Process for preparing polycarbonates

Abstract: A process for preparing a polycarbonate by the melt polycondensation of an aromatic dihydroxy compound and a carbonic acid diester is characterized by using an aromatic dihydroxy compound and a carbonic acid diester wherein the total content of hydrolyzable chlorine falls within a particular range. Another process for preparing a polycarbonate by the melt polycondensation of an aromatic dihydroxy compound and a carbonic acid diester, is characterized by using a catalyst comprising (a) a nitrogen-containing basic compound, (b) aromatic dihydroxy compound of an alkali metal or alkaline earth metal compound, and optionally (c) boric acid or a boric acid ester.

Description: This invention relates to processes for preparing polycarbonates and more particularly to processes for preparing polycarbonates which have high molecular weights, excellent heat resistance and water resistance and, moreover, which have been improved in color tone. Because of their excellent mechanical characteristics, such as impact resistance, and because of their excellent heat resistance and transparency, polycarbonates are widely used for various purposes. The conventional method for the preparation of polycarbonates as referred to above is a process (interface method) which involves a direct reaction of aromatic dihydroxy compounds such as bisphenol with phosgene, or a process in which aromatic dihydroxy compounds such as bisphenol and carbonic diesters such as diphenyl carbonate are allowed in molten state to undergo ester interchange reaction (polycondensation reaction). In a process for preparing polycarbonates by ester interchange reaction of aromatic dihydroxy compounds with carbonic diesters, usually the reactants are heated under reduced pressure at a temperature of 250-330°C and allowed in molten state to undergo the ester interchange reaction in the presence of catalysts such as organic acid salts, inorganic acid salts, oxides, hydroxides or hydrides of metals or alcoholates. This process is advantageous over the above-mentioned interface method in that polycarbonates can be prepared at a relatively low cost. In this process, however, the aromatic dihydroxy compound and the carbonic acid diester are reacted in molten state, and the polycarbonate being formed is exposed to elevated temperatures for a prolonged period time, and in consequence, there has been posed such a serious problem that the product assumes a yellow color, and becomes poor in heat resistance or water resistance. For this reason, polycarbonates prepared by this process have hardly found application in fields such as plastic glass and lenses where materials having a good color tone are required. Furthermore, Japanese Patent Laid-Open-to-Public publn. No. 51719/1985 proposes a process for preparing polycarbonates, which involves the use of catalysts comprising nitrogen containing basic compounds and boron compounds, and the desired polycarbonates assuming a relatively pale color are obtained by the proposed process when the catalysts as proposed are used therefor. However, the proposed catalysts involved such a problem that they are low in polymerization activity. With the view of solving such problems as mentioned above, we conducted extensive research and eventually have accomplished the present invention on the basis of our finding that the purpose intended can be attained by carrying out the polycondensation of aromatic dihydroxy compounds with carbonic diesters either using starting monomers having a reduced content of a specific impurity or in the presence of a specific catalyst. The present invention is intended to solve such problems associated with the prior art as mentioned above and an object of the invention is to provide processes for preparing polycarbonates, said processes being capable of obtaining the polycarbonates which have high molecular weight and are excellent in heat resistance and water resistance and, moreover, which are improved in color tone. The present invention provides a process for preparing a polycarbonate by the melt polycondensation of an aromatic dihydroxy compound and a carbonic acid diester, wherein the total content of hydrolysable chlorine in said aromatic dihydroxy compound and carbonic acid diester is not more than 3 ppm, characterised by using a catalyst comprising (a) from 10 -6 to 10 -1 mole of a nitrogen-containing basic compound, (b) from 10 -8 to 10 -3 mole of an alkali metal or alkaline earth metal compound, and optionally (c) from 10 -8 to 10 -1 mole of boric acid or a boric acid ester, the amounts of (a), (b) and (c) being expressed in terms of moles per mole of the aromatic dihydroxy compound. Preferably there is used a carbonic acid diester which has been washed with water having a pH 6.0-9.0 and kept at 78 to 150°C to reduce its hydrolysable chlorine content to not more than 1 ppm. The process of the invention wherein an aromatic dihydroxy compound is melt polycondensed with a carbonic acid diester in the presence of specific catalysts, is productive of polycarbonates which have high molecular weight, excellent heat resistance and water resistance and, moreover which are improved in color tone. The processes for preparing polycarbonates of the present invention will be illustrated below in detail. In the present invention, the polycarbonates are prepared from aromatic dihydroxy compounds and carbonic diesters as starting materials. The aromatic dihydroxy compounds used in the present invention are those which are represented by the following general formula [I] wherein X is -O-, -S-, SO- or -SO 2 -, R 1 and R 2 are each a hydrogen atom or a monovalent hydrocarbon group, R 3 is a divalent hydrocarbon group, and the aromatic nuclei may by substituted by a monovalent hydrocarbon group or groups. Useful aromatic dihydroxy compounds as illustrated above include in the concrete bis(hydroxyaryl) alkanes such as bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)methane, 1,1-bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)ethane, 2,2-bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)propane, 2,2-bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)butane, 2,2-bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)octane, bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)phenylmethane, 2,2-bis(4-hydroxy-1-methylphenyl)propane, 1,1-bis(4-hydroxy-t-butylphenyl)propane, and 2,2-bis(4-hydroxy-3-bromophenyl)propane; bis(hydroxyaryl)cycloalkanes such as 1,1-(4-hydroxyphenyl)cyclopentane and 1,1-bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)cyclohexane; dihydroxyaryl ethers such as 4,4'-dihydroxydiphenyl ether and 4,4'-dihydroxy-3,3'-dimethylphenyl ether; dihydroxydiaryl sulfides such as 4,4'-dihydroxydiphenyl sulfide and 4,4'-dihydroxy-3,3'-dimethyldiphenyl sulfide; dihydroxydiaryl sulfoxides such as 4,4'-dihydroxydiphenyl sulfoxide and 4,4'-dihydroxy-3,3'-dimethyldiphenyl sulfoxide; and dihydroxydiaryl sulfones such as 4,4'-dihydroxydiphenyl sulfone and 4,4'-dihydroxy-3,3'-dimethyldiphenyl sulfone. Of the compounds as exemplified above, particularly preferred is 2,2-bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)propane. Useful carbonic diesters include in the concrete diphenyl carbonate, ditolyl carbonate, bis(chlorophenyl) carbonate, m-cresyl carbonate, dinaphthyl carbonate, bis(diphenyl) carbonate, diethyl carbonate, dimethyl carbonate, dibutyl carbonate and dicyclohexyl carbonate. Of the diesters as exemplified above, particularly preferred is diphenyl carbonate. The carbonic diester used herein may contain a minor amount, e.g, up to 50 mol%, preferably up to 30 mol%, of a dicarboxylic acid or its ester. Examples of such dicarboxylic acids and esters thereof, include, for example, terephthalic acid, isophthalic acid, diphenyl terephthalate and diphenyl isophthalate. When such a dicarboxylic acid or its ester is conjointly used polyesterpolycarbonate is prepared. In preparing polycarbonates by carrying out the process of the present invention, it is desirable that the above-mentioned carbonic diester is used in an amount of 1.01 to 1.30 moles, preferably 1.02 to 1.20 moles based on 1 mole of the aforementioned aromatic dihydroxy compound. Preferably the combined content of hydrolyzable chlorine contained in the aromatic dihydroxy compound and the carbonic acid diester should be not more than 2 ppm, and more preferably not more than 1 ppm. The term "hydrolyzable chlorine" means chlorine which is present in the form salts such as sodium chloride and potassium chloride. A content of hydrolyzable chlorine contained in each starting material used herein can be determined by analysis, for example, ion chromatography of an extract of the material with water. If the combined content of hydrolyzable chlorine contained in the starting monomers exceeds 3 ppm, color tone of the product tends to become poor. It is also desirable in the present invention that a hydrolyzable chlorine content of the starting carbonic acid diester is not more than 2 ppm, preferably not more than 1 ppm, and more preferably not more than 0.5 ppm. Conventionally, the starting aromatic dihydroxy compound and carbonic acid diester (in particular carbonic acid diester prepared by the so-called phosgen process) are purified by distillation or recrystallization, and thereafter subjected to melt polycondensation. However, it is generally difficult to reduce the combined hydrolyzable chlorine content of the starting monomers by mere distillation below the desired level. This is especially true with carbonic acid diesters prepared by the phosgen process which may contain hydrolyzable chlorine in the form of phenyl chloroformate. It has been found that even with carbonic acid esters prepared by the phosgen process the content of hydrolyzable chlorine can be easily reduced below 2 ppm by washing with hot water having a pH of from 6.0 to 9.0, preferably from 7.0 to 8.5, and more preferably from 7.0 to 8.0, and kept at a temperature of from 78 to 105 °C, preferably from 80 to 100 °C, and more preferably from 80 to 90 °C. Examples of the aqueous weak alkaline solution which can used herein include, for example, those of sodium hydroxide, potassium hydroxide, lithium hydroxide, sodium carbonate, potassium carbonate, ammonium hydroxide, sodium hydrogencarbonate, potassium hydrogencarbonate and tetramethylammonium hydroxide. Of these, aqueous solutions of sodium hydrogencarbonate, sodium carbonate, potassium hydrogencarbonate and potassium carbonate are preferred. The carbonic acid diester so washed with a hot weakly alkaline aqueous solution is used in the melt polycondensation either directly or preferably after having been distilled. Incidentally, in the cases of carbonic acid diesters prepared by processes other than the phosgen process, such as carbonic acid diester prepared from dialkyl carbonates, it is sometimes possible to reduce the hydrolyzable chlorine content by mere distillation to 2 ppm or below. It is also advantageous to use the aromatic dihydroxy compound and carbonic acid diester having not only the combined content of hydrolyzable chlorine reduced to not more than 3 ppm, but also the combined content of sodium ion reduced to not more than 1.0 ppm, preferably not more than 0.8 ppm, and more preferably not more than 0.6 ppm. Further it is also advantageous to use the aromatic dihydroxy compound and carbonic acid diester having the combined content of iron ion reduced to not more than 1.0 ppm, preferably not more than 0.8 ppm, and more preferably not more than 0.6 ppm. By doing so, polycarbonates of further improved color tone can be prepared. The sodium ion content and the iron ion content in the aromatic dihydroxy compound and the carbonic acid diester may be determined by atomic-absorption spectroscopy or induced coupling plasma emission spectroscopy. Suitable procedures to reduce the sodium ion content and the iron ion content in the aromatic dihydroxy compound and the carbonic acid diester include washing with a hot weakly alkaline aqueous solution, distillation and recrystallization. The catalyst may be used in an amount, based on 1 mole of the aromatic dihydroxy compound, of normally from 10 -6 to 10 -1 mole, preferably from 10 -5 to 10 -2 mole. As mentioned previously, in the process for preparing polycarbonates of the present invention, preparation of the polycarbonates by melt polycondensation of the aromatic dihydroxy compounds and the carbonic diesters is carried out by using a catalyst comprising (a) a nitrogen containing basic compound, and (b) an alkali metal or alkaline earth metal compound, and optionally (c) boric acid or a boric acid ester. Useful nitrogen containing basic compound as component(a) of the catalyst includes in the concrete tetraalkyl-, aryl- or alkarylammonium hydroxides such as tetramethylammonium hydroxide (Me 4 NOH), tetraethylammonium hydroxide (Et 4 NOH), tetrabutylammonium hydroxide (Bu 4 NOH) and trimethylbenzylammonium hydroxide tertiary amines such as trimethylamine, triethylamine, dimethylbenzylamine and triphenylamine; secondary amines represented by R 2 NH (in the formula, R is alkyl such as methyl or ethyl , or aryl such as phenyl or toluyl); primary amines represented by RNH 2 (in the formula, R is as defined above); or basic salts such as ammonia, tetramethylammonium borohydride (Me 4 NBH 4 ), tetrabutylammonium borohydride(Bu 4 NBH 4 ), tetrabutylammonium tetraphenyl borate(Bu 4 NBPh 4 ) and tetramethylammonium tetraphenyl borate (Me 4 NBPh 4 ). Of the basic compounds as exemplified above, particularly preferred are tetraalkylammonium hydroxides. Useful alkali metal compound as component (b) of the catalyst includes in the concrete sodium hydroxide, potassium hydroxide, lithium hydroxide, sodium hydrogencarbonate, potassium hydrogencarbonate, lithium hydrogencarbonate, sodium carbonate, potassium carbonate, lithium carbonate, sodium acetate, potassium acetate, lithium acetate, sodium stearate, potassium stearate, lithium stearate, sodium borohydride, lithium borohydride and sodiumborophenylate, sodium benzoate, potassium benzoate, lithium benzoate, disodium hydrogenphosphate, dipotassium hydrogenphosphate, dilithium hydrogenphosphate, disodium salt of BPA, dipotassium salt of BPA dilithium salt of BPA, sodium phenylate, potassium phenylate, lithium phenylate. Furthermore, useful alkaline earth metal compound as component (b) of the catalyst includes in the concrete calcium hydroxide, barium hydroxide, magnesium hydroxide, strontium hydroxide, calcium hydrogencarbonate, barium hydrogencarbonate, magnesium hydrogencarbonate, strontium hydrogencarbonate, calcium carbonate, barium carbonate, magnesium carbonate, strontium carbonate, calcium acetate, barium acetate, magnesium acetate, strontium acetate, calcium stearate, barium stearate, magnesium stearate and strontium stearate. The nitrogen containing basic compound (a) as exemplified above is used in an amount of 10 -6 - 10 -1 mole, preferably 10 -5 - 10 -2 mole, based on 1 mole of the aforementioned aromatic dihydroxy compound, and the alkali metal or alkaline earth metal compound (b) as exemplified above is used in an amount of 10 -8 - 10 -3 mole, preferably 10 -7 - 10 -4 mole, particularly preferably 10 -7 - 10 -5 mole, based on 1 mole of the aforementioned aromatic dihydroxy compound. The use of the nitrogen containing basic compound (a) in amount of 10 -6 - 10 -1 mole based on 1 mole of the aromatic dihydroxy compound is desirable, because the rates of the ester interchange and polymerization reactions increased and, the resulting polycarbonates are excellent in color tone, heat resistance and water resistance. Furthermore, the use of the alkali metal or alkaline earth metal compound in an amount of 10 -8 - 10 -3 based on 1 mole of the aromatic dihydroxy compound is desirable, because the polymerization activity, particularly the rate of polymerization markedly increases and, the resulting polycarbonates are excellent in color tone, heat resistance and water resistance. Useful boric acid or boric acid ester as component (c) of the catalyst includes boric acid and boric acid esters represented by the general formula B(OR) n (OH) 3-n (in the formula, R is alkyl such as methyl and ethyl, or aryl such as phenyl, and n is 1,2 or 3). Concretely, such boric acid ester as illustrated above includes trimethyl borate, triethyl borate, tributyl borate, trihexyl borate, triheptyl borate, triphenyl borate, tritolyl borate and trinapthyl borate. The boric acid or boric acid ester (c) is used in an amount of 10 -8 - 10 -1 mole, preferably 10 -7 - 10 -2 mole, and more preferably 10 -7 - 10 -4 mole based on 1 mole of the aromatic dihydroxy compound. The use of boric acid or boric acid ester (c) in an amount of 10 -8 - 10 -3 mole based on 1 mole of the aromatic dihydroxy compound is desirable, because the decrease of the molecular weight after heat aging was restrained and, the resulting polycarbonates are excellent in color tone, water resistance, and heat resistance. The catalyst used in the process according to the invention comprising a combination of the nitrogen containing basic compound (a), alkali metal or alkaline earth metal compound (b) and boric acid or its ester (c), are found much higher in polymerization activity than known catalysts for the same melt polycondensation. They can form high molecular weight polycarbonates which are excellent in heat resistance and water resistance and improved in color tone and transparency. In the processes for preparing polycarbonates according to the invention, it is preferred that the starting aromatic dihydroxy compound and carbonic diester have combined contents of hydrolyzable chlorine, sodium ion and iron respectively falling within the range prescribed hereinabove, but such is not always necessary. The polycondensation reaction of the aromatic dihydroxy compound with carbonic diester in the processes according to the invention may be carried out under the same conditions conventionally known as those commonly employed therefor. Concretely, a first stage reaction of the aromatic dihydroxy compound with carbonic diester is carried out under ordinary pressure at a temperature of 80-250°C, preferable 100-230°C, and more preferably 120-190°C, for 0-5 hours, preferably 0-4 hours, and more preferably 0.25-3 hours. Subsequently, the system is evacuated and the reaction temperature is elevated to carry out the reaction of the aromatic dihydroxy compound with carbonic diester, and finally the polycondensation reaction of the aromatic dihydroxy compound with carbonic diester is carried out under reduced pressure of less than 1 mmHg at a temperature of 240-320°C. The reaction of the aromatic dihydroxy compounds with carbonic diesters as illustrated above may be carried out by either continuous or batchwise process. Furthermore, reaction apparatuses in which the above-mentioned reaction is carried out may be of a tank, tube or column type. EFFECT OF THE INVENTION By the process for preparing polycarbonates according to the invention wherein an aromatic dihydroxy compound and a carbonic acid diester used as starting monomers have a combined content of hydrolyzable chlorine not more than a specific level, or have, in addition to such a combined level of hydrolyzable chlorine, a combined content of sodium ion and a combined content of iron ion respectively not more than specific levels, there can be prepared polycarbonates which do not assume undesirable colors such as yellow, and which excellent in color tone, heat resistance, water resistance and boiling water resistance. The processes according to the invention wherein an aromatic dihydroxy compound is melt polycondensed with a carbonic acid diester in the presence of specific catalysts, are productive of polycarbonates which have high molecular weight, excellent heat resistance and water resistance and, moreover which are improved in color tone. The present invention is illustrated below with reference to examples, but it should be constructed that the invention is in no way limited to those examples. (Testing method) Methods of measurement of physical properties employed are shown below. Intrinsic viscosity (IV): The test specimen was measured for intrinsic viscosity at 20°C in methylene chloride using a Ubbelohde's viscometer. Hue (b value): The test specimen of a press sheet of a 2mm thickness was measured for Lab values by the transmission method using Color and Color Difference Meter ND-1001 Dp manufactured and sold by Nippon Denshoku Kogyo K.K., and the measured b value was taken as an index of yelowness. Heat aging test: Pellets of the test specimen were dried at 120°C under 400mmHg for 12 hours, and 4.5 g of the pellets thus dried was kept for 16 hours at 250°C in a gear oven (GHPS-212 manufactured and sold by Tabai Seisakusho K.K., air replacement ratio 71.6 times/hr.), and then cooled to room temperature. The test specimen thus treated was formed into a press sheet of 2mm thick, and measured for hue(b value) and IV. Boiling water test: A dumbbell of 5 mm width x 5 cm length was punched out from a press sheet of 0.5mm thickness, immersed in boiling water, and withdrawn therefrom after the lapse of 1 day, 3 days and 7 days, respectively. Within 1 hour after the removal, the dumbbell thus treated was subjected to tensile test with Instron 1132 under the conditions a distance of 30mm between zippers, a rate of pulling of 50mm/min, and a range of measurement of 50 kg, thereby measuring a value of elongation (%). Conditions of preparation of press sheet: Pellets of the test specimen were dried for 12 hours at 120°C under 400mmHg, maintained for 10 minutes under nitrogen atmosphere. Thereafter, the pellets were pressed for 5 minutes at 280°C and 100kg/cm 2 , and then pressed for 5 minutes at room temperature for cooling. Hydrolyzable chlorine content: Five g of a material was dissolved in 10 ml of toluene. After addition of 10 ml of an eluent (2.8 mM of NaHCO 3 2.25mM of Na 2 CO 3 ), the solution was extracted with water. The chlorine content of the extract was determined by ion chromatography(using Ion chrophatograph 2000i supplied by DIONEX K.K.). Sodium ion content: Sodium content of a material was determined on 20 g of the material by atomic-absorption spectroscopy (using HITACHI 180-80). Ion content: Iron content of a material was determined on 20 g of the material by induced coupling plasma emission spectroscopy (using NJA ICPA 575 supplied by Nippon Jarrelasch K.K.). Example 1 Diphenyl carbonate supplied by BAYER A.G. having a hydrolyzable chlorine content of 5.9 ppm was washed with hot water at a temperature of 80 o C and a pH of 7.0, and distilled under reduced pressure at a yield of 90 % to provide diphenyl carbonate having a hydrolyzable chlorine content of 0.3 ppm. In a glass reactor 51.36 g(0.24 mole) of the so treated diphenyl carbonate, 45.6 g (0.2 mole) of Bisphenol A having a hydrolyzable chlorine content of 0.2 ppm supplied by GE corporation and 3.1 mg(2.5 X 10 -4 mole/mole of BAP) of boric acid H 3 BO 3 (guaranteed reagent supplied by WAKO K.K.) was stirred using a stirrer made of Ni, under a nitrogen atmosphere at a temperature of 180 o C and under a pressure of 760 mmHg for a period of 30 minutes. At the end of the period there were added to the reactor 30.4 mg of 15% tetramethylammonium hydroxide Me 4 NOH aqueous solution supplied by TOYO GOSEI K.K. (2.5 X 10 -4 mole of Me 4 NOH/mole of BPA) and 0.42 mg (0.25 X 10 -4 mole/mole of BAP) of sodium hydrogencarbonate NaHCO 3 guaranteed reagent supplied by WAKO K.K., and the mixture was stirred for further 30 minutes at a temperature of 180 °C under nitrogen atmosphere to effect the ester interchange reaction. The reaction mixture was then heated to a temperature of 210 °C and the pressure was slowly reduced to 200 mmHg. The mixture was maintained under these conditions for 1 hour, and further maintained for 20 minutes at 240 °C and 200 mmHg. The pressure was then slowly reduced to 150 mmHg, and the mixture was maintained at 240°C for 20 minutes under this pressure and for further 20 minutes under 100 mmHg, for 0.5 hour under 15mmHg. Finally, the temperature was then raised to 270 o C and the pressure was reduced to 0.5 mmHg, and the reaction was continued under these conditions for 2.5 hours. Polycarbonate having an intrinsic viscosity of 0.55 was obtained. The b value of the product was 1.3. The results are shown in Table 1. Examples 2 and 3 Diphenyl carbonates (DPC) having hydrolyzable chlorine, sodium ion and iron ion contents indicated in Table 1 were prepared in the same manner as in Example 1 except that the recovery yield of DPC at the stage of distillation under reduced pressure was varied. Using the so prepared DPC polycarbonates were prepared following the procedures of Example 1. The results are shown in Table 1. Example 4 Example 1 was repeated except that the purified BAYER DPC was replaced with DPC obtained by distillation of DPC supplied Eni company which had been prepared from dimethyl carbonate. The results are shown in Table 1. Comparative Example 1 Example 1 was repeated except that the unpurified DPC as such was used in the melt polycondensation. The results are shown in Table 1. Comparative Example 2 Example 1 was repeated except that instead of the purified BAYER DPC undistilled by DPC supplied Eni company was used in the melt polycondensation. The results are shown in Table 1. Example 5 Into a 100 ml glass reactor was charged a mixture comprising 47.9 g (0.22 mole) of diphenyl carbonate used in Example 12, 45.6 g (0.20 mole) of Bisphenol A used in Example 12 and 3.7 mg (3 x 10 -4 mole/BPA 1 mole) of boric acid H 3 BO 3 (guaranteed reagent, a product of Wako Shiyaku). The mixture was then heated in N 2 atomosphere at 180°C, followed by stirring with a nickel stirring rod for 30 minutes. Thereafter, the reactor was charged with a mixture comprising 36.5 mg (Me 4 NOH 3 x 10 -4 mole/BPA 1 mole) of a 15% aqueous solution of tetramethylammonium hydroxide Me 4 NOH (a product of Toyo Gosei) and 0.50 mg (0.3 x 10 -4 mole/BPA 1 mole) of sodium hydrogencarbonate NaHCO 3 (guaranteed reagent, a product of Wako Shinyaku), and the contents of the reactor was stirred in N 2 atomosphere at 180°C for 30 minutes to effect ester interchange reaction. Subsequently, the reaction was continued continuously for 1 hour at 210°C and a pressure gradually reduced to 200 mmHg, for 20 minutes at a temperature raised up to 240°C, for 20 minutes at a pressure gradually reduced to 150 mmHg, for 20 minutes at a pressure reduced to 100 mmHg, and for 0.5 hours at a pressure reduced to 15 mmHg. The reaction was finally carried out for 2.5 hours at a temperature raised to 270°C and a pressure redued to 0.5 mm Hg, whereby a polycarbonate having IV of 0.58 was obtained. The results obtained are shown in Table 2. Examples 6-11 and Comparative Examples 3-7 The same procedure as described in Example 5 was repeated except that in place of the sodium hydrogencarbonate, tetramethylammonium hydroxide and boric acid used in Example 5 in amounts as shown in Table 2, there were used nitrogen containing basic compounds, alkali metal compounds(alkaline earth metal compounds) and boric acid or boric acid esters in amounts as shown in Tables 2 and 3, respectively. The results obtained are shown in Tables 2 and 3, respectively. Example 12 Diphenyl carbonate supplied by BAYER A.G. having a hydrolyzable chlorine content of 5.9 ppm was washed twice with hot water at a temperature of 80 °C and a pH of 7.0, and distilled under reduced pressure at a yield of 90 % to provide diphenyl carbonate having a hydrolyzable chlorine content of less than 0.1 ppm. In a 500 ml glass reactor 143.8 g(0.672 mole) of the so treated diphenyl carbonate, 136.8 g (0.600 mole) of Bisphenol A supplied by GE plastics Japan Ltd. having a hydrolyzable chlorine content of less than 0.1 ppm and 3.0 mg(H 3 BO 3 0.025 X 10 -4 mole/mole of BPA) of 3% boric acid H 3 BO 3 aqueous solution stirred using a stirrer made of Ni was heated to a temperature of 180 °C under a nitrogen atmosphere, followed by stirring for 30 minutes. At the end of the period there were added to the reactor 91.2 mg of 15% tetramethylammonium hydroxide Me 4 NOH aqueous solution (2.5 X 10 -4 mole of Me 4 NOH/mole of BPA) and 24.0 mg (NaOH 0.010 X 10 -4 mole/mole of BPA) of 0.1 % sodium hydroxide NaOH aqueous solution, and the mixture was stirred for further 30 minutes at a temperature of 180 °C under nitrogen atmosphere to effect the ester interchange reaction. The reaction mixture was then heated to a temperature of 210 °C and the pressure was slowly reduced to 200 mmHg. The mixture was maintained under these conditions for 1 hour, and further maintained for 20 minutes at 240 °C and 200 mmHg. The pressure was then slowly reduced to 150 mmHg, and then the mixture was maintained at 240°C for 20 minutes under this pressure and for 0.5 hour under 15mmHg. Finally, the temperature was then raised to 270 °C and the pressure was reduced to 0.5 mmHg, and the reaction was continued under these conditions for 2.5 hours. Polycarbonate having an intrinsic viscosity of 0.55 (dl/g) was obtained substantially quantitatively. The b value of the product was 0.7. The results are shown in Table 4 and Table 6. Examples 13 and 14 Diphenyl carbonates (DPC) having hydrolyzable chlorine, sodium ion and iron ion contents indicated in Table 4 were prepared in the same manner as in Example 12 except that the recovery yield of DPC at the stage of distillation under reduced pressure was varied. Using the so prepared DPC polycarbonates were prepared following the procedures of Example 12. The results are shown in Table 4. Example 15 Example 12 was repeated except that the purified DPC was replaced with DPC obtained by distillation of DPC supplied Eni company which had been prepared from dimethyl carbonate. The results are shown in Table 4. Example 16 Example 12 was repeated except that the 0.1 sodium hydroxide NaOH aqueous solution was replaced with 50.4 mg (NaOH 0.02 X 10 -4 mole/BPA 1 mole) of 0.2 % sodium hydrogencarbonate NaHCO 3 aqueous solution. The results are shown in Table 4. Example 17 Example 12 was repeated except that the 0.1 % sodium hydroxide NaOH aqueous solution was replaced with 34.8 mg (NaOH 0.02 X 10 -4 mole/BPA 1 mole) of 1 % Lithium Stearate C 17 H 35 COOLi aqueous solution. The results are shown in Table 4. Example 18 Example 12 was repeated except that the 0.1 %sodium hydroxide NaOH aqueous solution was replaced with 43.2 mg of 0.2 % sodium benzoate aqueous solution. The results are shown in Table 5. Example 19 Example 12 was repeated except that the 0.1 %sodium hydroxide NaOH aqueous solution was replaced with 42.6 mg (Na 2 HPO 4 0.005 X 10 -4 mole/BPA 1 mole) of 0.1 % disodium hydrogenphosphate aqueous solution. The results are shown in Table 5. Example 20 Example 12 was repeated except that the 0.1 %sodium hydroxide NaOH aqueous solution was replaced with 39.9 mg of 0.2 % disodium salt of BPA in tetrahydrofuran solution. The results are shown in Table 5. Comparative Example 8 Example 12 was repeated except that the unpurified DPC as such was used in the melt polycondensation. The results are shown in Table 5. Comparative Example 9 Example 12 was repeated except that instead of the purified DPC undistilled by DPC supplied Eni company was used in the melt polycondensation. The results are shown in Table 5. Examples 21-36 and Comparative Examples 10-14 The same procedure as described in Example 12 was repeated except that in place of the sodium hydroxide, tetramethylammonium hydroxide and boric acid used in Example 12 in amounts as shown in Table 4, there were used nitrogen containing basic compounds, alkali metal compounds(alkaline earth metal compounds) and boric acid or boric acid esters in amounts as shown in Tables 6-9 and 10, respectively. The results obtained are shown in Tables 6-9 and 10, respectively.

Claims: A process for preparing a polycarbonate by the melt polycondensation of an aromatic dihydroxy compound and a carbonic acid diester, wherein the total content of hydrolysable chlorine in said aromatic dihydroxy compound and carbonic acid diester is not more than 3 ppm, characterised by using a catalyst comprising (a) from 10 -6 to 10 -1 mole of a nitrogen-containing basic compound, (b) from 10 -8 to 10 -3 mole of an alkali metal or alkaline earth metal compound, and optionally (c) from 10 -8 to 10 -1 mole of boric acid or a boric acid ester, the amounts of (a), (b) and (c) being expressed in terms of moles per mole of the aromatic dihydroxy compound. A process according to claim 1, characterised by using, per mole of the aromatic dihydroxy compound (a) from 10 -5 to 10 -2 mole of the nitrogen-containing basic compound, (b) from 10 -7 to 10 -4 mole of the alkali metal or alkaline earth metal compound, and optionally (c) from 10 -7 to 10 -2 mole of the boric acid or boric acid ester. A process according to claim 1, characterised by using, per mole of the aromatic dihydroxy compound, (a) from 10 -5 to 10 -2 mole of the nitrogen-containing basic compound, (b) from 10 -7 to 10 -5 mole of the alkali metal or alkaline earth metal compound, and optionally (c) from 10 -6 to 10 -4 mole of the boric acid or boric acid ester. A process according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein there is used a carbonic acid diester which has been washed with water having a pH 6.0-9.0 and kept at 78 to 150°C to reduce its hydrolysable chlorine content to not more than 1 ppm. A process according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the total content of sodium ion and the total content of iron ion in said aromatic dihydroxy compound and carbonic acid diester are not more than 1.0 ppm and not more than 1.0 ppm.

Inventors: SAKASHITA TAKESHI, SHIMODA TOMOAKI, SAKASHITA, TAKESHI, SHIMODA, TOMOAKI, SAKASHITA, TAKESHI MITSUI PETROCHEM. IND., LTD., SHIMODA, TOMOAKI MITSUI PETROCHEM. IND., LTD.
Applicants: GEN ELECTRIC, GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
Application year: 1989
Main classification: C08G64
IPC codes: C08G64