Patent Publication Number: US-2016244622-A1

Title: Coating Removal from Polyethylene Terephthalate Thermal Printer Film

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/119,162, filed on Feb. 21, 2015, which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     Polymeric films, such as shredded, ground, or cut films formed in recycling processes, may include undesirable coatings. For example, coatings may include inks, labels, adhesives, metallic films, and the like, e.g., on a thermal ink printer ribbon. It is desirable to process such polymeric films to remove undesired coatings prior to further uses of the films, such as recycled feedstocks for remanufactured plastics. Existing processes use extremely caustic solutions, high temperatures and/or pressures, or costly reagents to remove coatings. 
     The present application appreciates that removing coatings from polymeric films may be a challenging endeavor. 
     SUMMARY 
     In one embodiment, a single-phase aqueous solution is provided. The single-phase aqueous solution may be used for removing one or more coatings from a polymeric film. The single-phase aqueous solution may include water. The single-phase aqueous solution may include an inorganic base composition. The single-phase aqueous solution may include a stable peroxygen composition. The single-phase aqueous solution may include a surfactant composition. 
     In another embodiment, a process mixture is provided. The process mixture may include a polymeric film. The polymeric film may include one or more coatings. The process mixture may include a single-phase aqueous solution. The single-phase aqueous solution may include water. The single-phase aqueous solution may include an inorganic base composition. The single-phase aqueous solution may include a stable peroxygen composition. The single-phase aqueous solution may include a surfactant composition. 
     In one embodiment, a method is provided for removing one or more coatings from a polymeric film using a single-phase aqueous solution. The method may include providing a single phase aqueous solution. The single phase aqueous solution may include water; an inorganic base composition; a stable peroxygen composition; and a surfactant composition. The method may include providing a polymeric film. The polymeric film may include one or more coatings. The method may include contacting the single phase aqueous solution and the polymeric film to form a process mixture under conditions effective to remove a portion of the one or more coatings from the polymeric film. 
     In another embodiment, a kit is provided. The kit may be for making a single-phase aqueous solution for removing one or more coatings from a polymeric film. The kit may include one or more of: an inorganic base composition, a stable peroxygen composition, and surfactant composition. The kit may include instructions. The instructions may direct a user to combine the inorganic base composition, the stable peroxygen composition, and the surfactant composition with water to form the single-phase aqueous solution. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The accompanying figures, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of the specification, illustrate example methods and apparatuses, and are used merely to illustrate example embodiments. 
         FIG. 1  is a flow diagram describing an example method. 
         FIG. 2  is a block diagram of an example kit. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The present application relates to compositions, process mixtures, and kits for removing one or more coatings from a plastic film. 
     In various embodiments, a single-phase aqueous solution is provided. The single-phase aqueous solution may be used for removing one or more coatings from a polymeric film. The single-phase aqueous solution may include an inorganic base composition. The single-phase aqueous solution may include a stable peroxygen composition. The single-phase aqueous solution may include a surfactant composition. 
     Various embodiments herein may recite the term “including,” or, in the claims, the term “comprising,” and their grammatical variants. For each such embodiment, corresponding additional embodiments are explicitly contemplated where the term “comprising” is replaced with “consisting essentially of” and “consisting of.” For example, the single-phase aqueous solution may consist essentially of: the water; the inorganic base composition; the stable peroxygen composition; and the surfactant composition. Further, for example, the single-phase aqueous solution may consist of: the water; the inorganic base composition; the stable peroxygen composition; and the surfactant composition. 
     In some embodiments, the inorganic base composition may include one or more of: an alkali metal hydroxide, an alkaline earth metal oxide, and an alkaline earth metal hydroxide. Further, the inorganic base composition may consist of, or may consist essentially of, one or more of: the alkali metal hydroxide, the alkaline earth metal oxide, or the alkaline earth metal hydroxide. As used herein, alkali metals may include, for example, lithium, sodium, potassium, rubidium, or cesium. Alkaline earth metals may include, for example, beryllium, magnesium, calcium, strontium, or barium. For example, the inorganic base composition may include one or more of: lithium hydroxide, sodium hydroxide, potassium hydroxide, magnesium oxide, calcium oxide, magnesium hydroxide, and calcium hydroxide. The inorganic base composition may consist of, or may consist essentially of, one or more of: lithium hydroxide, sodium hydroxide, potassium hydroxide, magnesium oxide, calcium oxide, magnesium hydroxide, or calcium hydroxide. The inorganic base composition may include sodium hydroxide. The inorganic base composition may consist of, or may consist essentially of, sodium hydroxide. The inorganic base composition may be present in an amount effective to establish a hydroxide concentration in moles/liter (M) in the single-phase aqueous solution of about one or more of: 0.0125 M to 1 M; 0.025 M to 0.75 M; 0.05 M to 0.75 M; 0.1 M to 0.5 M; 0.15 M to 0.4 M; 0.2 M to 0.3 M; and 0.25 M. The inorganic base composition may include sodium hydroxide, for example, sodium hydroxide in a weight percent concentration (w/w) with respect to the water in the single-phase aqueous solution of about 1%. The inorganic base composition may be provided as a solid or as a mixture or solution in water, for example, 50% aqueous sodium hydroxide. 
     In several embodiments, the stable peroxygen composition may include an alkali metal salt of silicic acid. For example, the stable peroxygen composition may include a salt of silicic acid with lithium, sodium, potassium, e.g., the stable peroxygen composition may include sodium silicate. The stable peroxygen composition may be present in in a molar ratio to hydroxide from the inorganic base composition, the molar ratio being about one or more of: 1:1 to 1:20; 1:2 to 1:18; 1:5 to 1:15; 1:6 to 1:14; 1:7 to 1:13; 1:8 to 1:12; 1:9 to 1:11; and 1:10. The stable peroxygen composition may include a silicate salt in an amount effective to provide a silicate concentration in the single-phase aqueous solution having a molarity of from about one or more of: 0.00125 M to 0.1 M; 0.0025 M to 0.075 M; 0.005 M to 0.075 M; 0.01 M to 0.05 M; 0.015 M to 0.04 M; 0.02 M to 0.03 M; and 0.025 M. For example, the stable peroxygen composition may include sodium silicate in a weight percent concentration (w/w) with respect to the water in the single-phase aqueous solution of one or more of about: 0.01% to 1%; 0.05% to 0.75%; 0.1% to 0.5%; 0.2% to 0.4%; and 0.3%. 
     In various embodiments, the surfactant composition may include one or more of: a tetraalkylammonium salt and an alkyl polyalkylene glycol ether. For example, the surfactant composition may include one of: the tetraalkylammonium salt; the alkyl polyalkylene glycol ether; and the tetraalkylammonium salt and the alkyl polyalkylene glycol ether. Each tetraalkylammonium salt may be a salt with a halide, hydroxide, sulfate, or the like. Each tetraalkylammonium salt may include three C1-C4 alkyl groups, e.g., methyl, ethyl, propyl, 2-propyl, butyl, sec-butyl, tert-butyl, and the like. Each tetraalkylammonium salt may include one C8-C20 alkyl group, e.g., octyl, nonyl, decyl, undecyl, dodecyl, tetradecyl, hexadecyl, octadecyl, and the like. The surfactant composition may include, for example, at least one alkyl trimethylammonium salt. Each alkyl trimethylammonium halide salt may include, for example, one C12-C18 alkyl group. The surfactant composition may include at least one tetraalkylammonium salt including as a counterion one of: fluoride, chloride, bromide, or iodide. For example, the surfactant composition may include trimethyl hexadecyl ammonium chloride. The surfactant composition may include at least one tetraalkylammonium salt in a percent (w/w) compared to the water of one or more of about: 0.01% to 0.5%; 0.025% to 0.45%; 0.05% to 0.4%; 0.075% to 0.35%; 0.1% to 0.3%; 0.1% to 0.2%; and 0.15%. 
     Suitable commercial sources of the tetraalkylammonium salt for the surfactant composition may include, for example, the ARQUAD® series, e.g., ARQUAD® 16-50 (Akzo-Nobel Surface Chemistry LLC, Chicago, Ill.). For example, a commercially available preparation of ARQUAD® 16-50 may include about 45-55% trimethyl hexadecyl ammonium chloride (w/w) in isopropanol/water. Preparing the single-phase aqueous solution including about 0.3% (w/w) ARQUAD® 16-50 may result in the single-phase aqueous solution including about 0.15% (w/w) trimethyl hexadecyl ammonium chloride. 
     In some embodiments, the surfactant composition may include at least one alkyl polyethylene glycol ether. Each alkyl polyethylene glycol ether may include a number of ethylene oxide repeat units of one or more of: 2-30, 2-24, 3-18, 3-12, 3-10, 2-8, or 5. For example, each alkyl polyethylene glycol ether may include between 2 to 8 ethylene oxide repeat units. Each alkyl polyethylene glycol ether may include an alkyl group that is one of: a C6-C18 alkyl group; a C8-C16 alkyl group; and a C10-C14 alkyl group. For example, the surfactant composition may include at least one C10-C14 alkyl poly(5)ethylene glycol ether. The surfactant composition may include at least one alkyl polyethylene glycol ether in a percent (w/w) compared to the water of the single-phase aqueous solution of one or more of about: 0.01% to 1%; 0.05% to 0.75%; 0.1% to 0.5%; 0.15% to 0.4%; 0.25% to 0.35%; and 0.3%. Suitable commercial sources of the alkyl polyethylene glycol ether for the surfactant composition may include, for example, the ETHYLAN™ series, e.g., ETHYLAN™ SN-70 (Akzo-Nobel Surface Chemistry LLC, Chicago, Ill.). 
     In various embodiments, the single-phase aqueous solution of claim may be characterized by a pH value of about one or more of: 10 to 14; 10.5 to 14; 11 to 14; 11.5 to 14; 12 to 14; and 12.5 to 13.5. The single-phase aqueous solution may include the water in a weight percent concentration (w/w) of the single-phase aqueous solution of at least about one or more of: 92%, 93%, 94%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, 99%, 99.1%, 99.2%, 99.3%, 99.4%, and 99.5%. Further, for example, the single-phase aqueous solution may consist, or consisting essentially of: the inorganic base composition; the stable peroxygen composition; the surfactant composition; and the water in a weight percent concentration (w/w) of the single-phase aqueous solution of at least about one or more of: 92%, 93%, 94%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, 99%, 99.1%, 99.2%, 99.3%, 99.4%, and 99.5%. 
     In various embodiments a process mixture is provided. The process mixture may include a polymeric film. The polymeric film may include one or more coatings. The process mixture may include a single-phase aqueous solution. The single-phase aqueous solution may include water. The single-phase aqueous solution may include an inorganic base composition. The single-phase aqueous solution may include a stable peroxygen composition. The single-phase aqueous solution may include a surfactant composition. The process mixture may consist essentially of, or may consist of, the polymeric film and the single-phase aqueous solution. 
     In some embodiments, the one or more coatings may include, for example, one or more of: a paint, an ink, a dye, a powder coat, a paper label, a plastic label, an adhesive, a base resin, a back coat, a barrier coating, a metalized coating or a bio-coating. The bio-coating may be, for example, protein-based, oligo-saccharide based, and the like. The metalized coating may include a continuous film or metal particulates. 
     In several embodiments, the polymeric film may be in pieces or particulates, for example, as pieces of film, e.g., ground, shredded, or cut as part of a recycling process. The polymeric film, e.g., may be in pieces or particles and may be one or more of: recycled; virgin plastic; rigid; flexible, e.g., a film or a multi-layered film; fibrous; mixtures thereof; and the like. The polymeric film may include one or more of: polyethylene terephthalate, polyethylene, polypropylene, polycarbonate, polystyrene, and the like. In some embodiments, the polymeric film may include polyethylene terephthalate film, for example, a single or multi-layered polyethylene film. The polymeric film may include a thermal ink printer ribbon. The polymeric film may include a plurality of pieces of a mesh size of less than about one of: 0.75 inch, 0.5 inch 0.4 inch, or 0.375 inch. The process mixture may include the water in a weight ratio to the polymeric film of one or more of about: 10:1 to 50:1; 15:1 to 40:1; 20:1 to 30:1; and 25:1. 
     In various embodiments, the process mixture may include the single-phase aqueous solution and any of the features or values for the single-phase aqueous solution as described herein. 
     In various embodiments, a method  100  is provided for removing one or more coatings from a polymeric film using a single-phase aqueous solution.  FIG. 1  depicts a flow chart of method  100 . The method may include  102  providing a single phase aqueous solution. The single phase aqueous solution may include water. The single phase aqueous solution may include an inorganic base composition, for example, the inorganic base composition described herein. The single phase aqueous solution may include a stable peroxygen composition, for example, the stable peroxygen composition described herein. The single phase aqueous solution may include a surfactant composition. The method may include  104  providing a polymeric film, the polymeric film including one or more coatings. The method may include  106  contacting the single phase aqueous solution and the polymeric film to form a process mixture under conditions effective to remove a portion of the one or more coatings from the polymeric film. 
     In some embodiments, the conditions effective to remove a portion of the one or more coatings from the polymeric film may include heating the process mixture. The process mixture may be heated may be heated at a temperature of: between about 60° C. and about 100° C.; 65° C. and about 100° C.; between about 70° C. and about 100° C.; between about 75° C. and about 95° C.; C.; between about 80° C. and about 90° C.; and about 85° C.; or between about any two of the preceding values, or about any of the preceding values, for example, between about 60° C. and about 100° C. or about 85° C. 
     In several embodiments, the conditions effective to remove a portion of the one or more coatings from the polymeric film may include: determining an initial coating amount; heating and agitating the process mixture; determining a process coating amount that is less than about a percentage of the initial coating amount; and recovering the polymeric film upon determining the process coating amount is less than about the percentage of the initial coating amount, the percentage of the initial coating amount being one or more of about: 20%, 15%, 14%, 13%, 12%, 11%, 10%, 9%, 8%, 7%, 6%, 5%, 4%, 3%, 2%, or 1%. 
     In various embodiments, the conditions effective to remove a portion of the one or more coatings from the polymeric film may include agitating the process mixture. The method may further include recovering the polymeric film after removal of the portion of the one or more coatings. The method may further include recovering at least a portion of the single phase aqueous solution after removal of the portion of the one or more coatings. The conditions effective to remove a portion of the one or more coatings from the polymeric film may include batch operation. The conditions effective to remove a portion of the one or more coatings may include continuous operation. The method may also include using and/or forming the single-phase aqueous solution by stepwise addition to the water of: the inorganic base composition; the surfactant composition; and the stable peroxygen composition. 
     In some embodiments, the polymeric film may include a multilayered film, and the method may further include separating at least a portion of layers of the multilayered film. The method may include providing the water in a weight ratio to the polymeric film of one or more of about: 10:1 to 50:1; 15:1 to 40:1; 20:1 to 30:1; and 25:1. 
     In several embodiments, the method may include providing the single-phase aqueous solution according to any of the features or values for the single-phase aqueous solution as described herein. The method may include preparing the single-phase aqueous solution according to any of the features or values for the single-phase aqueous solution as described herein. The method may include providing the process mixture according to any of the features or values for the process mixture as described herein. The method may include preparing the process mixture according to any of the features or values for the process mixture as described herein. For example, the method may include contacting the single phase aqueous solution and the polymeric film to form the process mixture. 
     In various embodiments, a kit  200  is provided.  FIG. 2  depicts a block diagram of kit  200 . Kit  200  may be for making a single-phase aqueous solution for removing one or more coatings from a polymeric film. The kit may include  202  one or more of: an inorganic base composition, a stable peroxygen composition, and a surfactant composition. The kit may include instructions  204 . The instructions may direct a user to combine the inorganic base composition, the stable peroxygen composition, and the surfactant composition with water to form the single-phase aqueous solution. 
     In several embodiments, the kit may include the inorganic base composition, the stable peroxygen composition, and the surfactant composition. The kit may include at least one of the inorganic base composition, the stable peroxygen composition, and the surfactant composition as a dry composition or a neat composition. For example, the kit may include the sodium hydroxide in the form of solid pellets or flakes. The kit may include a mixture of two or more of the inorganic base composition, the stable peroxygen composition, and the surfactant composition, each in the mixture as a dry composition or a neat composition. The kit may include a mixture of two or more of the inorganic base composition, the stable peroxygen composition, and the surfactant composition together with water in the form of an aqueous concentrate. For example, the kit may include sodium silicate and sodium hydroxide together in a concentrated solution. 
     In some embodiments, the instructions may direct the user to combine the inorganic base composition, the stable peroxygen composition, and the surfactant composition with water to form the single-phase aqueous solution according to any of the features or values described herein. The instructions may further direct the user to form a process mixture by contacting the single-phase aqueous solution to the polymeric film, for example, according to any of the features or values described herein. The instructions may direct the user to conduct any of the methods described herein for removing one or more coatings from a polymeric film using a single-phase aqueous solution. The kit may provide the single-phase aqueous solution according to any of the features or values described herein. The kit may provide the process mixture according to any of the features or values described herein. 
     EXAMPLE 
     Approximately 50 lbs. of hot water, heated to about 85° C., was added to a mixing tank. Polymeric film in the form of ground thermal printer ink rolls was obtained. Approximately 2 lbs. of the ground thermal ink roll film, approximately 0.375 inch mesh size, was added to the water gravimetrically, with mixing to create a slurry. The initial ink contaminants, base resin and back coat was determined. To the slurry was added, in order, 2.0% (w/w % based upon water content) of 50% aqueous sodium hydroxide, 0.3% sodium silicate, 0.3% ETHYLAN™ SN-70 (Akzo Nobel Surface Chemistry LLC, Chicago, Ill.) and 0.3% ARQUAD® 16-50 (Akzo Nobel Surface Chemistry LLC, Chicago, Ill.). Starting at 2 h, samples were taken every 30 min until the film was considered acceptably free from the coating. At approximately 2 h, the film was determined to be 96% clean. At approximately 3.5 h, the film was determined to be 98%+clean. The mixture was poured over a filter to remove the aqueous phase and the product was rinsed with water and dried. The aqueous phase was recoverable for re-use and/or recovery of the reagents. 
     To the extent that the term “includes” or “including” is used in the specification or the claims, it is intended to be inclusive in a manner similar to the term “comprising” as that term is interpreted when employed as a transitional word in a claim. Furthermore, to the extent that the term “or” is employed (e.g., A or B) it is intended to mean “A or B or both.” When the applicants intend to indicate “only A or B but not both” then the term “only A or B but not both” will be employed. Thus, use of the term “or” herein is the inclusive, and not the exclusive use. See Bryan A. Garner, A Dictionary of Modern Legal Usage 624 (2d. Ed. 1995). Also, to the extent that the terms “in” or “into” are used in the specification or the claims, it is intended to additionally mean “on” or “onto.” To the extent that the term “selectively” is used in the specification or the claims, it is intended to refer to a condition of a component wherein a user of the apparatus may activate or deactivate the feature or function of the component as is necessary or desired in use of the apparatus. To the extent that the terms “operatively coupled” or “operatively connected” are used in the specification or the claims, it is intended to mean that the identified components are connected in a way to perform a designated function. To the extent that the term “substantially” is used in the specification or the claims, it is intended to mean that the identified components have the relation or qualities indicated with degree of error as would be acceptable in the subject industry. 
     As used in the specification and the claims, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” include the plural unless the singular is expressly specified. For example, reference to “a compound” may include a mixture of two or more compounds, as well as a single compound. 
     As used herein, the term “about” in conjunction with a number is intended to include ±10% of the number. In other words, “about 10” may mean from 9 to 11. 
     As used herein, the terms “optional” and “optionally” mean that the subsequently described circumstance may or may not occur, so that the description includes instances where the circumstance occurs and instances where it does not. 
     As stated above, while the present application has been illustrated by the description of embodiments thereof, and while the embodiments have been described in considerable detail, it is not the intention of the applicants to restrict or in any way limit the scope of the appended claims to such detail. Additional advantages and modifications will readily appear to those skilled in the art, having the benefit of the present application. Therefore, the application, in its broader aspects, is not limited to the specific details, illustrative examples shown, or any apparatus referred to. Departures may be made from such details, examples, and apparatuses without departing from the spirit or scope of the general inventive concept. 
     As used herein, “substituted” refers to an organic group as defined below (e.g., an alkyl group) in which one or more bonds to a hydrogen atom contained therein may be replaced by a bond to non-hydrogen or non-carbon atoms. Substituted groups also include groups in which one or more bonds to a carbon(s) or hydrogen(s) atom may be replaced by one or more bonds, including double or triple bonds, to a heteroatom. A substituted group may be substituted with one or more substituents, unless otherwise specified. In some embodiments, a substituted group may be substituted with 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, or 6 substituents. Examples of substituent groups include: halogens (i.e., F, Cl, Br, and I); hydroxyls; alkoxy, alkenoxy, aryloxy, aralkyloxy, heterocyclyloxy, and heterocyclylalkoxy groups; carbonyls (oxo); carboxyls; esters; urethanes; oximes; hydroxylamines; alkoxyamines; aralkoxyamines; thiols; sulfides; sulfoxides; sulfones; sulfonyls; sulfonamides; amines; N-oxides; hydrazines; hydrazides; hydrazones; azides; amides; ureas; amidines; guanidines; enamines; imides; isocyanates; isothiocyanates; cyanates; thiocyanates; imines; nitro groups; or nitriles (i.e., CN). A “per”-substituted compound or group is a compound or group having all or substantially all substitutable positions substituted with the indicated substituent. For example, 1,6-diiodo perfluoro hexane indicates a compound of formula C 6 F 12 I 2 , where all the substitutable hydrogens have been replaced with fluorine atoms. 
     Substituted ring groups such as substituted cycloalkyl, aryl, heterocyclyl and heteroaryl groups also include rings and ring systems in which a bond to a hydrogen atom may be replaced with a bond to a carbon atom. Substituted cycloalkyl, aryl, heterocyclyl and heteroaryl groups may also be substituted with substituted or unsubstituted alkyl, alkenyl, and alkynyl groups as defined below. 
     Alkyl groups include straight chain and branched chain alkyl groups having from 1 to 12 carbon atoms, and typically from 1 to 10 carbons or, in some examples, from 1 to 8, 1 to 6, or 1 to 4 carbon atoms. Examples of straight chain alkyl groups include groups such as methyl, ethyl, n-propyl, n-butyl, n-pentyl, n-hexyl, n-heptyl, and n-octyl groups. Examples of branched alkyl groups include, but are not limited to, isopropyl, iso-butyl, sec-butyl, tert-butyl, neopentyl, isopentyl, and 2,2-dimethylpropyl groups. Representative substituted alkyl groups may be substituted one or more times with substituents such as those listed above and include, without limitation, haloalkyl (e.g., trifluoromethyl), hydroxyalkyl, thioalkyl, aminoalkyl, alkylaminoalkyl, dialkylaminoalkyl, alkoxyalkyl, or carboxyalkyl. 
     Cycloalkyl groups include mono-, bi- or tricyclic alkyl groups having from 3 to 12 carbon atoms in the ring(s), or, in some embodiments, 3 to 10, 3 to 8, or 3 to 4, 5, or 6 carbon atoms. Exemplary monocyclic cycloalkyl groups include, but are not limited to, cyclopropyl, cyclobutyl, cyclopentyl, cyclohexyl, cycloheptyl, and cyclooctyl groups. In some embodiments, the cycloalkyl group has 3 to 8 ring members, whereas in other embodiments, the number of ring carbon atoms ranges from 3 to 5, 3 to 6, or 3 to 7. Bi- and tricyclic ring systems include both bridged cycloalkyl groups and fused rings, such as, but not limited to, bicyclo[2.1.1]hexane, adamantyl, or decalinyl. Substituted cycloalkyl groups may be substituted one or more times with non-hydrogen and non-carbon groups as defined above. However, substituted cycloalkyl groups also include rings that may be substituted with straight or branched chain alkyl groups as defined above. Representative substituted cycloalkyl groups may be mono-substituted or substituted more than once, such as, but not limited to, 2,2-, 2,3-, 2,4- 2,5- or 2,6-disubstituted cyclohexyl groups, which may be substituted with substituents such as those listed above. 
     Aryl groups may be cyclic aromatic hydrocarbons that do not contain heteroatoms. Aryl groups herein include monocyclic, bicyclic and tricyclic ring systems. Aryl groups include, but are not limited to, phenyl, azulenyl, heptalenyl, biphenyl, fluorenyl, phenanthrenyl, anthracenyl, indenyl, indanyl, pentalenyl, and naphthyl groups. In some embodiments, aryl groups contain 6-14 carbons, and in others from 6 to 12 or even 6-10 carbon atoms in the ring portions of the groups. In some embodiments, the aryl groups may be phenyl or naphthyl. Although the phrase “aryl groups” may include groups containing fused rings, such as fused aromatic-aliphatic ring systems (e.g., indanyl or tetrahydronaphthyl), “aryl groups” does not include aryl groups that have other groups, such as alkyl or halo groups, bonded to one of the ring members. Rather, groups such as tolyl may be referred to as substituted aryl groups. Representative substituted aryl groups may be mono-substituted or substituted more than once. For example, monosubstituted aryl groups include, but are not limited to, 2-, 3-, 4-, 5-, or 6-substituted phenyl or naphthyl, which may be substituted with substituents such as those above. 
     Aralkyl groups may be alkyl groups as defined above in which a hydrogen or carbon bond of an alkyl group may be replaced with a bond to an aryl group as defined above. In some embodiments, aralkyl groups contain 7 to 16 carbon atoms, 7 to 14 carbon atoms, or 7 to 10 carbon atoms. Substituted aralkyl groups may be substituted at the alkyl, the aryl or both the alkyl and aryl portions of the group. Representative aralkyl groups include but are not limited to benzyl and phenethyl groups and fused (cycloalkylaryl)alkyl groups such as 4-indanylethyl. Substituted aralkyls may be substituted one or more times with substituents as listed above. 
     Groups described herein having two or more points of attachment (i.e., divalent, trivalent, or polyvalent) within the compound of the technology may be designated by use of the suffix, “ene.” For example, divalent alkyl groups may be alkylene groups, divalent aryl groups may be arylene groups, divalent heteroaryl groups may be heteroarylene groups, and so forth. In particular, certain polymers may be described by use of the suffix “ene” in conjunction with a term describing the polymer repeat unit. 
     Alkoxy groups may be hydroxyl groups (—OH) in which the bond to the hydrogen atom may be replaced by a bond to a carbon atom of a substituted or unsubstituted alkyl group as defined above. Examples of linear alkoxy groups include, but are not limited to, methoxy, ethoxy, propoxy, butoxy, pentoxy, or hexoxy. Examples of branched alkoxy groups include, but are not limited to, isopropoxy, sec-butoxy, tert-butoxy, isopentoxy, or isohexoxy. Examples of cycloalkoxy groups include, but are not limited to, cyclopropyloxy, cyclobutyloxy, cyclopentyloxy, or cyclohexyloxy. Representative substituted alkoxy groups may be substituted one or more times with substituents such as those listed above. 
     The various aspects and embodiments disclosed herein are for purposes of illustration and are not intended to be limiting, with the true scope and spirit being indicated by the following claims.