AU2005205110A1 - Polyformals and copolyformals as a protective layer against hydrolysis on polycarbonate - Google Patents

Description

COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA PATENTS ACT 1990 VERIFICATION OF TRANSLATION I, Jacqueline Heather Yesson, BA., MITI., translator to Taylor and Meyer of 20 Kingsmead Road, London SW2 3JD, England, state that the attached document is to the best of my knowledge a true and complete translation of International Patent Application No. PCT/EP2005/000065. Dated this : ,A day of T-t 2006 S nature of translator Polyformals and copolyformals as a hydrolysis protection layer on polycarbonate The present invention concerns hydrolysis-protected 5 multilayer products, in particular sheets, films, containers such as e.g. water bottles, baby bottles or medical articles, comprising at least one layer containing a thermoplastic and at least one layer containing at least one polyformal or copolyformal, and compositions containing 10 polyformals or copolyformals and possible additives, and the use of polyformals and/or copolyformals to produce a hydrolysis protection layer. The present invention also concerns a process for producing 15 such multilayer products, such as sheets, medical articles or various containers, such as bottle products, baby bottles, water bottles and other products containing the cited sheets. 20 Solid or multi-wall sheets, for example, are generally coated on one or two sides with UV coextrusion layer(s) on the outer sides to protect them from damage (e.g. yellowing) by UV light. Other multilayer products are also protected in the same way from damage by UV light, however. 25 By contrast, the application of a thermoplastic as a layer providing protection against hydrolysis damage is not described in the prior art. The prior art in relation to multilayer, protected products 30 is summarised below: EP-A 0 110 221 discloses sheets comprising two layers of polycarbonate, one layer containing at least 3 wt.% of a UV 2 absorber. These sheets can be produced by coextrusion according to EP-A 0 110 221. EP-A 0 320 632 discloses moulded articles comprising two 5 layers of thermoplastic polymer, preferably polycarbonate, one layer containing special substituted benzotriazoles as UV absorbers. EP-A 0 320 632 also discloses the production of these moulded articles by coextrusion. 10 EP-A 0 247 480 discloses multilayer sheets in which in addition to one sheet made from thermoplastic polymer, one sheet made from branched polycarbonate is present, the sheet made from polycarbonate containing special substituted benzotriazoles as UV absorbers. The 15 production of these sheets by coextrusion is likewise disclosed. EP-A 0 500 496 discloses polymer compositions stabilised with special triazines against UV light and their use as an 20 outer layer in multilayer systems. Polycarbonate, polyesters, polyamides, polyacetals, polyphenylene oxide and polyphenylene sulfide are cited as polymers. According to the prior art, water bottles, such as e.g. 5 25 gallon bottles, do not have a multilayer construction (DE 19943642, DE 19943643, EP-A 0411433). The same applies to reusable milk bottles or baby bottles. Polycarbonate containers are produced for example by 30 extrusion blow moulding or injection blow moulding. In extrusion blow moulding the granules are generally melted with a single-screw extruder and moulded through a die to form a free-standing parison, which is then enclosed 35 by a blow mould which pinches the parison together at the 3 lower end. Inside the mould the parison is inflated to give the parison the desired shape. After a cooling period the mould is opened and the blow moulded article can be removed (described in more detail e.g. in Brinkschr6der, F. J. 5 "Polycarbonate" in Becker, Braun, Kunststoff-Handbuch, Volume 3/1, Polycarbonate, Polyacetale, Polyester, Celluloseester, Carl Hanser Verlag, Munich, Vienna 1992, pages 257 to 264). 10 For extrusion blow moulding it is advantageous to use a highly pseudoplastic polycarbonate in order to obtain a high melt stability. Branched polycarbonates are particularly pseudoplastic. 15 Injection blow moulding is a combination of injection moulding and blow moulding. The process takes place in three steps: 20 1) Injection moulding of the parison in the plastic temperature range of the polycarbonate 2) Inflation of the parison in the thermoplastic range of the polycarbonate (the core of the injection mould is 25 also the blowing mandrel) 3) Stripping the blow moulded article and optionally cooling the blowing mandrel with air 30 (described in more detail e.g. in Anders, S., Kaminski, A., Kappenstein, R., "Polycarbonate" in Becker/Braun, Kunststoff-Handbuch, Volume 3/1, Polycarbonate, Polyacetale, Polyester, Celluloseester, Carl Hanser Verlag, Munich, Vienna 1992, pages 223 to 225). 35 4 However, none of the products known from the prior art achieves satisfactory results in every respect, particularly as far as long-term stability in relation to hydrolysis is concerned. Water damages polycarbonate above 5 60 0 C. Extended contact with boiling water leads to molecular weight reduction, which is further accelerated in the presence of heat stabilisers such as organic phosphites. In addition, polycarbonates can be preferably alkaline-hydrolysed. Microwave radiation further 10 accelerates this degradation. In patents of the prior art no mention is ever made of hydrolysis protection layers to overcome this disadvantage. 15 Starting from the prior art the object was therefore to provide a multilayer sheet or coated containers such as e.g. water bottles or medical articles, which should be able to be sterilised in superheated steam, which display improved properties in comparison to the prior art, such as 20 improved long-term stability in relation to hydrolysis in water, even at elevated temperatures, and in the acid and also the basic environment. This object underlies the present invention. 25 This object is surprisingly achieved by coatings containing certain polyformals or copolyformals as the polymer basis. 30 The coatings of products based on polyformals or copolyformals display a surprising superiority over the prior art in terms of the markedly greater hydrolysis resistance in comparison to polycarbonate.

5 This is particularly surprising because polyformals can be thought of as full acetals, which according to current doctrine held by the person skilled in the art should display great sensitivity to hydrolysis, in the acid 5 environment at least. By contrast, however, the coatings made from polyformals are resistant to hydrolysis even in relation to acid solutions, and even at elevated temperatures. 10 The present application thus provides coatings containing polyformals or copolyformals having the general formulae (la) or (lb), 0O-D-0-CH2+ 4 0-D-0-CH2 0- E-0-CH2 1a lb wherein the radicals O-D-0 and O-E-0 stand for any 15 diphenolate radicals in which -D- and -E- are aromatic radicals having 6 to 40 C atoms, preferably 6 to 21 C atoms, which can contain one or more aromatic or condensed aromatic nuclei, optionally containing heteroatoms, and are optionally substituted with C 1

-C

12 alkyl radicals or halogen 20 and can contain aliphatic radicals, cycloaliphatic radicals, aromatic nuclei or heteroatoms as binding links and in which k stands for a whole number between 1 and 1500, preferably between 2 and 1000, particularly preferably between 2 and 700 and most particularly 25 preferably between 5 and 500 and especially preferably between 5 and 300, o stands for numbers between 1 and 1500, preferably between 1 and 1000, particularly preferably between 1 and 700 and most particularly preferably between 1 and 500 and especially preferably between 1 and 300, and 6 m stands for a fraction z/o and n for a fraction (o-z)/o, where z stands for numbers between 0 and o. Preferred structural units of the polyformals and 5 copolyformals according to the invention derive from general structures having the formulae (2a), (2b), (2c) and (2d),

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/ O-CH- (2a) -/ O-CH2I- (2b) .- [[0 0-CH2 -0H X \ O-CH2 * 2 R2 R R (2c) - 0 0-\ CH 0 ~ ~ X O-CH2 * R R (2d) wherein the brackets describe the underlying diphenolate 10 radicals, in which R1 and R 2 mutually independently stand for H, linear or branched Ci-C 18 alkyl or alkoxy radicals, halogen such as Cl or Br or for an optionally substituted aryl or aralkyl radical, preferably for H or linear or branched C 1 -C1 2 alkyl, particularly preferably for H or Ci-C 8 15 alkyl radicals and most particularly preferably for H or methyl, X stands for a single bond, a Ci to C 6 alkylene, C 2 to C 5 alkylidene, C 5 to C 6 cycloalkylidene radical, which can be 7 substituted with C 1 to C 6 alkyl, preferably methyl or ethyl radicals, or a C 6 to C 12 arylene radical, which can optionally be condensed with other heteroatom-containing aromatic rings, where p stands for a whole number between 1 5 and 1500, preferably between 2 and 1000, particularly preferably between 2 and 700 and most particularly preferably between 5 and 500 and especially between 5 and 300, p stands for numbers between 1 and 1500, preferably between 1 and 1000, particularly preferably between 1 and 10 700 and most particularly preferably between 1 and 500 and especially preferably between 1 and 300, and q stands for a fraction z/p and r for a fraction (p-z)/p, where z stands for numbers between 0 and p, and a part of the radicals -0 D-O- and -0-E-0- mutually independently also stands for a 15 radical derived from one or more trifunctional compounds, as a result of which a third binding site, a branching of the polymer chain, occurs at this point. The polyformals or copolyformals can thus be linear or 20 branched. The bisphenolate radicals in formulae (1) and (2) particularly preferably derive from the suitable bisphenols cited below. 25 Hydroquinone, resorcinol, dihydroxybiphenyls, bis(hydroxyphenyl) alkanes, bis(hydroxyphenyl) cycloalkanes, bis(hydroxyphenyl) sulfides, bis(hydroxyphenyl) ethers, bis(hydroxyphenyl) ketones, 30 bis(hydroxyphenyl) sulfones, bis(hydroxyphenyl) sulfoxides, ax,a' -bis(hydroxyphenyl) diisopropyl benzenes, and ring alkylated and ring-halogenated compounds thereof, and also a,w-bis(hydroxyphenyl) polysiloxanes are cited by way of 8 example for the bisphenols underlying the general formula (1). Preferred bisphenols are for example 4,4'-dihydroxybiphenyl 5 (DOD), 4,4'-dihydroxybiphenyl ether (DOD ether), 2,2-bis (4-hydroxyphenyl) propane (bisphenol A), 1,1-bis-(4 hydroxyphenyl)-3,3,5-trimethyl cyclohexane (bisphenol TMC), 1,1-bis-(4-hydroxyphenyl) cyclohexane, 2,4-bis-(4 hydroxyphenyl)-2-methyl butane, 1,1-bis-(4-hydroxyphenyl) 10 1-phenyl ethane, 1,4-bis-[2-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-2-propyl] benzene, 1,3-bis-[2-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-2-propyl] benzene (bisphenol M), 2,2-bis-(3-methyl-4-hydroxyphenyl) propane, 2,2-bis-(3-chloro-4-hydroxyphenyl) propane, bis-(3,5 dimethyl-4-hydroxyphenyl) methane, 2,2-bis-(3,5-dimethyl-4 15 hydroxyphenyl) propane, bis-(3,5-dimethyl-4-hydroxyphenyl) sulfone, 2,4-bis-(3,5-dimethyl-4-hydroxyphenyl)-2-methyl butane, 2,2-bis-(3,5-dichloro-4-hydroxyphenyl) propane and 2,2-bis-(3,5-dibromo-4-hydroxyphenyl) propane. 20 Particularly preferred bisphenols are for example 2,2-bis (4-hydroxyphenyl) propane (bisphenol A), 4,4' dihydroxybiphenyl (DOD), 4,4'-dihydroxybiphenyl ether (DOD ether), 1,3-bis-[2-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-2-propyl] benzene (bisphenol M), 2,2-bis-(3,5-dimethyl-4-hydroxyphenyl) 25 propane, 1,1-bis-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-1-phenyl ethane, 2,2 bis-(3,5-dichloro-4-hydroxyphenyl) propane, 2,2-bis-(3,5 dibromo-4-hydroxyphenyl) propane, 1,1-bis-(4-hydroxyphenyl) cyclohexane and 1,1-bis-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-3,3,5-trimethyl cyclohexane (bisphenol TMC). 30 Most particularly preferred are 2,2-bis-(4-hydroxyphenyl) propane (bisphenol A), 4,4'-dihydroxybiphenyl (DOD), 4,4' dihydroxybiphenyl ether (DOD ether), 1,3-bis-[2-(4 hydroxyphenyl)-2-propyl] benzene (bisphenol M) and 1,1-bis- 9 (4-hydroxyphenyl)-3,3,5-trimethyl cyclohexane (bisphenol TMC). Most particularly preferred in particular are 2,2-bis-(4 5 hydroxyphenyl) propane (bisphenol A) and 1,1-bis-(4 hydroxyphenyl)-3,3,5-trimethyl cyclohexane (bisphenol TMC). The bisphenols can be used both alone and in a mixture with one another; both homopolyformals and copolyformals are 10 included. The bisphenols are known from the literature or can be produced by methods known from the literature (see e.g. H. J. Buysch et al., Ullmann's Encyclopedia of Industrial Chemistry, VCH, New York 1991, 5 th Edition, Vol. 19, p. 348). 15 The polyformals according to the invention can be deliberately branched in a controlled manner by the use of small amounts of trifunctional compounds known as branching agents. Some suitable branching agents are: phloroglucinol, 20 4,6-dimethyl-2,4,6-tri-(4-hydroxyphenyl) heptene-2; 4,6 dimethyl-2,4,6-tri-(4-hydroxyphenyl) heptane; 1,3,5-tri-(4 hydroxyphenyl) benzene; 1,1,1-tri-(4-hydroxyphenyl) ethane; tri-(4-hydroxyphenyl) phenyl methane; 2,2-bis-[4,4-bis-(4 hydroxyphenyl) cyclohexyl] propane; 2,4-bis-(4 25 hydroxyphenyl isopropyl) phenol; 2,6-bis-(2-hydroxy-5' methyl benzyl)-4-methyl phenol; 2-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-2-(2,4 dihydroxyphenyl) propane; hexa-(4-(4-hydroxyphenyl isopropyl) phenyl) orthoterephthalic acid ester; tetra-(4 hydroxyphenyl) methane; tetra-(4-(4-hydroxyphenyl 30 isopropyl) phenoxy) methane; a,a,a''-tris-(4 hydroxyphenyl)-1,3,5-triisopropyl benzene; 2,4 dihydroxybenzoic acid; trimesic acid; cyanuric chloride; 3,3-bis-(3-methyl-4-hydroxyphenyl)-2-oxo-2,3-dihydroindole; 1,4-bis-(4',4'-dihydroxytriphenyl) methyl) benzene and in 10 particular: 1,1,1-tri-(4-hydroxyphenyl) ethane and bis-(3 methyl-4-hydroxyphenyl)-2-oxo-2,3-dihydroindole. The use of such branching agents leads to corresponding 5 deviations in formulae (1) and (2) from their idealised structure. This means that according to the amount of branching agent used, structural units having three binding units, which can also be formed as ester functions, etc., depending on the branching agent used, are produced which 10 are derived from the branching agents used. The 0.05 to 2 mol% of branching agents or mixtures of branching agents that can optionally be incorporated, relative to diphenols used, can be added together with the 15 diphenols but can also be added at a later stage of the synthesis. Phenols such as phenol, alkyl phenols such as cresol and 4 tert-butyl phenol, chlorophenol, bromophenol, cumyl phenol 20 or mixtures thereof are preferably used as chain terminators for the polyformals used as materials in the coextruded coating, in quantities of 1-20 mol%, preferably 2-10 mol%, per mol of bisphenol. Phenol, 4-tert-butyl phenol or cumyl phenol are preferred. 25 Polyformals and copolyformals having the formulae (la) and (lb) or (2 a-d) are produced for example by a solution process, characterised in that bisphenols and chain terminators are reacted with methylene chloride or 30 alpha,alpha-dichlorotoluene in a homogeneous solution of methylene chloride or a,a-dichlorotoluene and a suitable high-boiling solvent such as e.g. N-methyl pyrrolidone (NMP), dimethyl formamide (DMF), dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), N-methyl caprolactam (NMC), chlorobenzene, dichlorobenzene, 11 trichlorobenzene or tetrahydrofuran (THF) in the presence of a base, preferably sodium hydroxide or potassium hydroxide, at temperatures between 30 and 160 0 C. Preferred high-boiling solvents are NMP, DMF, DMSO and NMC, 5 particularly preferably NMP, NMC, DMSO and most particularly preferably NMP and NMC. The reaction can also be conducted in several stages. Separation of the cyclic impurities which is optionally necessary takes place after neutral washing of the organic phase by means of a 10 precipitation process in or by means of fractional compounding of the crude product with a solvent that dissolves the cyclic compounds, e.g. acetone. The cyclic impurities are virtually entirely dissolved in the solvent and can be almost completely separated off by compounding 15 in portions and changing the solvent. After compounding, a content of cyclic compounds of well below 1 % can be achieved using for example approx. 10 litres of acetone, which is added in e.g. 5 portions to an amount of polyformal of approx. 6 kg. 20 The cyclic polyformals and copolyformals can also be separated off by a precipitation process in suitable solvents, which act as precipitants for the desired polymer and as solvents for the undesirable cyclic compounds. These 25 are preferably alcohols or ketones. The reaction temperature for the polycondensation is 30 0 C to 160 0 C, preferably 400C to 100 0 C, particularly preferably 50*C to 80*C and most particularly preferably 60*C to 80WC. 30 The present invention thus provides the use of the polyformals and copolyformals described to produce multilayer products, for example coextrudates such as multilayer sheets, these multilayer sheets themselves and 35 also a process for producing these multilayer sheets by 12 coextrusion, and for coating suitable compositions containing these polyformals or copolyformals. The present invention also provides a product containing 5 the cited multilayer sheet or other coated products based on polyformals. This product, which for example contains the cited multilayer sheet or is itself coated, is preferably selected from the group consisting of baby bottles, water bottles or medical articles that can be 10 sterilised in superheated steam. The multilayer product according to the invention has numerous advantages. In particular it has the advantage that a clear improvement in long-term stability, in 15 particular in hydrolysis stability in relation to aqueous media, is achieved through the hydrolysis protection layer based on polyformals. Moreover the sheet is easy and inexpensive to produce, all starting materials are available and inexpensive. In addition, the other positive 20 properties of polycarbonate, for example its good optical and mechanical properties, are unimpaired or only insubstantially impaired in the multilayer product according to the invention. 25 The multilayer products according to the invention have further advantages in comparison to the prior art. The multilayer products according to the invention, such as bottles, can be produced by coextrusion blow moulding, for example. This leads to advantages over a product produced 30 by coating. For example, no solvents evaporate in coextrusion as is the case with coating systems. Furthermore, coatings have a limited storage capacity. Coextrusion does not have this disadvantage. 35 13 Furthermore, coatings require complex technology. For example, they require explosion-proof units if organic solvents are used, recycling of solvents and hence expensive investment in equipment. Coextrusion does not 5 have this disadvantage. A preferred embodiment of the present invention is the cited multilayer sheet or various types of bottle, the base layer consisting of polycarbonate and/or copolycarbonate 10 and/or polyester and/or copolyester and/or polyester carbonates and/or polymethyl methacrylate and/or polyacrylates and/or blends of polycarbonate and polyesters and/or polymethyl methacrylates and the coex layer consisting of polyformals or copolyformals or blends 15 thereof with (co)polycarbonate and/or (co)polyesters. Multilayer products in which the hydrolysis protection layer is 1 to 5000 ym thick, preferably 5 to 2500 pm, most particularly preferably 10 to 500 pm, are preferred 20 according to the invention. The sheets can be solid sheets, multi-wall sheets, twin wall sheets, triple-wall sheets, quadruple-wall sheets, etc. The multi-wall sheets can also have various profiles, 25 such as e.g. X-profiles or XX-profiles. The multi-wall sheets can in addition be corrugated multi-wall sheets. A preferred embodiment of the present invention is a two layer sheet consisting of one layer of polycarbonate and a 30 hydrolysis protection layer of polyformal or copolyformal or a polycarbonate-polyformal blend. A further preferred embodiment of the present invention is a three-layer sheet consisting of one layer of 35 polycarbonate as the base sheet and two overlying 14 hydrolysis protection layers which are the same or different and consist of polyformal or copolyformal or a polycarbonate-polyformal blend. 5 Likewise preferred as an embodiment of the present invention are various types of containers, such as bottles, e.g. water bottles (5-gallon bottles), baby bottles or reusable milk bottles. 10 Containers within the meaning of the present invention can be used for the packaging, storage or transport of liquids, solids or gases. Containers for the packaging, storage or transport of liquids are preferred (liquid containers), containers for the packaging, storage or transport of water 15 (water bottles) being particularly preferred. Containers within the meaning of the invention are blown containers having a volume of preferably 0.1 1 to 50 1, preferably 0.5 1 to 50 1, volumes of 1 1, 5 1, 12 1 and 20 20 1 being most particularly preferred. Water bottles having a volume of 3 to 5 gallons are most particularly preferred. 25 The containers have an empty weight of preferably 0.1 g to 3000 g, by preference 50 g to 2000 g and particularly preferably 650 g to 900 g. The wall thicknesses of the containers are preferably 0.5 30 mm to 5 mm, by preference 0.8 mm to 4 mm. Containers within the meaning of the present invention have a length of preferably 5 mm to 2000 mm, particularly preferably 100 mm to 1000 mm. 35 15 The containers have a maximum perimeter of preferably 10 mm to 250 mm, by preference 50 mm to 150 mm and most particularly preferably 70 to 90 mm. 5 Containers within the meaning of the invention preferably have a bottle neck of a length of preferably 1 mm to 500 mm, by preference 10 mm to 250 mm, particularly preferably 50 mm to 100 mm and most particularly preferably 70 to 80 mm. 10 The wall thickness of the bottle neck of the containers varies between preferably 0.5 mm and 10 mm, particularly preferably between 1 mm and 10 mm and most particularly preferably between 5 mm and 7 mm. 15 The diameter of the bottle neck varies between preferably 5 mm and 200 mm. 10 mm to 100 mm are particularly preferred, and 45 mm to 75 mm are most particularly preferred. 20 The bottle base of the containers according to the invention has a diameter of preferably 10 mm to 250 mm, preferably 50 mm to 150 mm and most particularly preferably 70 to 90 mm. 25 Containers within the meaning of the present invention can have any geometrical shape, they can be e.g. round, oval or polygonal or angular with e.g. 3 to 12 sides. Round, oval and hexagonal shapes are preferred. 30 The design of the containers can be based on any surface texture. The surface textures are preferably smooth or ribbed. The containers according to the invention can also display several different surface textures. Ribs or beads can run around the perimeter of the containers. They can be 35 any distance apart or can be several different distances 16 apart. The surface textures of the containers according to the invention can display roughened or integrated textures, symbols, ornaments, coats of arms, company logos, trademarks, monograms, manufacturer's instructions, 5 material descriptions and/or volume information. The containers according to the invention can display any number of handles, which can be located on the side, top or bottom. The handles can be external or can be integrated 10 into the contour of the container. The handles can be folding or fixed. The handles can be of any shape, e.g. oval, round or polygonal. The length of the handles is preferably from 0.1 mm to 180 mm, preferably from 20 mm to 120 mm. 15 In addition to the polycarbonate according to the invention the containers according to the invention can also contain other substances to a small extent, e.g. seals made from rubber or handles made from other materials. 20 The containers according to the invention are preferably produced by extrusion blow moulding or injection blow moulding. 25 In a preferred embodiment of the process for producing the containers according to the invention, the polycarbonates according to the invention are processed on extruders having a smooth or grooved, preferably a smooth, feed section. 30 The drive power of the extruder is chosen according to the screw diameter. By way of example, with a screw diameter of 60 mm the drive power of the extruder is approx. 30 to 40 kW, with a screw diameter of 90 mm it is approx. 60 to 70 35 kW.

17 The universal three-section screws conventionally used in the processing of engineering thermoplastics are suitable. 5 For the production of containers having a volume of 1 1 a screw diameter of 50 to 60 mm is preferred. For the production of containers having a volume of 20 1 a screw diameter of 70 to 100 mm is preferred. The length of the screws is preferably 20 to 25 times the diameter of the 10 screw. In the case of blow moulding, the blow mould is preferably heated to 50 to 90 0 C to obtain a sparkling and high-quality container surface. 15 To ensure uniform and effective heating of the blow mould, the base area and the jacket area can be heated separately. The blow mould is preferably closed with a compressive 20 force of 1000 to 1500 N per cm of pinch-off weld length. Before processing, the polycarbonate according to the invention is preferably dried so that the optical quality of the containers is not diminished by streaks or bubbles 25 and the polycarbonate is not degraded hydrolytically during processing. The residual moisture content after drying is preferably less than 0.01 wt.%. A drying temperature of 120 0 C is preferred. Lower temperatures do not guarantee adequate drying, whilst at higher temperatures there is a 30 risk of the granules of polycarbonate sticking together and then no longer being able to be processed. Dry-air dryers are preferred. The preferred melt temperature during processing of the 35 polycarbonate according to the invention is 230* to 300*C.

18 The containers according to the invention can be used for the packaging, storage or transport of liquids, solids or gases. The embodiment as containers which are used for 5 example for the packaging, storage or transport of liquids is preferred. The embodiment as a water bottle which can be used for example for the packaging, storage or transport of water is particularly preferred. 10 A preferred embodiment of the invention is the one wherein the containers made from branched polycarbonate are characterised in that the branched polycarbonate contains THPE and/or IBC as branching agent and wherein phenol or alkyl phenols are used as chain terminators in 15 the production of the branched polycarbonate and wherein the container is a water bottle. A particularly preferred embodiment of the invention is the one wherein the container made from branched polycarbonate 20 is characterised in that the branched polycarbonate contains THPE and/or IBC as branching agent and wherein phenol is used in the production of the branched polycarbonate and wherein the polycarbonate has a melt viscosity of 5500 to 7000 Pas at 260 0 C and a shear rate of 25 10 s 1 and a melt viscosity of 900 to 1100 Pas at 260 0 C and a shear rate of 1000 s~1 and has an MFR (melt flow index, measured according to ISO 1133) of < 3.5 g/10 min and wherein the container is a water bottle. 30 In a particular embodiment the multilayer products are transparent. Both the base material and the hydrolysis protection layer(s) in the multilayer moulded articles according to 35 the invention can contain additives.

19 Depending on the area of application, the hydrolysis protection layer can in particular contain UV stabilisers or mould release agents. 5 The layers can also contain other conventional processing aids, particularly mould release agents and flow control agents, and the stabilisers conventionally used in polycarbonates, particularly UV stabilisers, heat 10 stabilisers, as well as colorants and optical brighteners and inorganic pigments. Layers made from all known polycarbonates are suitable as additional layers, in addition to the polyformal and 15 copolyformal layers, particularly as a base layer of the multilayer products according to the invention. Suitable polycarbonates are e.g. homopolycarbonates, copolycarbonates and thermoplastic polyester carbonates. 20 They preferably have average molecular weights M of 18,000 to 40,000, preferably 26,000 to 36,000 and particularly 28,000 to 35,000, determined by measuring the relative solution viscosity in dichloromethane or in 25 mixtures of equal amounts by weight of phenol/o dichlorobenzene calibrated by light scattering. With regard to the manufacture of polycarbonates, reference is made by way of example to "Schnell, Chemistry and 30 Physics of Polycarbonates, Polymer Reviews, Vol. 9, Interscience Publishers, New York, London, Sydney 1964", and to "D.C. PREVORSEK, B.T. DEBONA and Y. KESTEN, Corporate Research Center, Allied Chemical Corporation, Moristown, New Jersey 07960, 'Synthesis of 20 Poly(ester)carbonate Copolymers' in Journal of Polymer Science, Polymer Chemistry Edition, Vol. 19, 75-90 (1980)", and to "ID. Freitag, U. Grigo, P.R. Miller, N. Nouvertne, BAYER AG, 'Polycarbonates' in Encyclopedia of Polymer 5 Science and Engineering, Vol. 11, Second Edition, 1988, pages 648-718" and finally to "Drs U. Grigo, K. Kircher and P.R. Miller 'Polycarbonate' in Becker/Braun, Kunststoff Handbuch, Volume 3/1, Polycarbonate, Polyacetale, Polyester, Celluloseester, Carl Hanser Verlag Munich, 10 Vienna 1992, pages 117-299". Production of the polycarbonates is preferably performed by the interfacial polycondensation process or the melt interesterification process and is described below using 15 the interfacial polycondensation process by way of example. The compounds preferably used as starting compounds are bisphenols having the general formula 20 HO-Z-OH, wherein Z is a divalent organic radical having 6 to 30 carbon atoms and containing one or more aromatic groups. 25 Examples of such compounds are bisphenols belonging to the group of dihydroxydiphenyls, bis(hydroxyphenyl) alkanes, indane bisphenols, bis(hydroxyphenyl) ethers, bis(hydroxyphenyl) sulfones, bis(hydroxyphenyl) ketones and a,a'-bis(hydroxyphenyl) diisopropyl benzenes. 30 Particularly preferred bisphenols belonging to the previously cited groups of compounds are bisphenol A, tetraalkyl bisphenol A, 1,3-bis-[2-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-2 propyl] benzene (bisphenol M), 1,1-bis-[2-(4- 21 hydroxyphenyl)-2-propyl] benzene, 1,1-bis-(4 hydroxyphenyl)-3,3,5-trimethyl cyclohexane (2P-TMC) and optionally mixtures thereof. 5 The bisphenol compounds for use according to the invention are preferably reacted with carbonic acid compounds, in particular phosgene, or in the case of the melt interesterification process with diphenyl carbonate or dimethyl carbonate. 10 Polyester carbonates are preferably obtained by reacting the previously cited bisphenols, at least one aromatic dicarboxylic acid and optionally carbonic acid equivalents. Examples of suitable aromatic dicarboxylic acids are 15 phthalic acid, terephthalic acid, isophthalic acid, 3,3' or 4,4'-diphenyldicarboxylic acid and benzophenone dicarboxylic acids. A part, up to 80 mol%, preferably from 20 to 50 mol%, of the carbonate groups in the polycarbonates can be replaced by aromatic dicarboxylic 20 acid ester groups. Examples of inert organic solvents used in the interfacial polycondensation process are dichloromethane, the various dichloroethanes and chloropropane compounds, 25 tetrachloromethane, trichloromethane, chlorobenzene and chlorotoluene, chlorobenzene or dichloromethane or mixtures of dichloromethane and chlorobenzene preferably being used. The interfacial polycondensation reaction can be 30 accelerated by catalysts such as tertiary amines, in particular N-alkyl piperidines or onium salts. Tributylamine, triethylamine and N-ethyl piperidine are preferably used. In the melt interesterification process the catalysts cited in DE-A 4 238 123 are preferably used. 35 22 The polycarbonates can be deliberately branched in a controlled manner by the use of small quantities of branching agents. Some suitable branching agents are: phloroglucinol, 4,6-dimethyl-2,4,6-tri-(4-hydroxyphenyl) 5 heptene-2; 4,6-dimethyl-2,4,6-tri-(4-hydroxyphenyl) heptane; 1,3,5-tri-(4-hydroxyphenyl) benzene; 1,1,1-tri-(4 hydroxyphenyl) ethane; tri-(4-hydroxyphenyl) phenyl methane; 2,2-bis-[4,4-bis-(4-hydroxyphenyl) cyclohexyl] propane; 2,4-bis-(4-hydroxyphenyl isopropyl) phenol; 2,6 10 bis-(2-hydroxy-5'-methylbenzyl)-4-methylphenol; 2-(4 hydroxyphenyl)-2-(2,4-dihydroxyphenyl) propane; hexa-(4-(4 hydroxyphenyl isopropyl) phenyl) orthoterephthalic acid ester; tetra-(4-hydroxyphenyl) methane; tetra-(4-(4 hydroxyphenyl isopropyl) phenoxy) methane; a,a,c' -tris-(4 15 hydroxyphenyl)-1,3,5-triisopropyl benzene; 2,4 dihydroxybenzoic acid; trimesic acid; cyanuric chloride; 3,3-bis-(3-methyl-4-hydroxyphenyl)-2-oxo-2,3-dihydroindole; 1,4-bis-(4',4"-dihydroxytriphenyl)methyl) benzene and in particular: 1,1,1-tri-(4-hydroxyphenyl) ethane and bis-(3 20 methyl-4-hydroxyphenyl)-2-oxo-2,3-dihydroindole. The 0.05 to 2 mol% of branching agents or mixtures of branching agents that can optionally be incorporated, relative to diphenols used, can be added together with the 25 diphenols but can also be added at a later stage of the synthesis. Phenols such as phenol, alkyl phenols such as cresol and 4 tert-butyl phenol, chlorophenol, bromophenol, cumyl phenol 30 or mixtures thereof are preferably used as chain terminators, in quantities of 1-20 mol%, preferably 2-10 mol%, per mol of bisphenol. Phenol, 4-tert-butyl phenol or cumyl phenol are preferred.

23 Chain terminators and branching agents can be added to the syntheses either separately or together with the bisphenol. The production of polycarbonates by the melt 5 interesterification process is described in DE-A 42 38 123 by way of example. Preferred polycarbonates are the homopolycarbonate based on bisphenol A, the homopolycarbonate based on 1,1-bis-(4 10 hydroxyphenyl)-3,3,5-trimethyl cyclohexane and the copolycarbonates based on the two monomers bisphenol A and 1,1-bis-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-3,3,5-trimethyl cyclohexane and the copolycarbonates based on the two monomers bisphenol A and 4,4'-dihydroxydiphenyl (DOD). 15 The homopolycarbonate based on bisphenol A is particularly preferred. All thermoplastics used in the products according to the 20 invention can contain stabilisers. Suitable stabilisers are for example stabilisers containing phosphines, phosphites or Si and other compounds described in EP-A 0 500 496. Triphenyl phosphites, diphenyl alkyl phosphites, phenyl dialkyl phosphites, tris(nonylphenyl) phosphite, tetrakis 25 (2,4-di-tert-butylphenyl)-4,4'-biphenylene diphosphonite and triaryl phosphite can be cited by way of example. Triphenyl phosphine and tris-(2,4-di-tert-butylphenyl) phosphite are particularly preferred. 30 These stabilisers can be present in all layers of the multilayer products according to the invention. In other words both in the so-called base and in the so-called coex layer(s). Different additives or concentrations of additives can be present in each layer. 35 24 The multilayer products according to the invention can also include 0.01 to 0.5 wt.% of the esters or partial esters of monohydric to hexahydric alcohols, in particular of glycerol, pentaerythritol or guerbet alcohols. 5 Monohydric alcohols are for example stearyl alcohol, palmityl alcohol and guerbet alcohols. An example of a dihydric alcohol is glycol. 10 An example of a trihydric alcohol is glycerol. Examples of tetrahydric alcohols are pentaerythritol and mesoerythritol. 15 Examples of pentahydric alcohols are arabitol, ribitol and xylitol. Examples of hexahydric alcohols are mannitol, glucitol 20 (sorbitol) and dulcitol. The esters are preferably the monoesters, diesters, triesters, tetraesters, pentaesters and hexaesters or mixtures thereof, in particular random mixtures, of 25 saturated, aliphatic C 10 to C 3 6 monocarboxylic acids and optionally hydroxy monocarboxylic acids, preferably with saturated, aliphatic C14 to C32 monocarboxylic acids and optionally hydroxy monocarboxylic acids. 30 The commercially obtainable fatty acid esters, in particular of pentaerythritol and glycerol, can contain <60% of various partial esters as a consequence of their manufacturing process.

25 Saturated, aliphatic monocarboxylic acids having 10 to 36 C atoms are for example decanoic acid, dodecanoic acid, tetradecanoic acid, hexadecanoic acid, stearic acid, hydroxystearic acid, eicosanoic acid, docosanoic acid, 5 tetracosanoic acid, hexacosanoic acid and octacosanoic acids. Preferred saturated, aliphatic monocarboxylic acids having 14 to 22 C atoms are for example tetradecanoic acid, 10 hexadecanoic acid, stearic acid, hydroxystearic acid, eicosanoic acid and docosanoic acid. Saturated, aliphatic monocarboxylic acids such as hexadecanoic acid, stearic acid and hydroxystearic acid are 15 particularly preferred. The saturated aliphatic C 10 to C 36 carboxylic acids and the fatty acid esters are either known per se from the literature or can be produced by methods known from the 20 literature. Examples of pentaerythritol fatty acid esters are those of the particularly preferred monocarboxylic acids specified above. Esters of pentaerythritol and of glycerol with stearic acid 25 and hexadecanoic acid are particularly preferred. Esters of guerbet alcohols and of glycerol with stearic acid and hexadecanoic acid and optionally with hydroxystearic acid are also particularly preferred. 30 These esters can be present both in the base and in the coex layer(s). Different additives or concentrations can be present in each layer.

26 The multilayer products according to the invention can contain antistatics. Examples of antistatics are cationic compounds, for example 5 quaternary ammonium, phosphonium or sulfonium salts, anionic compounds, for example alkyl sulfonates, alkyl sulfates, alkyl phosphates, carboxylates in the form of alkali-metal salts or alkaline-earth metal salts, non ionogenic compounds, for example polyethylene glycol 10 esters, polyethylene glycol ethers, fatty acid esters, ethoxylated fatty amines. These antistatics can be present both in the base and in the coex layer(s). Different additives or concentrations 15 can be present in each layer. They are preferably used in the coex layer(s). The multilayer products according to the invention can contain organic dyes, inorganic coloured pigments, 20 fluorescent dyes and particularly preferably optical brighteners. These colorants can be present in both the base and in the coex layer(s). Different additives or concentrations can be 25 present in each layer. All moulding compositions used for production of the multilayer products according to the invention, feedstocks and solvents therein, can be contaminated with 30 corresponding impurities as a result of manufacture and storage conditions, the objective being to work with the cleanest possible starting materials. The individual components in the moulding compositions can 35 be mixed by known means, both successively and 27 simultaneously, and at both room temperature and elevated temperature. The additives, in particular the aforementioned additives, 5 are preferably incorporated into the moulding compositions for the products according to the invention by known means by mixing polymer granules with the additives at temperatures of around 200 to 330 0 C in conventional units such as internal mixers, single-screw extruders and double 10 shaft extruders, for example by melt compounding or melt extrusion or by mixing the polymer solutions with solutions of the additives, followed by evaporation of the solvents by known means. The content of additives in the moulding composition can be varied between broad limits and is 15 governed by the desired properties of the moulding composition. The total content of additives in the moulding composition is preferably up to around 20 wt.%, preferably 0.2 to 12 wt.%, relative to the weight of the moulding composition. 20 Coextrusion is known per se from the literature (see for example EP-A 0 110 221 and EP-A 0 110 238). In the present case the procedure is preferably performed as follows. Extruders are connected to a coextrusion adapter to produce 25 the core and outer layer(s). The adapter is designed in such a way that the melts forming the outer layer(s) are applied adhesively as a thin layer to the melt of the core. The multilayer melt strand produced in this way is then transferred to the adjacent die in the desired form (multi 30 wall sheet or solid sheet). The melt is then cooled under controlled conditions by known means by calendering (solid sheet) or vacuum calibration (multi-wall sheet) and then cut into lengths. A conditioning oven can optionally be connected after the calibration stage to eliminate 35 stresses. In place of the adapter connected before the die, 28 the die itself can also be designed in such a way that the melts are brought together there. Multilayer composites can also be produced according to the 5 prior art by extrusion coating, coextrusion and coextrusion blow moulding. The invention is further explained by, without being limited to, the following examples. The examples according 10 to the invention merely describe preferred embodiments of the present invention.

29 Examples Example 1 5 Synthesis of homopolyformal from bisphenol TMC: A OH + CH 2

C

2 + NaOH HO ~ OH

CH

2 Cl 2 NMP A OH -HO2 - NaCI 7 kg (22.55 mol) of bisphenol TMC, 2.255 kg (56.38 mol) of 10 sodium hydroxide pellets and 51.07 g (0.34 mol) of finely ground p-tert-butyl phenol (Aldrich) in 500 ml of methylene chloride are added to a solvent blend consisting of 28.7 kg of methylene chloride and 40.18 kg of N-methyl 2-pyrrolidone (NMP) under nitrogen protective gas with 15 stirring. After homogenisation the mixture is refluxed (78 0 C) and stirred for one hour at this temperature. After 30 cooling to 250C the reaction batch is diluted with 35 1 of methylene chloride and 20 1 of demineralised water. The batch is washed with water in a separator until it is neutral and free from salts (conductivity < 15 pS.cm 1 ). 5 The organic phase from the separator is separated off and the solvent exchange of methylene chloride for chlorobenzene performed in an evaporator. The material is then extruded by means of a ZSK 32 evaporation extruder at a temperature of 2700C with subsequent granulation. This 10 synthesis procedure is performed twice. After discarding the feed material a total of 9.85 kg of polyformal is obtained as transparent granules. This still contains low molecular-weight cyclic formals as an impurity. The material is divided into two parts and each is swollen 15 overnight with approx. 5 1 of acetone. The products obtained are compounded with several portions of fresh acetone until no more cyclic compounds can be detected. After combining the purified material and dissolving it in chlorobenzene it is extruded again through the evaporation 20 extruder at 2800C. After discarding the feed material a total of 7.31 kg of polyformal is obtained as transparent granules. Analysis: 25 * Molecular weight Mw = 38345, Mn = 20138, D = 1.90 by GPC (calibration against polycarbonate). * Glass transition temperature Tg = 170.8 OC 30 e Relative solution viscosity in methylene chloride (0.5 g/100 ml solution) = 1.234 31 e Confirmation of freedom of polymer from cyclic compounds by GPC (oligomers in low-molecular-weight range) and MALDI-TOF (molecular weight of cyclic compounds compared to the molecular weight of open 5 chain analogues).

32 Example 2 Homopolyformal from bisphenol A: + CH 2

CI

2 + NaOH HO"" OH

CH

2 Cl2 NMP A OH -H20 - NaCI 0-so i I I 5 7 kg (30.66 mol) of bisphenol A (Bayer AG), 3.066 kg (76.65 mol) of sodium hydroxide pellets and 69.4 g (0.462 mol) of finely ground p-tert-butyl phenol (Aldrich) in 500 ml of methylene chloride are added to a solvent blend consisting of 28.7 kg of methylene chloride and 40.18 kg of N-methyl 10 2-pyrrolidone (NMP) under nitrogen protective gas with stirring. After homogenisation the mixture is refluxed (784C) and stirred for one hour at this temperature. After cooling to 25*C the reaction batch is diluted with 20 1 of methylene chloride and 20 1 of demineralised water. The 15 batch is washed with water in a separator until it is neutral and free from salts (conductivity < 15 pS.cm- 1 ) . The organic phase from the separator is separated off and the solvent exchange of methylene chloride for chlorobenzene performed in an evaporator. The material is then extruded 20 by means of a ZSK 32 evaporation extruder at a temperature 33 of 200 0 C with subsequent granulation. This synthesis procedure is performed twice. After discarding the feed material a total of 11.99 kg of polyformal is obtained as transparent granules. 5 Analysis: e Molecular weight Mw = 31732, Mn = 3465 by GPC (calibration against polycarbonate). The cyclic 10 compounds were not separated off in this case. Swelling of the material with acetone is not possible, which means that separation of the cyclic compounds is likewise not possible. 15 e Glass transition temperature Tg = 89 0 C e Relative solution viscosity in methylene chloride (0.5 g/100 ml solution) = 1.237/1.239 (double determination) 20 Example 3 a) Synthesis of copolyformal from bisphenol TMC and bisphenol A: 34 OOH HO OH + CH2CI + NaOH HOaO OO 2 2

CH

2 C1 2 aOH NMP A

-H

2 0 - NaCI 5.432 kg (17.5 mol) of bisphenol TMC (x=70 mol%), 1.712 kg (7.5 mol) of bisphenol A (y=30 mol%), 2.5 kg (62.5 mol) of sodium hydroxide pellets and 56.33 g (0.375 mol) of finely 5 ground p-tert-butyl phenol (Aldrich) in 500 ml of methylene chloride are added to a solvent blend consisting of 28.7 kg of methylene chloride and 40.18 kg of N-methyl-2 pyrrolidone (NMP) under nitrogen protective gas with stirring. After homogenisation the mixture is refluxed 10 (78 0 C) and stirred for one hour at this temperature. After cooling to 25 0 C the reaction batch is diluted with 35 1 of methylene chloride and 20 1 of demineralised water. The batch is washed with water in a separator until it is neutral and free from salts (conductivity 15 15 pS.cm'1). The organic phase from the separator is separated off and the solvent exchange of methylene chloride for chlorobenzene performed in an evaporator. The material is then extruded by means of a ZSK 32 evaporation extruder at a temperature of 280 0 C with subsequent 20 granulation. After discarding the feed material a total of 5.14 kg of copolyformal is obtained as transparent 35 granules. This still contains low-molecular-weight cyclic compounds as an impurity. The material is swollen overnight with approx. 5 1 of acetone. The product obtained is compounded with several portions of fresh acetone until no 5 more cyclic compounds can be detected. The purified material is dissolved in chlorobenzene and extruded again through the evaporation extruder at 270 0 C. After discarding the feed material 3.11 kg of polyformal are obtained as transparent granules. 10 Analysis: * Molecular weight Mw = 39901, Mn = 19538, D = 2.04 by GPC (calibration against polycarbonate). 15 * Glass transition temperature Tg = 148.2 *C e Relative solution viscosity in methylene chloride (0.5 g/100 ml solution) = 1.244/1.244 (granules) 20 e 1 H-NMR in CDC1 3 shows the expected insertion ratio x/y = 0.7/0.3 of the TMC/BPA monomers (integral of chemical shifts of cyclic aliphatic groups (TMC) to methyl groups (BPA)) 25 b) to i) Synthesis of copolyformals from bisphenol TMC and bisphenol A with variable composition: Further copolyformals are produced in the same way as the 30 synthesis in Example 3a) (see Table 1). Example no. TMC [mol%] BPA [mol%] Tg [*C] 3b) 30 70 115 3c) 35 65 120 36 3d) 40 60 124 3e) 50 50 132 3f) 55 45 137 3g) 70 30 149 3h) 80 20 158 3i) 90 10 165 37 Example 4 Synthesis of copolyformal from bisphenol TMC and 4,4' dihydroxybiphenyl (DOD): OH + CH C1 2 + NaOH HOAOH HO

CH

2

CI

2 NMP - H 2 0 - NaCI 5 3.749 kg (12.07 mol) of bisphenol TMC (x=90 mol%), 0.2497 kg (1.34 mol) of 4,4'-dihydroxybiphenyl (DOD) (y=10 mol%), 1.339 kg (33.48 mol) of sodium hydroxide pellets and 20.12 g (0.134 mol) of finely ground p-tert-butyl phenol 10 (Aldrich) in 200 ml of methylene chloride are added to a solvent blend consisting of 12.0 1 of methylene chloride and 22.25 kg of N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone (NMP) under nitrogen protective gas with stirring. After homogenisation the mixture is refluxed (78 0 C) and stirred for one hour at this 15 temperature. After cooling to 25 0 C the reaction batch is diluted with 35 1 of methylene chloride and 20 1 of demineralised water. The batch is washed with water in a separator until it is neutral and free from salts (conductivity < 15 pS.cm 1 ) . The organic phase from the 20 separator is separated off and the solvent exchange of methylene chloride for chlorobenzene performed in an 38 evaporator. The material is then extruded by means of a ZSK 32 evaporation extruder at a temperature of 280 0 C with subsequent granulation. After discarding the feed material a total of 2.62 kg of copolyformal is obtained as 5 transparent granules. This still contains low-molecular weight cyclic compounds as an impurity. The material is swollen overnight with approx. 5 1 of acetone. The product obtained is compounded with several portions of fresh acetone until no more cyclic compounds can be detected. The 10 purified material is dissolved in chlorobenzene and extruded again through the evaporation extruder at 240 0 C. After discarding the feed material the polyformal is obtained as transparent granules. 15 Analysis: e Molecular weight Mw = 44287, Mn = 17877, D = 2.48 by GPC (calibration against polycarbonate). 20 * Glass transition temperature Tg = 167 *C 39 Example 5 Synthesis of copolyformal from bisphenol A and 4,4' dihydroxybiphenyl (DOD): OH HO O + CH 2

CI

2 + NaOH

CH

2 Cl 2 OH NMP A

-H

2 0 - NaCI 7Y .'OO OO O 5 22.37 g (0.0098 mol) of bisphenol A (x=70 mol%), 7.82 g (0.0042 mol) of 4,4'-dihydroxybiphenyl (DOD) (y=30 mol%), 14.0 g (0.35 mol) of sodium hydroxide pellets and 0.21 g (0.0014 mol) of finely ground p-tert-butyl phenol (Aldrich) 10 are added to a solvent blend consisting of 125 ml of methylene chloride and 225 ml of N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone (NMP) under nitrogen protective gas with stirring. After homogenisation the mixture is refluxed (78 0 C) and stirred for one hour at this temperature. After cooling to 25 0 C the 15 reaction batch is diluted with methylene chloride and demineralised water. And then washed with water until it is neutral and free from salts (conductivity < 15 pS.cm-1) . The organic phase is separated off. The polymer is isolated by precipitation in methanol. After washing the product with 20 water and methanol and drying at 80 0 C, polyformal is obtained as white polymer filaments.

40 Analysis: e Molecular weight Mw = 19057, Mn = 4839, D = 3.94 by 5 GPC (calibration against polycarbonate). Example 6 Hydrolysis test of BPA polyformal from Example 2: 10 The hydrolysis test is performed by loading with the following hydrolysis media/temperature conditions and determining the molecular weight change over time by measuring the relative solution viscosity in methylene 15 chloride (0.5 g/100 ml solution): Hydrolysis medium: 0.1 N HCl / 80 0 C 0.1 N NaOH / 80 0 C 20 distilled water / approx. 100 0 C The following results are obtained up to a total loading period of 21 days (multiple determinations in each case): 25 a) Hydrolysis medium: 0.1 N HCl / 80*C Time [days] Relative solution viscosity flrei 0 1.237 / 1.239 (reference sample) 7 1.237 / 1.238 / 1.236 / 1.237 / 1.237 / 1.238 14 1.237 / 1.237 / 1.236 / 1.237 / 1.237 / 1.237 21 1.236 / 1.239 / 1.235 / 1.236 / 1.235 / 1.235 41 a) Hydrolysis medium: 0.1 N NaOH / 80 0 C Time [days] Relative solution viscosity flrel 0 1.237 / 1.239 (reference sample) 7 1.237 / 1.238 / 1.237 / 1.237 / 1.236 / 1.237 14 1.237 / 1.237 / 1.236 / 1.236 / 1.236 / 1.236 21 1.236 / 1.236 / 1.236 / 1.236 / 1.236 / 1.235 5 a) Hydrolysis medium: distilled water / approx. 100 0 C Time [days] Relative solution viscosity flrel 0 1.237 / 1.239 (reference sample) 7 1.238 / 1.237 / 1.238 / 1.237 / 1.237 / 1.237 14 not measured 21 1.238 / 1.237 / 1.237 / 1.237 / 1.237 / 1.235 42 Example 7 Hydrolysis test of TMC/BPA copolyformal (70/30) from Example 3: 5 The hydrolysis test is performed by loading with the following hydrolysis media/temperature conditions and determining the molecular weight change over time by measuring the relative solution viscosity in methylene 10 chloride (0.5 g/100 ml solution): Hydrolysis medium: 0.1 N HCl / 80 0 C 0.1 N NaOH / 80*C 15 distilled water / approx. 1000C The following results are obtained up to a total loading period of 21 days (multiple determinations in each case): 20 a) Hydrolysis medium: 0.1 N HCl / 80 0 C Time [days] Relative solution viscosity Irel 0 1.242 / 1.242 (reference sample; after spraying onto the 80x10x4 test piece) 7 1.242 / 1.242 / 1.243 / 1.243 / 1.242 / 1.243 14 1.240 / 1.241 / 1.240 / 1.242 / 1.241 / 1.241 21 1.243 / 1.243 / 1.243 / 1.242 / 1.243 / 1.243 43 a) Hydrolysis medium: 0.1 N NaOH / 80 0 C Time [days] Relative solution viscosity 7irel 0 1.242 / 1.242 (reference sample) 7 1.243 / 1.242 / 1.243 / 1.243 / 1.243 / 1.243 14 1.240 / 1.241 / 1.241 / 1.241 / 1.242 / 1.242 21 1.242 / 1.242 / 1.243 / 1.242 / 1.243 / 1.242 a) Hydrolysis medium: distilled water / approx. 100 0 C 5 Time [days] Relative solution viscosity re1 0 1.242 / 1.242 (reference sample) 7 1.242 / 1.243 / 1.242 / 1.243 / 1.243 / 1.242 14 1.241 / 1.241 / 1.241 / 1.242 / 1.241 / 1.241 21 1.242 / 1.243 / 1.242 / 1.241 / 1.244 / 1.243 Example 8 Hydrolysis test of a TMC polyformal: 10 (same as that from Example 1, but with a higher molecular weight) e Molecular weight Mw = 50311, Mn = 21637, D = 2.32 by 15 GPC (calibration against polycarbonate). * Glass transition temperature Tg = 172 0

C

44 e Relative solution viscosity in methylene chloride (0.5 g/100 ml solution) = 1.288/1.290 The hydrolysis test is performed by loading with the following hydrolysis media/temperature conditions and 5 determining the molecular weight change over time by measuring the relative solution viscosity in methylene chloride (0.5 g/100 ml solution): Hydrolysis medium: 0.1 N HCl / 80 0 C 10 0.1 N NaOH / 80 0 C distilled water / approx. 100 0 C 15 The following results are obtained up to a total loading period of 21 days (multiple determinations in each case): a) Hydrolysis medium: 0.1 N HCl / 800C Time [days] Relative solution viscosity -1rei 0 1.288 / 1.290 (reference sample; after spraying onto the 80x10x4 test piece) 7 1.291 / 1.290 / 1.289 / 1.288 / 1.288 / 1.290 14 1.288 / 1.288 / 1.289 / 1.289 / 1.288 / 1.288 21 1.288 / 1.288 / 1.289 / 1.289 / 1.289 / 1.289 20 a) Hydrolysis medium: 0.1 N NaOH / 800C Time [days] Relative solution viscosity Tirel 0 1.288 / 1.290 (reference sample) 7 1.289 / 1.289 / 1.290 / 1.290 / 1.289 / 1.289 45 14 1.287 / 1.289 / 1.288 / 1.289 / 1.286 / 1.287 21 1.287 / 1.288 / 1.294 / 1.294 / 1.288 / 1.288 a) Hydrolysis medium: distilled water / approx. 100 0 C Time [days] Relative solution viscosity 7irel 0 1.288 / 1.290 (reference sample) 7 1.285 14 1.281 21 1.284 5 Example 9 Hydrolysis test of the polycarbonate Makrolono 2808, Bayer AG (comparative experiments): 10 The hydrolysis test is performed by loading with the following hydrolysis media/temperature conditions and determining the molecular weight change over time by measuring the relative solution viscosity in methylene chloride (0.5 g/100 ml solution): 15 Hydrolysis medium: 0.1 N HCl / 80 0 C 0.1 N NaOH / 800C 20 distilled water / approx. 100 0 C The following results are obtained up to a total loading period of 21 days (multiple determinations in each case): 25 46 a) Hydrolysis medium: 0.1 N HC1 / 80 0 C Time [days] Relative solution viscosity Tlrei 0 1.284 / 1.289 (reference sample; after spraying onto the 80xl0x4 test piece) 7 1.282 / 1.280 / 1.281 / 1.283 / 1.278 / 1.280 14 1.280 / 1.281 / 1.278 / 1.279 / 1.280 / 1.280 21 1.275 / 1.276 / 1.276 / 1.276 / 1.277 / 1.277 a) Hydrolysis medium: 0.1 N NaOH / 80 0 C 5 Time [days] Relative solution viscosity flrei 0 1.284 / 1.289 (reference sample) 7 1.279 / 1.280 / 1.279 / 1.279 / 1.280 / 1.280 14 1.277 / 1.277 / 1.277 / 1.277 / 1.279 / 1.279 21 1.277 / 1.277 / 1.274 / 1.274 / 1.279 / 1.282 a) Hydrolysis medium: distilled water / approx. 100 0 C Time [days] Relative solution viscosity 1 lrei 0 1.284 / 1.289 (reference sample) 7 1.272 14 1.273 21 1.273 10 It can clearly be seen that after hydrolysis loading the solution viscosity of polycarbonate falls more sharply than is the case with polyformals. This means that polycarbonate 47 can be degraded more readily, and is therefore less stable, than polyformal. A coextrusion layer made from polyformal thus acts as a protective layer against premature damage of the sheet or container. 5 Example 10 Synthesis of copolyformal from bisphenol TMC and resorcinol: y+ CHCI + NaOH HO OH HO OH 2 2 CH 2 C1 2 NMP A NOH

-H

2 0 - NaCI 10 39.1 g (0.126 mol) of bisphenol TMC (x=90 mol%), 1.542 g (0.014 mol) of resorcinol (y=10 mol%), 14.0 g (0.35 mol) of sodium hydroxide pellets and 0.21 g (0.0014 mol) of finely ground p-tert-butyl phenol (Aldrich) are added to a solvent 15 blend consisting of 125 ml of methylene chloride and 225 ml of N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone (NMP) under nitrogen protective gas with stirring. After homogenisation the mixture is refluxed (78 0 C) and stirred for one hour at this temperature. After cooling to 25 0 C the reaction batch is 20 diluted with methylene chloride and demineralised water and 48 then washed with water until it is neutral and free from salts (conductivity < 15 pS.cm-1) . The organic phase is separated off. The polymer is isolated by precipitation in methanol. After washing the product with water and methanol 5 and separating off the cyclic compounds with acetone and drying at 80 0 C, polyformal is obtained as white polymer filaments. Analysis: 10 e Molecular weight Mw = 32008, Mn = 12251, D = 2.6 by GPC (calibration against polycarbonate). e Glass transition temperature Tg = 163 *C 15 Example 11 Synthesis of copolyformal from bisphenol TMC and m,p bisphenol A: HO + CH 2

CI

2 + NaOH OH

CH

2

CI

2 NMP A OH - H 2 0 - NaCI 0O 49 14.84 g (0.065 mol) of bisphenol TMC (x=50 mol%), 20.18 g (0.065 mol) of m,p-bisphenol A (3,4-isopropylidene diphenol) (y=50 mol%), 14.0 g (0.35 mol) of sodium hydroxide pellets and 0.21 g (0.0014 mol) of finely ground 5 p-tert-butyl phenol (Aldrich) are added to a solvent blend consisting of 125 ml of methylene chloride and 225 ml of N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone (NMP) under nitrogen protective gas with stirring. After homogenisation the mixture is refluxed (78*C) and stirred for one hour at this 10 temperature. After cooling to 25*C the reaction batch is diluted with methylene chloride and demineralised water and then washed with water until it is neutral and free from salts (conductivity < 15 yS.cm-1) . The organic phase is separated off. The polymer is isolated by precipitation in 15 methanol. After washing the product with water and methanol and separating off the cyclic compounds with acetone and drying at 80*C, polyformal is obtained as white polymer filaments. 20 Analysis: e Molecular weight Mw = 28254, Mn = 16312, D = 1.73 by GPC (calibration against polycarbonate). * Glass transition temperature Tg = 92 *C 25 Example 12 Synthesis of copolyformal from bisphenol A and 4,4'-sulfone diphenol: 50 + CHC +NO HO OH HO OH + CH 2 Cl 2 + NaOH

CH

2

CI

2 NMP A NOH

-H

2 0 -NaCI 36.29 g (0.145 mol) of 4,4'-sulfone diphenol (x=50 mol%), 33.46 g (0.145 mol) of bisphenol A (y=50 mol%), 28.8 g (0.72 mol) of sodium hydroxide pellets and 0.436 g 5 (0.0029 mol) of finely ground p-tert-butyl phenol (Aldrich) are added to a solvent blend consisting of 300 ml of methylene chloride and 570 ml of N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone (NMP) under nitrogen protective gas with stirring. After homogenisation the mixture is refluxed (78 0 C) and stirred 10 for one hour at this temperature. After cooling to 25 0 C the reaction batch is diluted with methylene chloride and demineralised water and then washed with water until it is neutral and free from salts (conductivity < 15 pS.cm~1). The organic phase is separated off. The polymer is isolated 15 by precipitation in methanol. After washing the product with water and methanol and separating off the cyclic compounds with acetone and drying at 800C, polyformal is obtained as white polymer filaments. 20 Analysis: 51 e Molecular weight Mw = 21546, Mn = 7786, D = 2.76 by GPC (calibration against polycarbonate). e Glass transition temperature Tg = 131*C 5 52 Example 13 Synthesis of polyformal from 4,4'-dihydroxyphenyl ether: HO OH + CH2C2 + NaOH

CH

2 Cl 2 NMP A 'NOH -H20 - NaCI 5 28.30 g (0.14 mol) of 4,4'-dihydroxyphenyl ether (Bayer AG), 14.0 g (0.35 mol) of sodium hydroxide pellets and 0.21 g (0.0014 mol) of finely ground p-tert-butyl phenol (Aldrich) are added to a solvent blend consisting of 125 ml of methylene chloride and 225 ml of N-methyl-2 10 pyrrolidone (NMP) under nitrogen protective gas with stirring. After homogenisation the mixture is refluxed (78 0 C) and stirred for one hour at this temperature. After cooling to 25 0 C the reaction batch is diluted with methylene chloride and demineralised water and 15 then washed with water until it is neutral and free from salts (conductivity < 15 pS.cm- 1 ) . The organic phase is separated off. The polymer is isolated by precipitation in methanol. After washing the product with water and methanol and separating off the cyclic compounds with acetone and 20 drying at 80 0 C, polyformal is obtained as white polymer filaments.

53 Analysis: e Molecular weight Mw = 24034, Mn = 9769, D = 2.46 by GPC (calibration against polycarbonate). 5 * Glass transition temperature Tg = 57 *C

Claims (4)

1. Use of at least one polyformal or copolyformal to produce a hydrolysis protection coating for 5 containers.

2. Use according to claim 1, characterised in that the polyformals or copolyformals having the general formulae (la) or (1b) 0O-0-0-CH& O-D-0-CH2 0- E-0--CH2 13 1 b 10 wherein the radicals O-D-O and O-E-0 stand for any diphenolate radicals in which -D- and -E- are aromatic radicals having 6 to 40 C atoms, which can contain one or more aromatic or condensed aromatic nuclei, 15 optionally containing heteroatoms, and are optionally substituted with C 1 -C 12 alkyl radicals or halogen and can contain aliphatic radicals, cycloaliphatic radicals, aromatic nuclei or heteroatoms as binding links and in which k stands for a whole number between 20 1 and 1500 and m stands for a fraction z/o and n for a fraction (o-z)/o, where z stands for numbers between 0 and o, and a part of the radicals -O-D-0- and -0-E-0 mutually independently also stands for a radical derived from one or more trifunctional compounds, as a 25 result of which a third binding site, a branching of the polymer chain, occurs at this point.

3. Containers displaying a hydrolysis protection coating according to claim 1 or 2. 30 55

4. Water bottles, baby bottles and medical articles displaying a hydrolysis protection coating according to claim 1 or 2.