A process for making bis(aryloxyalkyl)terephthalates useful as antiplasticizers for thermoplastic polyesters is disclosed. Dimethyl terephthalate is reacted with an excess of an aryloxyalkanol in the presence of a condensation catalyst to produce an intermediate mixture comprising a bis(aryloxyalkyl)terephthalate, a mono(aryloxyalkyl)terephthalate, and unreacted aryloxyalkanol. This mixture continues to react at reduced pressure while unreacted aryloxyalkanol is removed and the mono-ester content is reduced to less than 1 mole % based on the combined amounts of mono- and bis-esters. Both steps are performed substantially in the absence of oxygen. Additional unreacted aryloxyalkanol is then removed to provide a purified bis(aryloxyalkyl)terephthalate having an overall purity of at least 98 mole % and a yellowness index less than 10. Careful control over catalysis, exposure to air, and other process conditions enables the preparation of high yields of bis(aryloxyalkyl)terephthalates that have low color and other valuable attributes. A method of producing bis(aryloxyalkyl)terephthalate articles having improved compressive strength is also disclosed.
本发明揭示了一种制备双(芳氧基烷基)苯二
甲酸酯的过程,用作热塑性聚酯的抗
增塑剂。在缩聚催化剂的存在下,二甲基苯二
甲酸酯与过量的芳氧基烷醇反应,产生一个中间混合物,包括双(芳氧基烷基)苯二
甲酸酯、单(芳氧基烷基)苯二
甲酸酯和未反应的芳氧基烷醇。在减压条件下,继续反应混合物,同时去除未反应的芳氧基烷醇,使单酯含量降至小于总单酯和双酯的摩尔百分比1%以下。这两个步骤均在基本无氧的情况下进行。然后去除额外的未反应芳氧基烷醇,以提供纯度至少为98摩尔%,黄度指数小于10的纯化双(芳氧基烷基)苯二
甲酸酯。仔细控制催化、暴露于空气和其他工艺条件,可以制备出色泽低、其他有价值属性的高产率的双(芳氧基烷基)苯二
甲酸酯。本发明还揭示了一种制备具有改善压缩强度的双(芳氧基烷基)苯二
甲酸酯制品的方法。