Patent ID: 7795320

Claim:
A composition comprising a modified, random copolyetherester containing: (a) a modified, random polybutylene terephthalate copolymer block that is derived from a polyethylene terephthalate component selected from the group consisting of polyethylene terephthalate, polyethylene terephthalate copolymers, and combinations thereof; and contains at least one residue derived from the polyethylene terephthalate component; and (b) a polyalkylene oxide copolymer block that is derived from the polyethylene terephthalate component and polyalkylene oxide glycol; and contains polyalkylene oxide and at least one residue derived from the polyethylene terephthalate component; wherein the composition has a modulus of elasticity that is at least 80%, as compared to the modulus of elasticity of a copolyetherester derived from (1) polybutylene terephthalate derived from a monomer component selected from the group consisting of terephthalic acid, isophthalic acid, alkyl esters of terephthalic acid, hydroalkyl esters of terephthalic acid, alkyl esters of isophthalic acid, 1,4-butanediol, (2) monomer derived polyalkylene oxide glycol, and (3) combinations thereof; wherein the residue derived from the polyethylene terephthalate component comprises at least a diethylene glycol group in an amount ranging from 0.1 to 10 mole %, based on 100 mole % of glycol in the composition; wherein the copolyetherester has (1) a long chain ester having the formula: wherein G is the divalent polyalkylene oxide radical remaining after removal of the terminal hydroxyl groups from a poly(butylene oxide) glycol having a number-average molecular weight of 200 to 5000; R′ is the divalent terephthalic radical remaining after removal of the carboxyl groups from a terephthalic dicarboxylic acid; and R″ is a divalent isophthalic radical remaining after removal of the carboxyl groups from an isophthalic dicarboxylic acid; and (2) short-chain ester units having the formula: wherein D is the divalent butylene radical remaining after removal of the hydroxyl groups from butanediol having a molecular weight of less than 250; and R′ and R″ are as defined above; and wherein D′ is a divalent ethylene radical after removal of hydroxyl groups of ethylene glycol and diethylene glycol.