The present invention refers an acetylenic aromatic polycarbonate having at least one carbon-carbon triple bond, said acetylenic aromatic polycarbonate being obtained by incorporation, into an aromatic polycarbonate, of at least one acetylenic compound, having at least one carbon-carbon triple bond, as endcapping group, as pendant group and/or as group inside the polymer chain. In further aspects the present invention refers to a composition comprising said acetylenic aromatic polycarbonate and a moulded article obtained from said acetylenic aromatic polycarbonate or said composition.

Acetylenic above and hereafter refers to any chemical compound, including monomers, oligomers and polymers, and/or any chemical group, which compound or group has at least one carbon-carbon triple bond.

The majority of aromatic polycarbonates are based on bisphenols and a carbon dioxide source, such as phosgen or an alkyl and/or aryl carbonate. Many bisphenols, such as bisphenol A, bisphenol C, bisphenol F, bisphenol S, bisphenol Z, tetramethyl bisphenol A, tetrabromo bisphenol A, spirobiindane bisphenol and bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)-l,l-dichloroethylene, have been investigated in the production of aromatic polycarbonates. The copolymer of tetrabromo bisphenol A and bisphenol A was one of the first commercially successful copolymers. Low levels of halogenated, such as brominated, co-monomers lead to increased flame resistance while having little effect on other properties. Aromatic polycarbonates of bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)-l,l-dichloroethylene has been investigated as flame-resistant polymers with retained good impact properties. Reduced birefringence can be obtained by using bulky polarisable side groups or eliminated entirely by using structures such as spirobiindane bisphenol. Important products are also include aromatic polycarbonates in blends with other materials, such as branched resins, flame-retardant compositions, foams and other materials. Blends of aromatic polycarbonate with acrylonitrile butadiene styrenes (ABS) and with poly(butylene terephthalate)s (PBT) have shown significant growth since the mid-1980s. Blends comprising aromatic polycarbonates are typically used to tailor performance and price to specific markets. Aromatic polycarbonates, furthermore, often contains small amounts of di, tri or polyfunctional monomers, such as phenols, hydroquinones, cresoles, resorcinols and/or catechols and similar aromatic hydroxy compounds, including alkyl, alkenyl, cycloalkyl, cycloalkenyl and aryl substituted species thereof.

Aromatic polycarbonates exhibit excellent resistance to hydrolysis and excellent mechanical properties such as tensile strength, impact resistance, flexural strength and elongation. Despite being polymers having excellent properties, aromatic polycarbonates suffer from certain shortcomings with regard to for instance flow characteristics and solvent resistance. Aromatic polycarbonates may be processed by virtually all conventional thermoplastic processing operations, of which injection moulding is the most common. Extrusion produces film, sheet, and stock shapes. Structural foam moulding is also a valuable commercial technique. Injection blow moulding of aromatic polycarbonates produces an assortment of containers from water bottles and milk bottles to outdoor lighting protective globes. Conventional thermoforming of sheet and film is applicable to production of skylights, radomes, signs, curved windshields, prototype production of body parts for automobiles, skimobiles, boats and the like. Bisphenol A polycarbonates are malleable and can be cold-formed like metals, and may be cold-rolled, stamped or forged. Aromatic polycarbonates of low birefringence are frequently used in compact disks and other laser-readable data storage systems.

There are, despite the fact that aromatic polycarbonates have excellent physical and chemical properties and for a long time have been widely used for resins, films, fibres, moulded articles and so on, demands for improved and/or modified properties, such as increased operational temperatures and retained properties during and after exposure to for instance harsh temperature, atmosphere, mechanical and radiation conditions.

It has now quite unexpectedly been found that acetylenic aromatic polycarbonates can be obtained by incorporation of at least one carbon-carbon triple bond, for instance as endcapping group, as pendant group along the molecular backbone and/or as group being part of the molecular backbone.

The present invention accordingly refers to a novel acetylenic aromatic polycarbonate having at least one carbon-carbon triple bond as endcapping group, as pendant group and/or as group inside the polymer chain. Said acetylenic aromatic polycarbonate is characterised in that it is obtained by subjecting at least one aromatic diol, triol or polyol, such as diols, triols and polyols having phenolic hydroxyl groups, at least one carbon dioxide source and at least one acetylenic compound, having said at least one carbon-carbon triple bond, to co-polymerisation or by subjecting at least one aromatic polycarbonate, obtained by reaction between at least one said aromatic diol, triol or polyol and at least one carbon dioxide source, to reaction with at least one acetylenic compound, having said at least one carbon-carbon triple bond.

The acetylenic aromatic polycarbonate of the present invention can be processed by thermoplastic processing operations used with conventional aromatic polycarbonates. The incorporation of one or more carbon-carbon triple bonds allows acetylenic crosslinking thus implying for instance improved and/or changed properties, such as changed E-module value, changed impact strength, improved solvent resistance and/or improved resistance towards thermo-oxidative, thermal, oxidative and/or mechanical degradation. Said acetylenic compound is in preferred embodiments of the present invention a compound of Formula I- VI

Formula (I) Formula (II)

Formula (III) Formula (IV)

Formula (V) Formula (VI)

wherein the position in the aromatic ring(s) of the acetylenic group(s) (carbon-carbon triple bond) and the position in the aromatic ring(s) of the substituent Y are individually variable and wherein each substituent Y and X individually is -OH, -SH, -Br, -Cl, -F or -I, each substituent R individually is hydrogen or a halo or amino group or a linear or branched alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, aminoalkyl, aminoalkenyl, aminoalkynyl, haloalkyl, haloalkenyl, haloalkynyl, hydroxyalkyl, hydroxyalkenyl, hydroxyalkynyl, hydroxyacyl or aminoacyl group or an aryl, hydroxyaryl or aminoaryl group, with the proviso that substituents R and Y being vicinal to an acetylenic group not is -OH, -SH or an amino group, each substituent R individually is hydrogen or a hydroxy, amino or halo group or a linear or branched alkyl, alkenyl, hydroxyalkyl, hydroxyalkenyl, aminoalkyl, aminoalkenyl, haloalkyl or haloalkenyl group and each substituent R individually is a linear or branched alkyl, alkenyl or alkynyl group.

Preferred acetylenic compounds can suitably be exemplified by alkynyl, alkylalkynyl, arylalkynyl and alkylarylalkynyl phenols, alkynyl, alkylalkynyl, arylalkynyl and alkylarylalkynyl cresoles, alkynyl, alkylalkynyl, arylalkynyl and alkylarylalkynyl hydroquinones, alkynyl, alkylalkynyl, arylalkynyl and alkylarylalkynyl catecholes, alkynyl, alkylalkynyl, arylalkynyl and alkylarylalkynyl resorcinols, alkynyl, alkylalkynyl, arylalkynyl and alkylarylalkynyl bisphenols, such as a bisphenol A, C, F, S or Z, N-(4-hydroxyaryl)-4-(arylalkynyl)phthalimides and N-(4-hydroxyaryl)-4-(alkynyl)phthalimides as well as by linear or branched alkyl, amino, aminoalkyl, alkylamino, halo, haloalkyl and/or alkylhalo derivatives of said acetylenic compounds.

Said aryl is above and hereinafter preferably phenyl or naphthyl, said alkyl likewise preferably linear or branched, aliphatic or cycloaliphatic Ci-Cs or C ₂ -C ₈ alkyl, such as methyl, ethyl, propyl or butyl, said alkenyl likewise preferably aliphatic or cycloaliphatic, linear or branched

C ₂ -C ₈ alkenyl, such as ethenyl, propenyl or butenyl, and said alkynyl likewise preferably aliphatic or cycloaliphatic, linear or branched C ₂ -C ₈ alkynyl, such as ethynyl, propynyl or butynyl.

The most preferred acetylenic compounds include ethynyl phenol, methylethynyl, phenol, phenylethynyl phenol, naphthylethynyl phenol, ethynyl cresole, methylethynyl cresole, phenylethynyl cresole, naphthylethynyl cresole, ethynyl hydroquinone, methylethynyl hydroquinone, phenylethynyl hydroquinone, naphthylethynyl hydroquinone, ethynyl catechole, methylethynyl catechole, phenylethynyl catechole, naphthylethynyl catechole, ethynyl resorcinole, methylethynyl resorcinole, phenylethynyl resorcinole, naphthylethynyl resorcinol, ethynyl bisphenol A, methylethynyl bisphenol A, phenylethynyl bisphenol A, naphthylethynyl bisphenol A, ethynyl bisphenol C, methylethynyl bisphenol C, phenylethynyl bisphenol C, naphthylethynyl bisphenol C, ethynyl bisphenol F, methylethynyl bisphenol F, phenylethynyl bisphenol F, naphthylethynyl bisphenol F, ethynyl bisphenol S, methylethynyl bisphenol S, phenylethynyl bisphenol S, naphthylethynyl bisphenol S, ethynyl bisphenol Z, methylethynyl bisphenol Z, phenylethynyl bisphenol Z and naphthylethynyl bisphenol Z as well as linear or branched alkyl, amino, aminoalkyl, alkylamino, halo, haloalkyl and/or alkylhalo derivatives of a said acetylenic compound. Said acetylenic compound is in said preferred embodiments present in said acetylenic aromatic polycarbonate in an amount corresponding to at least 0.1 mole%, such as between 1 and 30 mole%, of the total molar amount of monomers, oligomers and/or polymers used in production of the acetylenic aromatic polycarbonate of the present invention.

Said aromatic diol, triol or polyol is in preferred embodiments a compound of general Formula vπorvm

Formula (VII) Formula (Vm)

wherein at least one substituent R and at least one substituent R is a hydroxyl, hydroxyalkyl or hydroxyalkenyl group and remaining substituents R and R each individually is hydrogen or halo or a linear or branched alkyl, alkenyl, haloalkyl or haloalkenyl group, substituent R ⁵ is a linear or branched alkyl, alkenyl, cycloalkyl, cycloalkenyl, aryl, alkylaryl, alkenylaryl, cycloalkylaryl, cycloalkenylaryl, arylalkyl, arylalkenyl, arylcycloalkyl or arylcycloalkenyl group, which group optionally is halo, amino and/or cyano substituted, or a group of formula

O O

— C — , — O — » S — or — S —

S

substituent R is a linear or branched alkyl, alkenyl, cycloalkyl or cycloalkenyl group or a group of formula

and substituent R is a linear or branched alkyl, alkenyl, cycloalkyl, cycloalkenyl, aryl, alkylaryl, alkenylaryl, cycloalkylaryl, cycloalkenylaryl, arylalkyl, arylalkenyl, arylcycloalkyl or arylcycloalkenyl group, which group optionally is halo, amino and/or cyano substituted. Said aromatic diol is in the most preferred embodiments of the present invention a bisphenol A, a bisphenol C, a bisphenol F, a bisphenol S, a bisphenol Z, a spirobiindane bisphenol and/or a bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)-l,l-dichloroethylene and/or a hydroxy, halo, alkyl, hydroxyalkyl, haloalkyl, alkenyl, hydroxyalkenyl and/or haloalkenyl substituted species thereof. Included herein are 4,4'-, 3,3'-, 2,2'-, 2,3'- 2,4'- and 3,4'-diphenyl diols.

The acetylenic aromatic polycarbonate according to the present invention can, furthermore, in embodiments of the present invention comprise units derived from for instance at least one phenol, cresole, hydroquinone, resorcinol and/or catechol and/or an alkyl, alkenyl, cycloalkyl, cycloalkenyl, aryl, alkylaryl, alkenylaryl, cycloalkylaryl, cycloalkenylaryl, arylalkyl, arylalkenyl, arylcycloalkyl or arylcycloalkenyl derivative thereof, which derivative optionally is halo, amino and/or cyano substituted and/or units derived from at least one halo, amino and/or cyano substituted phenol, cresole, hydroquinone, resorcinol and/or catechol and/or an alkyl, alkenyl, cycloalkyl, cycloalkenyl, aryl, alkylaryl, alkenylaryl, cycloalkylaryl, cycloalkenylaryl, arylalkyl, arylalkenyl, arylcycloalkyl or arylcycloalkenyl derivative thereof.

The most preferred carbon dioxide source is in various embodiments carbon dioxide; fosgen, urea, an alkyl urea, an arylalkylurea, an alkylcarbonate, an alkenylcarbonate and/or an arylcarbonate, such as N-ethylurea, N-phenyl-N'-ethylurea, dimethylcarbonate, diethylcarbonate, diphenylcarbonate and/or bis-allylcarbonate.

The purpose of the present invention is to modify the mechanical properties of aromatic polycarbonates and compositions comprising aromatic polycarbonates. Among these modifications of properties can be mentioned: higher softening temperature, higher E-modulus and improved ability to counteract creep strain.

It is understood that the acetylenic group of the acetylenic aromatic polycarbonate of the present invention can be arranged as an endcapping, in-chain and/or pendent group. This will, of course in it self give different properties to the polymer after curing.

It is possible to further modify the mechanical properties by using methods known in the art together with the acetylenic aromatic polycarbonate and/or the composition herein disclosed. The purpose of such modifications is typically to reinforce for strength, to fill for higher density, dimension stability and higher stiffness, adding of conductive materials for avoiding static charging and pigmentation for aesthetic properties.

It is known in the art to add different types of fibres as reinforcements. Fibres suitable for use together with the acetylenic aromatic polycarbonate and/or the composition of the present invention can be exemplified by glass fibres, carbon fibres, steel fibres, aramide fibres, natural organic fibres, such as cellulose fibres, flax fibres, cotton fibres and silk. However, most organic and inorganic fibres that are able to withstand the process temperatures may prove useful. It is also possible to use fullerenes for reinforcing as well as for changing other mechanical properties.

Fillers are typically used for increasing dimension stability even though a few other mechanical properties, such as density, rigidity and acoustic properties may be altered by means of fillers. Fillers may be organic like cellulose or inorganic, such as minerals like for instance mica, lime and talcum.

It is furthermore possible to add stabilisers to said acetylenic aromatic polycarbonate and/or said composition, such as compounds stabilising towards exposure to ultraviolet light, heat or other exposure that may cause for instance polymer chain breakdown. One may in this context also mention the possibility to add different kinds of fire retarding agents to the polymer.

It is furthermore possible to modify the properties of the acetylenic aromatic polycarbonate and/or the composition according to the present invention by means of a plasticisers, lubricants or impact modifiers yielding for instance a polymer with elastic properties having improved thermal stability. It is also possible to utilise the present invention together with polymer blends as well as copolymers.

The electrical properties of the acetylenic aromatic polycarbonate and/or the composition of the present invention may also be modified within the scope of the invention. This may be achieved by adding for instance an insulation modifier. The most common modifier is carbon black which is used in smaller quantities to achieve antistatic properties. By adding more carbon black, the acetylenic aromatic polycarbonate and/or the composition may exhibit receive from dissipating properties to conducting and shielding properties. There are besides carbon black also other known substances and compounds used for obtaining above or portions of thereof. Metal fibres, carbon fibres and metal powder are only a few examples of such materials. Some of these materials also serve the purpose of reinforcing and filling agents.

Said acetylenic aromatic polycarbonate and/or said composition may also be expanded to change the density and thermal insulation property by adding a blowing, expanding or foaming agent. This may of course be used in combination with other additives.

It is in some applications also advantageous to modify the surface properties of the acetylenic aromatic polycarbonate and/or the composition. One such way is by adding anti-microbial agents for which the purpose is obvious. Another way is by adding so called tackifϊers increasing friction if and when needed.

In a further aspect, the present invention refers to a composition comprising at least one acetylenic aromatic polycarbonate as disclosed above. The composition can in various embodiments further comprise at least one additional polymer, such as at least one additional aromatic polycarbonate, and/or at least one filler, reinforcement, pigment, plasticiser and/or any other additive known in the art. Preferred embodiments of said acetylenic aromatic polycarbonate are as disclosed above. Said acetylenic aromatic polycarbonate is suitably present in an amount of between 0.1 and 99.9, such as between 1 and 40 or between 1 and 25, % by weight of said composition.

In yet a further aspect, the present invention refers to a moulded three-dimensional article obtained by moulding at least one acetylenic aromatic polycarbonate as disclosed above or at least one composition likewise disclosed above. The acetylenic aromatic polycarbonate is for instance, upon and/or subsequent said moulding, crosslinked by heat, provided externally or in situ generated, induced crosslinking reaction of its acetylenic group(s). Said crosslinking is suitably enhanced by the presence of an effective amount of at least one compound promoting crosslinking reactions of acetylenic polymers, such as a sulphur or an organic sulphur derivative as disclosed in for instance US patent no. 6,344,523 and/or a radical initiator.

Curing of the herein disclosed acetylenic aromatic polycarbonate and/or the herein disclosed composition are advantageously initiated by providing the mould, the inlet or the hotrunner with a choking valve or check valve arrangement creating heat in the polymer through friction caused during the injection phase. The valve arrangement may be a solid arrangement whereas the generated heat is guided through the velocity of injection. There are numerous ways to guide the injection velocity.

One way to guide the velocity is through PLC (Programmable Logic Controller) used for guiding the injection moulding parameters of most modern injection moulding machines. The operator will then have to perform a series of trials where he in small steps increase the injection speed until the threshold temperature in the valve arrangement is sufficient to initiate the curing process. The valve arrangement is advantageously made adjustable for the same purpose.

Another way is to guide the process actively by using a temperature sensor in the mould and/or in the valve arrangement. A pressure sensor advantageously arranged just before the valve arrangement, optionally with a second pressure sensor arranged after the valve arrangement, may serve the same purpose as it indicates the pressure drop and thereby the friction generated. The temperature and pressure sensor(s) may also be used in combination. The data generated from these sensor(s) are then used as process data for guiding the injection moulding cycle. This data may then be used for guiding the injection sequence through direct guiding or so-called statistical process guiding. Statistical process guiding is especially advantageous where there is a risk for measurement lag, data delay or process guiding resonance in the process.

It is also possible to design in such a way that choking portions in the mould itself will constitute a part of the article produced. It will in this way be possible to: a) manufacture articles that due to its size or through very quick curing of used polymers otherwise would be impossible to manufacture, and/or, b) manufacture articles wherein only certain portions are cured, while other portions have the properties of an uncured polymer.

It is furthermore possible to actively guide the orifice size of the check valve thus allowing the temperature profile to be guided through other means than only the injection speed. This can for example be achieved through means of an hydraulic actuator constantly adjusting the size of the opening through the check valve. This guiding can be performed through PLC data only or by the aid of measuring data in the mould and/or around the valve as described above.

The check valve may also be provided with guided heating and/or cooling, either as a replacement for mechanically adjusting the orifice size, or as a complement thereto. Also this can be guided through PLC data only or by the aid of measuring data in the mould and/or around the valve as described above.

The mould is advantageously provided with one or more temperature sensors for the purpose of detecting the exothermic heat caused by the curing process. It is suitable to arrange several such sensors along the flow path of the polymer in order to detect variations in the curing in different portions of the article produced. These measurements are suitably used for statistical process guiding.

Similar principles as described above may be used in extrusion moulding. It will, however, be rather easy to achieve a favourable temperature profile for the curing where the polymer material is first plasticised, then heated further in the extrusion mould to initiate the curing while the later portions of the extrusion mould will cool the article enough to keep its shape. The continuos nature of the process is well suited for the curing of the acetylenic aromatic polycarbonate and/or the composition herein disclosed. Further heating is advantageously achieved by heating a predetermined portion of the extrusion mould by means of an external heat source. This will allow the operator to guide the curing process not having to rely completely on the extrusion velocity for heat generation.

The herein disclosed acetylenic aromatic polycarbonate and the herein disclosed composition are also well suited for use in a compression moulding process. A predetermined amount of polymeric material can here be preheated to a temperature somewhat under the curing temperature and placed in an open mould. The mould is then closed so that the polymeric material is distributed in the mould as is the normal procedure in compression moulding. The preheating, the mould temperature, the viscosity of the polymeric material and the compression pressure is adapted so that the friction and compression pressure will generate the heat needed to initiate the curing. It is also in a compression moulding process advantageous to provide the mould with one or more temperature and/or pressure sensors for the purpose of detecting the exothermic reaction during the curing.

The viscosity of the polymeric material during processing may be altered by means of rheology modifiers in order to obtain desired process parameters.

The temperature initiating curing is depending on the structure of the acetylenic portion of the acetylenic aromatic polycarbonate and will have to be adapted to avoid material break down of the polymer chain on curing. There are several ways to modify the acetylenic portion as disclosed in the present application. There is also the possibility to modify the curing temperatures by utilising a catalyst or initiator as disclosed above. Said catalysts have proven to radically lower the curing initiation temperature. It is also possible to add coupling agents.

It is, according to one alternative embodiment of the invention possible to perform at least a portion of the curing after the moulding process. This can for example be performed through electron beam (EB) curing or ultraviolet (UV) curing. This will also call for the need of for instance one or more photoinitiators. In most applications only a surface curing can be achieved through means of UV curing since the thermoplastic polymer is not transparent, however EB curing will be possible to utilise even for opaque polymers.

It is also possible to continue an initiated curing at a lower temperature. The article produced is here after the moulding procedure placed in an oven for a period of time ranging from half an hour to a couple of days. This process is known as baking. In order to keep important portions of the article, such as the flange portion of an oil pan, within desired tolerances the article may be arranged on a jig during the curing process. A surface curing can be performed through corona treatment or flash heating. It will through this process be possible to cure the surface of a produced article without softening the polymeric material.

The herein disclosed acetylenic aromatic polycarbonate and composition are, due to the improved mechanical properties such as improved thermal stability and E-modulus allowing said acetylenic aromatic polycarbonate and/or said composition to be used at higher temperatures then possible with prior art polymers, well suited for manufacturing of a great number of articles.

Suitable and typical application areas will be found within, but not limited to, civilian and military transportation vehicles, such as cars, trucks, busses, motorcycles, trains, ships and aircrafts as well as recreational vehicles wherein for instance demands for weight reduction is an increasing demand.

Automotive, aeronautic and aerospace components suitably produced from the acetylenic aromatic polycarbonate and/or the composition of the present invention comprise, but" are not limited to, for instance exterior body panels and glazing, such as back lights, door panels, fenders, panoramic roofs, roof modules, tailgates, heat shields, armours and spall linings. Further suitable articles include exterior components, such as vent grilles, door handles, front grilles, mirror systems, roof racks, running boards, spoilers, tank flaps, wheel housings and wheel covers as well as traditional after market products. It is also possible to produce larger components for trucks, busses, ships and aircrafts. Said acetylenic aromatic polycarbonate and/or said composition may furthermore be used in lighting, such as fog lamp lenses, reflectors and housings; headlamp bezels, housings, lenses and reflectors; lamp support brackets; projector lamp reflectors and holders; rear combination lamp housings, reflectors and lenses. These can be base coated, primed for painting, direct metallised and/or moulded in colour. The acetylenic aromatic polycarbonate and/or the composition of the present invention may also be used for other structural as well as interior components, such as composite headliners, energy absorption systems, front end modules, instrument panels, interior trimmings, load floors, pedestrian energy absorption systems and storage bins, as well as parts suitable for motorcycles, such as no-paint parts, tanks, fairing, chassis, frames, luggage containers and racks, as well as motorcycle rider safety items, such as helmets and all sorts of shields. The acetylenic aromatic polycarbonate and the composition herein disclosed may also be used in power train parts, such as air intake, automotive gears, wire coatings, brackets, sealings, electronic and electronic housings, fuel system components, pulleys, sensors, throttle bodies, transmissions and transmission parts, and valve rocker covers as well as other components in vehicle engine bays wherein heat may render prior art polymers insufficient. Further suitable application areas of the acetylenic aromatic polycarbonate and/or the composition of the present invention include, but are not limited to, articles used in home entertainment, such as television apparatus and equipment, projectors and audio devices, as well as mobile entertainment and information carriers and communication devices. Further application areas include communication devices such as antennas, satellite dishes, articles and devices for recreation, entertainment and sport activities wherein for instance the weight to strength ratio is important, such as light weight components in extreme sport equipment including body protection, parts to mountain bikes, heat shields and the like. Further suitable applications include articles such as fishing rods and golf clubs.

A further industry having demands on higher mechanical strength, sometimes under elevated temperatures, is the packaging industry. The acetylenic aromatic polycarbonate and/or the composition according to the present invention will solve a number of problems linked to medium to long term storage under for instance elevated temperatures. Furthermore, creep strain in polymers, which today is a problem calling for over-dimensioning of carrying structures made of polymeric materials, can be eliminated or reduced by use of the acetylenic aromatic polycarbonate and/or the composition of the present invention.

It is also advantageous to utilise the acetylenic aromatic polycarbonate and/or the composition herein disclosed in household, building and construction industry. Said acetylenic aromatic polycarbonate and/or said composition can here be used for beams, girders, rails, panels, window frames and sub assemblies, roofing, flooring, doors and door frames, handles, knobs, cabinets, housings, kitchen appliances and central heating and energy recovery systems as well as for solar energy collectors and other parts of solar and wind energy and heating systems and equipment. Further application areas can be found among electrical components, equipment and installations, such as circuit breakers, films, flexible and rigid wire coatings, housings and discrete components.

The herein disclosed acetylenic aromatic polycarbonate and/or composition are also suitably used in health care, including man and animal, and laboratory equipment such as cardiovascular and blood care equipment, oxygenators, filters, pumps, masks, sleep therapy equipment, drug delivery devices, inhales, syringes, injection devices, stopcocks and valves as well as orthopaedic equipment, external bone fixation, joint trials, mechanical instruments, surgical instruments, electrosurgical instruments, endomechanical instruments and access devices as well as sub components and spare parts to the above. Said acetylenic aromatic polycarbonate and/or said composition can furthermore be used for supporting, diagnostic and monitoring equipment, such as hand instruments, equipment for imaging, ocular devices, dental devices, laboratory ware and vials as well as sterilisation trays. Without further elaboration, it is believed that one skilled in the art can, using the preceding description, utilise the present invention to its fullest extent. The following preferred specific embodiments are, therefore, to be construed as merely illustrative and not limitative of the remainder of the disclosure in any way whatsoever. In the following Examples 1 and 2 refer to preparation of acetylenic polycarbonates according to embodiments of the present invention.

Example 1

100.0 parts by weight of bisphenol A, 103.2 parts by weight of diphenyl carbonate and 20.3 parts by weight of N-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-4-(phenylethynyl)phthalimide were charged in a reaction vessel equipped with a mechanical stirrer, nitrogen inlet and a distillation system. The mixture was heated to 200°C and 0.19 parts by weight of lanthanum (EH) acetyl acetonate hydrate was to the molten reaction mixture added as catalyst. Vacuum of 25-100 mbar was applied after 30 minutes to enhance removal of phenol formed in the reaction and the temperature was now during one hour gradually raised to 260°C. The pressure was reduced to 2-5 mbar and the reaction mixture was kept at 260°C for a further 40 minutes. The reaction mixture was finally cooled to room temperature to yield a solid acetylenic aromatic polycarbonate, according to an embodiment of the present invention, having a molecular weight of more than 7200 g/mole (GPC), a glass transition temperature of 108°C (DSC) and a monomer content of less than 1 m/m % (LC).

Example 2

98.5 parts by weight of bisphenol A, 101.4 parts by weight of diphenyl carbonate and 11.1 parts by weight of 4-phenylethynyl phenol were charged in a reaction vessel equipped with a mechanical stirrer, nitrogen inlet and a distillation system. The mixture was heated to 200°C and 0.19 parts by weight of lanthanum (EQ) acetyl acetonate hydrate was to the molten reaction mixture added as catalyst. Vacuum of 25-100 mbar was applied after 45 minutes to enhance removal of phenol formed in the reaction and the temperature was now during 2 hours gradually raised to 260°C. The pressure was reduced to 4-10 mbar and the reaction mixture was kept at 260 ⁰ C for a further 65 minutes. The reaction mixture was finally cooled to room temperature to yield a solid acetylenic aromatic polycarbonate, according to an embodiment of the present invention, having a molecular weight of more than 9700 g/mole (GPC) and a monomer content of less than 1 m/m % (LC).