 . A method of fabricating a thermoplastic composition comprising:
 contacting a thermoplastic polyester having a melting temperature below about 260° C. with methylbenzylidene sorbitol or dimethylbenzylidene sorbitol dissolved in a solvent;   melting the thermoplastic polyester at a temperature below about 260° C.; and   cooling the thermoplastic polyester, to thereby fabricate the thermoplastic composition.