Method for preparing poly(cyclohexane-1,4-dicarboxylate)s from cyclohexane-1,4-dicarboxylic acid, and composition

Poly(1,4-cyclohexanedicarboxylate)s, esp. poly(1,4-cyclohexanedimethylene-1,4-cyclohexanedicarboxylate), are prepd. from at least one relatively non-volatile diol, such as 1,4-cyclohexanedimethanol, and cyclohexane-1,4-dicarboxylic acid by an esterification process in the presence of a catalyst, at a max. temp. of about 260°. In one embodiment the procedure employs a two-step process, the second of which may be performed in the melt or in the solid state. A volatile diol such as ethylene glycol may also be present. Thus, 1,4-cyclohexanedicarboxylic acid-1,4-cyclohexanedimethanol copolymer with Mw 3,500 and mn 1,400 was prepd. in the presence of tetrakis(2-ethylhexyl) titanate.