Aromatic polycarbonate resin composition and molded article thereof

Abstract

To provide an aromatic polycarbonate resin composition which is transparent and is excellent in hue and medium chain fatty acid resistance.SOLUTION: An aromatic polycarbonate resin composition is provided, containing with respect to 100 pts.wt. of an aromatic polycarbonate resin (component A) having a viscosity average molecular weight of 23,000-30,000, 0.9-1.1 pts.wt. of (B) polypropylene glycol (component B), and 0.00002-0.00003 pts.wt. of (C) a bluing agent (component C).SELECTED DRAWING: None

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to aromatic polycarbonate resin compositions. More specifically, it relates to aromatic polycarbonate resin compositions that are transparent and have excellent hue and medium-chain fatty acid resistance, and molded articles thereof. [Background technology]

[0002] Polycarbonate resins are widely used in various fields such as office automation equipment, electronic and electrical equipment, automobiles, and medical equipment due to their excellent mechanical and thermal properties. However, because polycarbonate resins are amorphous resins, they have drawbacks in terms of chemical resistance, and there has been a problem of cracking upon contact with various chemicals and solvents. Therefore, various proposals have been made to blend polycarbonate resins with other resins in order to improve their chemical resistance. For example, Patent Document 1 proposes a polycarbonate resin composition containing polytetramethylene terephthalate and / or polyhexamethylene terephthalate, Patent Document 2 proposes a resin composition of polycarbonate and polytetramethylene terephthalate, and Patent Document 3 proposes a composition consisting of an aromatic polycarbonate resin and a copolymer polyester resin consisting of at least two types of dicarboxylic acid components and a diol component, with 1 to 50 mol% of the dicarboxylic acid component being naphthalenedicarboxylic acid. However, these blends to improve chemical resistance have the drawback of losing the inherent transparency of polycarbonate.

[0003] Furthermore, Patent Document 4 proposes an aromatic polycarbonate resin composition containing saturated aliphatic hydrocarbons and phosphite ester stabilizers as a material with chemical resistance. However, although transparency has been improved, chemical resistance remains insufficient. In particular, for medical devices such as connectors and three-way stopcocks used in intravenous drips, which are in prolonged contact with medium-chain fatty acids, there is a need for polycarbonate resin materials with improved resistance to medium-chain fatty acids. [Prior art documents] [Patent Documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 48-96646 [Patent Document 2] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 48-54160 [Patent Document 3] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2000-103948 [Patent Document 4] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2005-68409 [Overview of the project] [Problems that the invention aims to solve]

[0005] In view of the above, the object of the present invention is to provide an aromatic polycarbonate resin composition and a molded article thereof that has good hue and excellent medium-chain fatty acid resistance without impairing the excellent transparency of the aromatic polycarbonate resin. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The inventors, after diligent research to achieve the above objective, discovered that an aromatic polycarbonate resin composition and its molded article, which is a blend of aromatic polycarbonate having a specific viscosity-average molecular weight, polypropylene glycol, and a bluing agent in specific proportions, can achieve the above objective, and thus completed the present invention.

[0007] In other words, the present invention provides the following configurations (1) to (5). (Composition 1) An aromatic polycarbonate resin composition containing (A) 100 parts by weight of aromatic polycarbonate resin (component A) having a viscosity-average molecular weight in the range of 23,000 to 30,000, (B) 0.9 to 1.1 parts by weight of polypropylene glycol (component B), and (C) 0.00002 to 0.00003 parts by weight of a bluing agent (component C). (Configuration 2) The aromatic polycarbonate resin composition according to configuration 1, wherein the viscosity-average molecular weight of component A is in the range of 25,100 to 28,000. (Composition 3) A molded article formed from the aromatic polycarbonate resin composition described in composition 1 or 2. (Composition 4) The molded product described in configuration 3 is a component for medical use. (Composition 5) A molded product according to configuration 4, wherein the medical component is a medical connector component. [Effects of the Invention]

[0008] The aromatic polycarbonate resin composition of the present invention exhibits excellent transparency, hue, and medium-chain fatty acid resistance. Therefore, molded articles formed from the aromatic polycarbonate resin composition of the present invention can be suitably used as medical components, particularly medical connector components, and have very high industrial value. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0009] [Figure 1] This is a diagram showing the medium-chain fatty acid tolerance test. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0010] The present invention will be described in detail below.

[0011] <Aromatic polycarbonate resin (component A)> The aromatic polycarbonate resin used as component (A) in the present invention is, for example, obtained by reacting a divalent phenol with a carbonate precursor by interfacial polymerization (solution method) or melting method.

[0012] Typical examples of divalent phenols used here include hydroquinone, resorcinol, 4,4′-dihydroxydiphenyl, 1,4-dihydroxynaphthalene, bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)methane, bis{(4-hydroxy-3,5-dimethyl)phenyl}methane, 1,1-bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)ethane, 1,1-bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)-1-phenylethane, 2,2-bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)propane (commonly known as bisphenol A), 2,2-bis{(4-hydroxy-3-methyl)phenyl}propane, 2 ,2-bis{(4-hydroxy-3,5-dimethyl)phenyl}propane, 2,2-bis{(3,5-dibromo-4-hydroxy)phenyl}propane, 2,2-bis{(3-isopropyl-4-hydroxy)phenyl}propane, 2,2-bis{(4-hydroxy-3-phenyl)phenyl}propane, 2,2-bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)butane, 2,2-bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)-3-methylbutane, 2,2-bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)-3,3-dimethylbutane, 2,4-bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)-2-methylbutane Tan, 2,2-bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)pentane, 2,2-bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)-4-methylpentane, 1,1-bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)cyclohexane, 1,1-bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)-4-isopropylcyclohexane, 1,1-bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)-3,3,5-trimethylcyclohexane, 9,9-bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)fluorene, 9,9-bis{(4-hydroxy-3-methyl)phenyl}fluorene, α,α′-bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)-o-diisopropyl Examples include benzene, α,α′-bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)-m-diisopropylbenzene, α,α′-bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)-p-diisopropylbenzene, 1,3-bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)-5,7-dimethyladamantane, 4,4′-dihydroxydiphenyl sulfone, 4,4′-dihydroxydiphenyl sulfoxide, 4,4′-dihydroxydiphenyl sulfide, 4,4′-dihydroxydiphenyl ketone, 4,4′-dihydroxydiphenyl ether, and 4,4′-dihydroxydiphenyl ester.Preferred dihydric phenols are bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)alkanes, and among them, bisphenol A is particularly preferred.

[0013] As the carbonate precursor, carbonyl halide, carbonate ester, haloformate, etc. are used. Specifically, phosgene, diphenyl carbonate, dihaloformate of dihydric phenol, etc. are mentioned.

[0014] When producing an aromatic polycarbonate resin by reacting the above dihydric phenol and carbonate precursor by an interfacial polymerization method or a melt method, the dihydric phenol can be used alone or in two or more kinds, and a catalyst, a terminal stopper, an antioxidant for the dihydric phenol, etc. may be used as necessary. Further, the aromatic polycarbonate resin may be a branched polycarbonate resin copolymerized with a polyfunctional aromatic compound having three or more functional groups. Also, a mixture of two or more kinds of aromatic polycarbonate resins may be used.

[0015] The reaction by the interfacial polymerization method is usually a reaction between a dihydric phenol and phosgene, and the reaction is carried out in the presence of an acid binder and an organic solvent. As the acid binder, for example, alkali metal hydroxides such as sodium hydroxide and potassium hydroxide or amine compounds such as pyridine are used. As the organic solvent, for example, halogenated hydrocarbons such as methylene chloride and chlorobenzene are used. Also, a catalyst such as a tertiary amine or a quaternary ammonium salt can be used to promote the reaction. At that time, the reaction temperature is usually 0 to 40°C, and the reaction time is about several minutes to 5 hours.

[0016] The reaction by the melt method is usually an ester exchange reaction between a dihydric phenol and diphenyl carbonate. The dihydric phenol and diphenyl carbonate are mixed in the presence of an inert gas and reacted under reduced pressure usually at 120 to 350°C. The degree of reduced pressure is changed stepwise, and finally, the phenols generated are removed out of the system at 1.3×10 2 Pa or less. The reaction time is usually about 1 to 4 hours.

[0017] Furthermore, monofunctional phenols can be used as end-terminating agents in polymerization reactions. In particular, in reactions using phosgene as a carbonate precursor, monofunctional phenols are commonly used as end-terminating agents to adjust molecular weight, and the resulting aromatic polycarbonate resin has superior thermal stability compared to those without end-terminating agents because its ends are sealed by groups based on the monofunctional phenols. Such monofunctional phenols can be any that are used as end-terminating agents for polycarbonates, and are generally phenols or lower alkyl-substituted phenols, and can be represented by the monofunctional phenols shown in the following formula (1).

[0018] [ka] [In the formula, R is a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group or phenylalkyl group having 1 to 9 carbon atoms, and m is an integer from 1 to 5, preferably from 1 to 3.]

[0019] Specific examples of the monofunctional phenols include, for example, phenol, p-tert-butylphenol, p-cumylphenol, and isooctylphenol.

[0020] The molecular weight of the aromatic polycarbonate resin in this invention is in the range of 23,000 to 30,000 in viscosity-average molecular weight (M), preferably in the range of 23,800 to 29,000, more preferably in the range of 24,300 to 28,500, and even more preferably in the range of 25,100 to 28,000. Using an aromatic polycarbonate resin having such a viscosity-average molecular weight is preferable because it exhibits excellent resistance to medium-chain fatty acids and maintains relatively good fluidity during extrusion and molding processes, while the resulting molded product has good mechanical strength.

[0021] The viscosity-average molecular weight of the aromatic polycarbonate resin in this invention is first calculated using the following formula: the specific viscosity (η) SP The viscosity of the solution was determined using an Ostwald viscometer from a solution prepared by dissolving 0.7 g of polycarbonate resin material in 100 ml of methylene chloride at 20°C. Specific viscosity (η SP ) = (t-t0) / t0 [t0 is the number of seconds for the methylene chloride to fall, and t is the number of seconds for the sample solution to fall.] The specific viscosity (η) SP The viscosity-average molecular weight Mv was calculated from the following formula. η SP / c=[η]+0.45×[η] 2 c (where [η] is the intrinsic viscosity) [η] = 1.23 × 10 -4 Mv 0.83 c = 0.7

[0022] <Polypropylene glycol (component B)> The polypropylene glycol used in the present invention may be an ether derivative or an ester derivative thereof. Specifically, examples of ether derivatives of polypropylene glycol include polypropylene glycol methyl ether, polypropylene glycol dimethyl ether, polypropylene glycol dodecyl ether, polypropylene glycol benzyl ether, polypropylene glycol dibenzyl ether, polypropylene glycol-4-nonylphenyl ether, and polytetramethylene glycol.

[0023] Furthermore, specific examples of ester derivatives of polypropylene glycol include polypropylene glycol diacetate, polypropylene glycol propionate acetate, polypropylene glycol dibutyrate, polypropylene glycol distearate, polypropylene glycol dibenzoate, polypropylene glycol di2-,6-dimethylbenzoate, polypropylene glycol di-p-tert-butylbenzoate, and polypropylene glycol dicaprate.

[0024] The polypropylene glycol used in this invention is preferably one with a molecular weight of 4000 or less, from the viewpoint of dispersibility when blended with aromatic polycarbonate.

[0025] The amount of polypropylene glycol used in this invention is 0.9 to 1.1 parts by weight per 100 parts by weight of aromatic polycarbonate resin, preferably 0.92 to 1.08 parts by weight, more preferably 0.94 to 1.06 parts by weight, and even more preferably 0.96 to 1.04 parts by weight. Within the above range, medium-chain fatty acid resistance is good. A typical example of polypropylene glycol is Uniol D-2000 manufactured by NOF Corporation.

[0026] <Bluing agent (component C)> In this invention, a bluing agent (component C) is used. The bluing agent is added to counteract the yellowing of aromatic polycarbonate resin compositions and molded articles made therefrom.

[0027] As a bluing agent, any one used for polycarbonate can be used without any particular problems. Generally, anthraquinone-based dyes are readily available and preferred.

[0028] Representative examples of bluing agents include Solvent Violet 13 (generic name: Solvent Violet 13 [CA. No. (Color Index No.) 60725; trademark name: Macrolex Violet B manufactured by Lanxess]), Solvent Violet 36 (generic name: Solvent Violet 3R manufactured by Lanxess) (generic name: Solvent Blue 97 [trademark name: Macrolex Blue RR manufactured by Lanxess]), and Solvent Blue 45 (generic name: Solvent Blue 45 [CA. No. 61110; trademark name: Tetrazole Blue RLS manufactured by Sandoz]). These bluing agents may be used individually or in combination of two or more.

[0029] The amount of bluing agent used in this invention is 0.00002 to 0.00003 parts by weight per 100 parts by weight of aromatic polycarbonate resin, preferably 0.000022 to 0.000028, and more preferably 0.000024 to 0.000026. If too much is used, the molded product will become too blue and its natural color will be impaired, and if too little is used, the molded product will become too yellow and its natural color will be impaired.

[0030] (Other additives) The aromatic polycarbonate resin composition of the present invention may be advantageously used with additives used for improving flame retardancy and oxidation resistance, to the extent that it does not impair the effects of the present invention. These additives will be described in detail below.

[0031] (I) Flame retardants The aromatic polycarbonate resin composition of the present invention may contain various compounds known as flame retardants for polycarbonate resins. The inclusion of such compounds improves flame retardancy, but also improves other properties such as antistatic properties, fluidity, rigidity, and thermal stability, depending on the properties of each compound. Examples of such flame retardants include (i) organometallic salt flame retardants (e.g., alkali (earth) metal salts of organic sulfonic acid, metal salts of organic borate, and metal salts of organostainate), (ii) organophosphorus flame retardants (e.g., monophosphate compounds containing organic groups, phosphate oligomer compounds, phosphonate oligomer compounds, phosphonitrile oligomer compounds, and phosphonic acid amide compounds), (iii) silicone flame retardants consisting of silicone compounds, and (iv) fibrillated PTFE, among which organometallic salt flame retardants and organophosphorus flame retardants are preferred.

[0032] (i) Organometallic salt flame retardants The organometallic salt compounds are preferably alkali (earth) metal salts of organic acids having 1 to 50 carbon atoms, preferably 1 to 40, and more preferably alkali (earth) metal salts of organic sulfonic acids. These alkali (earth) metal salts of organic sulfonic acids include metal salts of fluorine-substituted alkyl sulfonic acids, such as metal salts of perfluoroalkyl sulfonic acids having 1 to 10 carbon atoms, preferably 2 to 8, with alkali metals or alkaline earth metals, and metal salts of aromatic sulfonic acids having 7 to 50 carbon atoms, preferably 7 to 40, with alkali metals or alkaline earth metals. Examples of alkali metals constituting the metal salts include lithium, sodium, potassium, rubidium, and cesium, and examples of alkaline earth metals include beryllium, magnesium, calcium, strontium, and barium. More preferably, alkali metals are used. Among these alkali metals, rubidium and cesium, which have larger ionic radii, are preferred when transparency is a higher requirement; however, these are not commonly used and are difficult to purify, which can result in disadvantages in terms of cost. On the other hand, metals with smaller ionic radii, such as lithium and sodium, can be disadvantageous in terms of flame retardancy. Considering these factors, different alkali metals can be used in alkali metal sulfonates, but potassium sulfonates, which offer an excellent balance of properties in all aspects, are the most suitable. Such potassium salts can also be used in combination with alkali metal sulfonates composed of other alkali metals.

[0033] Specific examples of alkali metal salts of perfluoroalkyl sulfonates include potassium trifluoromethanesulfonate, potassium perfluorobutanesulfonate, potassium perfluorohexanesulfonate, potassium perfluorooctanesulfonate, sodium pentafluoroethanesulfonate, sodium perfluorobutanesulfonate, sodium perfluorooctanesulfonate, lithium trifluoromethanesulfonate, lithium perfluorobutanesulfonate, lithium perfluoroheptanesulfonate, cesium trifluoromethanesulfonate, cesium perfluorobutanesulfonate, cesium perfluorooctanesulfonate, cesium perfluorohexanesulfonate, rubidium perfluorobutanesulfonate, and rubidium perfluorohexanesulfonate, which can be used individually or in combination of two or more. Here, the number of carbon atoms in the perfluoroalkyl group is preferably in the range of 1 to 18, more preferably in the range of 1 to 10, and even more preferably in the range of 1 to 8. Among these, potassium perfluorobutanesulfonate is particularly preferred. Alkali (earth) metal perfluoroalkylsulfonic acid salts, which are composed of alkali metals, typically contain a small amount of fluoride ions (F-). The presence of such fluoride ions can reduce flame retardancy, so it is preferable to reduce them as much as possible. The proportion of such fluoride ions can be measured by ion chromatography. The fluoride ion content is preferably 100 ppm or less, more preferably 40 ppm or less, and particularly preferably 10 ppm or less. Furthermore, it is preferable that the content be 0.2 ppm or more for efficient production. Such alkali (earth) metal perfluoroalkylsulfonic acid salts with reduced fluoride ion content can be produced by using known production methods and by methods that reduce the amount of fluoride ions contained in the raw materials when producing fluorine-containing organometallic salts, by methods that remove hydrogen fluoride obtained by the reaction using gases generated during the reaction or by heating, and by methods that reduce the amount of fluoride ions by using purification methods such as recrystallization and reprecipitation in the production of fluorine-containing organometallic salts.In particular, since organometallic salt flame retardants are relatively soluble in water, it is preferable to manufacture them using ion-exchanged water, especially water that satisfies an electrical resistance of 18 MΩ·cm or higher, i.e., an electrical conductivity of approximately 0.55 μS / cm or less, by dissolving and washing at a temperature higher than room temperature, followed by cooling and recrystallization.

[0034] Specific examples of alkali (earth) metal salts of aromatic sulfonic acids include, for example, disodium diphenyl sulfide-4,4'-disulfonate, dipotassium diphenyl sulfide-4,4'-disulfonate, potassium 5-sulfoisophthalate, sodium 5-sulfoisophthalate, polysodium polyethylene terephthalate polysulfonate, calcium 1-methoxynaphthalene-4-sulfonate, disodium 4-dodecylphenyl ether disulfonate, poly(2,6-dimethylphenylene oxide)polysulfonate, poly(1,3-phenylene oxide)polysulfonate, poly(1,4-phenylene oxide)polysulfonate, poly(2,6-diphenylphenylene oxide)polysulfonate, lithium poly(2-fluoro-6-butylphenylene oxide)polysulfonate, potassium benzenesulfonate, sodium benzenesulfonate, and benzenesulfonic acid. Examples include strontium, magnesium benzenesulfonate, dipotassium p-benzenedisulfonate, dipotassium naphthalene-2,6-disulfonate, calcium biphenyl-3,3'-disulfonate, sodium diphenylsulfon-3-sulfonate, potassium diphenylsulfon-3-sulfonate, dipotassium diphenylsulfon-3,3'-disulfonate, dipotassium diphenylsulfon-3,4'-disulfonate, sodium α,α,α-trifluoroacetophenone-4-sulfonate, dipotassium benzophenone-3,3'-disulfonate, disodium thiophene-2,5-disulfonate, dipotassium thiophene-2,5-disulfonate, calcium thiophene-2,5-disulfonate, sodium benzothiophenesulfonate, potassium diphenylsulfoxide-4-sulfonate, formalin condensates of sodium naphthalenesulfonate, and formalin condensates of sodium anthracenesulfonate. Among these aromatic sulfonic acid alkali (earth) metal salts, potassium salts are particularly preferred.Among these alkali (earth) metal salts of aromatic sulfonic acids, potassium diphenylsulfon-3-sulfonate and dipotassium diphenylsulfon-3,3'-disulfonate are preferred, and mixtures thereof (with a weight ratio of 15 / 85 to 30 / 70) are particularly preferred.

[0035] Examples of organometallic salts other than alkali (earth) metal salts of sulfonic acid include alkali (earth) metal salts of sulfate esters and alkali (earth) metal salts of aromatic sulfonamides. Particularly noteworthy examples of alkali (earth) metal salts of sulfate esters include alkali (earth) metal salts of sulfate esters of monohydric and / or polyhydric alcohols. Examples of such sulfate esters of monohydric and / or polyhydric alcohols include methyl sulfate, ethyl sulfate, lauryl sulfate, hexadecyl sulfate, sulfate ester of polyoxyethylene alkylphenyl ether, mono, di, tri, and tetra sulfates of pentaerythritol, sulfate ester of lauric acid monoglyceride, sulfate ester of palmitic acid monoglyceride, and sulfate ester of stearate monoglyceride. Among these sulfate esters, alkali (earth) metal salts of lauryl sulfate are preferred. Examples of alkali (earth) metal salts of aromatic sulfonamides include saccharin, N-(p-tolylsulfonyl)-p-toluenesulfimide, N-(N'-benzylaminocarbonyl)sulfanilimide, and alkali (earth) metal salts of N-(phenylcarboxyl)sulfanilimide. The content of the organometallic salt flame retardant is preferably 0.001 to 1 part by weight, more preferably 0.005 to 0.5 parts by weight, even more preferably 0.01 to 0.3 parts by weight, and particularly preferably 0.03 to 0.15 parts by weight, per 100 parts by weight of component A.

[0036] (ii) Organophosphorus flame retardants Aryl phosphate compounds are preferred as organophosphorus flame retardants. This is because such phosphate compounds generally have excellent color properties. Furthermore, phosphate compounds have a plasticizing effect, which is advantageous in that they can improve moldability. Various phosphate compounds that have been conventionally known as flame retardants can be used. The amount of organophosphorus flame retardant added is preferably 0.01 to 20 parts by weight, more preferably 2 to 10 parts by weight, and even more preferably 2 to 7 parts by weight, per 100 parts by weight of component A.

[0037] (II) Phosphite ester-based heat stabilizers The aromatic polycarbonate resin composition of the present invention may contain a phosphite ester-based heat stabilizer. Examples of phosphite ester-based heat stabilizers include triaryl phosphites such as triphenyl phosphite, tricresyl phosphite, tris(ethylphenyl) phosphite, tris(2,4-di-t-butylphenyl) phosphite, tris(nonylphenyl) phosphite, and tris(hydroxyphenyl) phosphite; and arylalkyl phosphites such as phenyl didecyl phosphite, diphenyldecyl phosphite, diphenyl isooctyl phosphite, phenyl isooctyl phosphite, and 2-ethylhexyldiphenyl phosphite. Among the phosphite ester-based heat stabilizers, tris(2,4-di-tert-butylphenyl) phosphite is preferred. A commercially available example of tris(2,4-di-tert-butylphenyl) phosphite is Irgafos 168 manufactured by BASF.

[0038] The amount of phosphite ester heat stabilizer added is preferably 0.01 to 0.02 parts by weight, more preferably 0.012 to 0.018 parts by weight, and even more preferably 0.014 to 0.016 parts by weight, per 100 parts by weight of component A. Within these ranges, excellent resistance to humid heat and heat during molding are achieved.

[0039] (III) Hindered phenol stabilizers The aromatic polycarbonate resin composition of the present invention may contain a hindered phenol-based stabilizer. Such a formulation has the effect of suppressing, for example, deterioration of color during molding and deterioration of color during long-term use. Examples of hindered phenol-based stabilizers include α-tocopherol, butylhydroxytoluene, cinapyl alcohol, vitamin E, n-octadecyl-β-(4'-hydroxy-3',5'-di-tert-butylphenol)propionate, 2-tert-butyl-6-(3'-tert-butyl-5'-methyl-2'-hydroxybenzyl)-4-methylphenyl acrylate, 2,6-di-tert-butyl-4-(N,N-dimethylaminomethyl)phenol, 3,5- Di-tert-butyl-4-hydroxybenzylphosphonate diethyl ester, 2,2'-methylenebis(4-methyl-6-tert-butylphenol), 2,2'-methylenebis(4-ethyl-6-tert-butylphenol), 4,4'-methylenebis(2,6-di-tert-butylphenol), 2,2'-methylenebis(4-methyl-6-cyclohexylphenol), 2,2'-dimethylene-bis(6-α-methylbenzyl-p-cresol)2,2'-ethylide N-bis(4,6-di-tert-butylphenol), 2,2'-butylidene-bis(4-methyl-6-tert-butylphenol), 4,4'-butylidenebis(3-methyl-6-tert-butylphenol), triethylene glycol-N-bis-3-(3-tert-butyl-4-hydroxy-5-methylphenyl)propionate, 1,6-hexanediol bis[3-(3,5-di-tert-butyl-4-hydroxyphenyl)propionate], bis[2-te rt-butyl-4-methyl6-(3-tert-butyl-5-methyl-2-hydroxybenzyl)phenyl]terephthalate, 3,9-bis{2-[3-(3-tert-butyl-4-hydroxy-5-methylphenyl)propionyloxy]-1,1,-dimethylethyl}-2,4,8,10-tetraoxaspiro[5,5]undecane, 4,4'-thiobis(6-tert-butyl-m-cresol), 4,4'-thiobis(3-methyl-6-tert-butylphenol), 2,2'-Thiobis(4-methyl-6-tert-butylphenol), bis(3,5-di-tert-butyl-4-hydroxybenzyl) sulfide, 4,4'-di-thiobis(2,6-di-tert-butylphenol), 4,4'-tri-thiobis(2,6-di-tert-butylphenol), 2,2-thiodiethylenebis-[3-(3,5-di-tert-butyl-4-hydroxyphenyl)propionate], 2,4-bis(n-octylthio)-6-(4-hydroxy-3',5'-di-tert-butylanilino)-1,3,5-triazine, N,N'-Hexamethylenebis-(3,5-di-tert-butyl-4-hydroxyhydrocinnamide), N,N'-bis[3-(3,5-di-tert-butyl-4-hydroxyphenyl)propionyl]hydrazine, 1,1 Examples include 3-tris(2-methyl-4-hydroxy-5-tert-butylphenyl)butane, 1,3,5-trimethyl-2,4,6-tris(3,5-di-tert-butyl-4-hydroxybenzyl)benzene, tris(3,5-di-tert-butyl-4-hydroxyphenyl)isocyanurate, tris(3,5-di-tert-butyl-4-hydroxybenzyl)isocyanurate, 1,3,5-tris(4-tert-butyl-3-hydroxy-2,6-dimethylbenzyl)isocyanurate, 1,3,5-tris-2[3(3,5-di-tert-butyl-4-hydroxyphenyl)propionyloxy]ethyl isocyanurate, and tetrakis[methylene-3-(3',5'-di-tert-butyl-4-hydroxyphenyl)propionate]methane. All of these are readily available. The above hindered phenol-based stabilizers can be used alone or in combination of two or more.

[0040] The amount of hindered phenol stabilizer added is preferably 0.0001 to 1 part by weight, more preferably 0.001 to 0.5 parts by weight, and even more preferably 0.005 to 0.3 parts by weight, per 100 parts by weight of component A.

[0041] (IV) Other heat stabilizers The aromatic polycarbonate resin composition of the present invention may also contain other heat stabilizers besides the phosphite ester-based stabilizer and the hindered phenol-based stabilizer. Suitable examples of such other heat stabilizers include lactone-based stabilizers, such as those represented by the reaction product of 3-hydroxy-5,7-di-tert-butyl-furan-2-one and o-xylene. Details of such stabilizers are described in Japanese Patent Publication No. 7-233160. Such compounds are commercially available as Irganox HP-136 (trademark, manufactured by CIBA SPECIALTY CHEMICALS), and these compounds can be used. Furthermore, stabilizers obtained by mixing this compound with various phosphite compounds and hindered phenol compounds are commercially available. For example, Irganox HP-2921 manufactured by the aforementioned company is a suitable example. The amount of lactone-based stabilizer is preferably 0.0005 to 0.05 parts by weight, more preferably 0.001 to 0.03 parts by weight, per 100 parts by weight of component A. Other examples of stabilizers include sulfur-containing stabilizers such as pentaerythritol tetrakis(3-mercaptopropionate), pentaerythritol tetrakis(3-laurylthiopropionate), and glycerol-3-stearylthiopropionate. The amount of such sulfur-containing stabilizer is preferably 0.001 to 0.1 parts by weight, more preferably 0.01 to 0.08 parts by weight, per 100 parts by weight of component A.

[0042] (V) Release agent The aromatic polycarbonate resin composition of the present invention may also contain a mold release agent. The mold release agent is added to improve productivity during molding of the aromatic polycarbonate resin composition and to reduce distortion of the molded product, and known mold release agents can be used. Examples include saturated fatty acid esters, unsaturated fatty acid esters, polyolefin waxes (polyethylene wax, 1-alkene polymers, etc., those modified with functional group-containing compounds such as acid modification can also be used), silicone compounds, fluorine compounds (fluorine oils represented by polyfluoroalkyl ethers, etc.), paraffin wax, and beeswax. Among these, fatty acid esters are preferred as mold release agents.

[0043] Such fatty acid esters are esters of an aliphatic alcohol and an aliphatic carboxylic acid. Such aliphatic alcohol may be a monohydric alcohol or a polyhydric alcohol with two or more carbon atoms. The carbon number of the alcohol is in the range of 3 to 32, more preferably in the range of 5 to 30. Examples of such monohydric alcohols include dodecanol, tetradecanol, hexadecanol, octadecanol, eicosanol, tetracosanol, ceryl alcohol, and triacontanol. Examples of such polyhydric alcohols include pentaerythritol, dipentaerythritol, tripentaerythritol, glycerol, polyglycerol (triglycerol to hexaglycerol), ditrimethylolpropane, xylitol, sorbitol, and mannitol. In the fatty acid esters of the present invention, polyhydric alcohols are more preferred.

[0044] The amount of release agent added is preferably 0.01 to 0.5 parts by weight, more preferably 0.03 to 0.4 parts by weight, even more preferably 0.05 to 0.3 parts by weight, and particularly preferably 0.1 to 0.2 parts by weight, per 100 parts by weight of component A. Within the above range, it is preferable because it provides excellent molding stability during molding and results in a good appearance of the molded product.

[0045] (VI) Other additives In addition to the above, the aromatic polycarbonate resin composition of the present invention may contain, in small amounts, well-known additives to impart various functions to molded articles or improve their properties, as long as the objectives of the present invention are not impaired. Examples of such additives include ultraviolet absorbers, antistatic agents, and flow modifiers.

[0046] <Method for producing aromatic polycarbonate resin composition> In the aromatic polycarbonate resin composition of the present invention, the method of incorporating additives is not particularly limited, and known methods can be used. The most commonly used method involves pre-mixing the polycarbonate resin and additives, then feeding them into an extruder for melt-kneading, cooling the extruded threads, and cutting them with a pelletizer to produce pelletized molding material.

[0047] In the above method, either a single-screw extruder or a twin-screw extruder can be used, but a twin-screw extruder is preferred from the viewpoint of productivity and kneading ability. A typical example of such a twin-screw extruder is TEX (manufactured by Japan Steel Works Ltd., trade name). Specific examples of similar types include TEX (manufactured by Japan Steel Works Ltd., trade name), TEM (manufactured by Toshiba Machine Co., Ltd., trade name), KTX (manufactured by Kobe Steel, Ltd., trade name), and ZSK (manufactured by Werner & Pfleiderer, trade name). As for the extruder, it is preferable to use one that has a vent that can degas moisture in the raw material and volatile gases generated from the molten kneaded resin. A vacuum pump is preferably installed in the vent to efficiently discharge the generated moisture and volatile gases to the outside of the extruder. It is also possible to install a screen in the zone in front of the extruder die to remove foreign matter mixed into the extrusion raw material, thereby removing foreign matter from the resin composition. Examples of such screens include wire mesh, screen changers, and sintered metal plates (disc filters, etc.).

[0048] Furthermore, while additives can be supplied to the extruder independently, it is preferable to pre-mix them with the resin raw materials as described above. Examples of means for such pre-mixing include Nauter mixers, V-type blenders, Henschel mixers, mechanochemical devices, and extruder mixers. A more preferable method is to first mix a portion of the raw resin and the additive with a high-speed agitator such as a Henschel mixer to create a master compound, and then mix this master compound with the remaining entire amount of resin raw materials with a slower agitator such as a Nauter mixer.

[0049] <Molded products> The aromatic polycarbonate resin composition of the present invention can be molded into desired molded articles according to known molding methods such as injection molding, blow molding, extrusion molding, and rotational molding.

[0050] Molded articles formed from the aromatic polycarbonate resin composition of the present invention are suitable for use as medical components because they have excellent transparency, hue, and medium-chain fatty acid resistance. Specific examples of medical components include medical connector components, medical three-way stopcock components, medical extension tube components, and medical bottle needle components, with medical connector components being particularly suitable. [Examples]

[0051] The present invention will be described in more detail below with reference to examples, but the present invention is not limited to the following examples unless it exceeds the essence of the invention. The raw materials used in the following examples and comparative examples are as follows:

[0052] <(A) Aromatic polycarbonate resin> A-1: Teijin Panlite K-1285WP (polycarbonate resin made from bisphenol A, viscosity-average molecular weight 27,000) A-2: Teijin Panlite L-1250WQ (polycarbonate resin made from bisphenol A, viscosity-average molecular weight 25,100) A-3: A mixture of Teijin Panlite L-1250WQ and Teijin Panlite L-1250WP (polycarbonate resin made from bisphenol A, viscosity-average molecular weight 23,900) in a weight ratio of 0.35 to 0.65 (viscosity-average molecular weight of the mixture 24,300). A-4: Teijin Panlite L-1250WP (polycarbonate resin made from bisphenol A, viscosity-average molecular weight 23,800) A-5: Teijin Panlite L-1225WP (polycarbonate resin made from bisphenol A, viscosity-average molecular weight 22,400)

[0053] (B) Polypropylene glycol B-1: Nippon Oil's Union D-2000

[0054] <(C) Bluing agent> C-1: Lanxess' Macrolex Violet B The evaluation methods used in the examples and comparative examples are as follows. (1) Medium-chain fatty acid resistance Using the pellet-shaped molding material obtained in the example, an ISO dumbbell-shaped tensile test piece with a width of 10 mm, a total length of 150 mm, and a thickness of 4 mm obtained by injection molding was heat-treated at 120°C for 60 minutes, left in an environment of 23°C and 50% humidity for 48 hours, then fixed to the three-point bending jig described in Figure 1, and strains (ε) of 1.2%, 1.6%, and 5.2% were applied to the center of the molded piece respectively. A small piece was covered on the applied part, 0.5 mL of the medium-chain fatty acid (Nisshin MCT Oil) stock solution was applied, and then it was held in an environment of 23°C and 50% humidity for 72 hours. It was confirmed whether breakage occurred in the chemical solution exposure part of the taken-out molded piece. In such a medium-chain fatty acid resistance test, it is preferable that breakage does not occur. The strain ε can be calculated from the deflection amount by the following formula. ε = 6×y×h / L 2

[0055] (2) YI value (yellowness) Using the pellet-shaped molding material obtained in the example, three-stage plates with a width of 50 mm, a length of 90 mm, and thicknesses of 1 mm, 2 mm, and 3 mm obtained by injection molding were made. The hue of the 2-mm-thick part was measured by a spectrophotometer CE-7000A manufactured by Sakata Inx Engineering Co., Ltd. using the transmission method with a C light source and a 2-degree field of view, and the YI value of the test piece was calculated. The YI value preferably ranges from 0.5 to 0.9. If it is less than 0.5, the blue tint is too strong, and if it is greater than 0.9, the yellowish tint is too strong, which may damage the natural color of the molded product.

[0056] (3) Haze The haze of the 2-mm-thick part of the three-stage plate molded in (2) was measured using NDH4000 manufactured by Nippon Denshoku Industries Co., Ltd. in accordance with JIS K7361.

[0057] [Examples 1-8 and Comparative Examples 1-6] After blending the raw materials in the proportions shown in Table 1, the mixture was melt-kneaded using a vented twin-screw extruder (TEX30α) manufactured by Japan Steel Works Ltd. with a screw diameter of 30 mm, and a pelletized molding material was obtained by strand cutting. Test specimens for evaluation were formed by injection molding, and the evaluation was performed. The evaluation results are shown in Tables 1 to 3.

[0058] [Table 1]

[0059] [Table 2]

[0060] [Table 3] [Industrial applicability]

[0061] The aromatic polycarbonate resin composition of the present invention exhibits excellent resistance to medium-chain fatty acids and color. Therefore, it can be applied to a variety of uses for aromatic polycarbonate resins, and is particularly useful for connectors used in the medical field, such as connectors used in intravenous drips and three-way stopcocks. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0062] 1 y: Deflection amount (mm) 2 h: Test specimen thickness (4 mm) 3 L: Measurement width (100mm)

Claims

1. An aromatic polycarbonate resin composition containing (A) 100 parts by weight of aromatic polycarbonate resin (component A) having a viscosity-average molecular weight in the range of 25,100 to 30,000, (B) 0.9 to 1.1 parts by weight of polypropylene glycol (component B), and (C) 0.00002 to 0.00003 parts by weight of a bluing agent (component C).

2. The aromatic polycarbonate resin composition according to claim 1, wherein the viscosity-average molecular weight of component A is in the range of 25,100 to 28,000.

3. A molded article formed from the aromatic polycarbonate resin composition according to claim 1 or 2.

4. The molded article according to claim 3, wherein the molded article is a component for medical use.

5. The molded article according to claim 4, wherein the medical component is a medical connector component.

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