WO2025040666A1

WO2025040666A1 - Method for the manufacture of polycarbonate composition

Info

Publication number: WO2025040666A1
Application number: PCT/EP2024/073317
Authority: WO
Inventors: Isabel Macián Avilés; David DEL AGUA HERNANDEZ; Fernán MATEOS SALVADOR
Original assignee: SABIC Global Technologies BV
Current assignee: SABIC Global Technologies BV
Priority date: 2023-08-24
Filing date: 2024-08-20
Publication date: 2025-02-27
Anticipated expiration: 2026-02-24
Also published as: WO2025040668A1; WO2025040653A1; WO2025040654A1; WO2025040669A1

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method for the manufacture of polycarbonate comprising the steps of - feeding polycarbonate in particulate form to a feed section of an extruder, - combining said polycarbonate with from 5 – 5000 ppm of water and optionally from 50 - 10000 ppm of a siloxane compound, based on the weight of the polycarbonate in said extruder.

Description

METHOD FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF POLYCARBONATE COMPOSITION

The present invention relates to a method for the manufacture of polycarbonate composition.

Polycarbonate is a well-known material and generally exhibits good mechanical and optical properties. Typical applications include optical media carriers, glazing, extruded sheets, lenses and water bottles. Polycarbonates are generally manufactured using two different technologies. In a first technology, known as the interfacial technology or interfacial process, phosgene is reacted with one or more bisphenols such as bisphenol A (BPA) in a liquid phase. Another well-known technology for the manufacture of polycarbonate is the so-called melt technology, sometimes also referred to as melt transesterification or melt polycondensation technology. In the melt technology, or melt process, a dihydroxy compound, typically a bisphenol, more typically BPA, is reacted with a carbonate, typically a diaryl carbonate, more typically diphenyl carbonate (DPC), in the melt phase. A transesterification catalyst is generally used to reach the desired molecular weight and to advance the polycondensation reaction.

In the interfacial process the polycarbonate is dissolved in a solvent such as methylene chloride, chlorobenzene, or a mixture of both and the process includes several purification steps prior to the polycarbonate being isolated and provided in powder or pellet form. This means that typically interfacial polycarbonate is substantially free of catalyst or catalyst residues and has a low amount of other impurities.

In the melt process the polycarbonate is directly obtained from a final reactor and it is not possible, or at least not economically feasible, to purify the polycarbonate. This means that any contaminant that was contained in the raw materials or was generated during the polymerisation process, and further the catalyst or catalyst residues remain present in the obtained polycarbonate. Apart from that, a polycarbonate obtained by the melt transesterification process is also known to be structurally different from interfacial polycarbonate. First of all, melt polycarbonate typically has a minimum amount of branching caused by Fries and/or Kolbe-Schmidt rearrangement mechanisms, which branching is generally absent in interfacial polycarbonate. Secondly, melt polycarbonate typically has a much higher number of phenolic hydroxy end groups while polycarbonate obtained by the interfacial process is typically end-capped and has at most 150 ppm, preferably at most 50 ppm, more preferably at most 10 ppm of phenol hydroxyl end-groups.

Improving the heat stability and color stability of melt polycarbonate is addressed in US 5,514,767 which discloses a method for the manufacturing a polycarbonate composition comprising performing a hot-melt polycondensation of an aromatic dihydroxy compound and a dicarbonate in the presence of a basic catalyst, adding (B) 0.1 - 10 ppm of a sulfur- containing acid compound with a pKa value less than 3 or a derivative thereof, and (C) 5 - 1000 ppm of water for the polycarbonate while the reaction product polycarbonate (A) is still in a molten state, and kneading the material.

There is a need for a polycarbonate composition with good color properties.

The foregoing object is met, at least in part, in accordance with the invention which is directed at a method for the manufacture of a polycarbonate composition comprising the steps of feeding polycarbonate in particulate form to a feed section of an extruder, combining said polycarbonate with from 5 - 5000 ppm of water and optionally 50 - 10000 ppm of a siloxane compound, based on the weight of the polycarbonate in said extruder.

Advantageously, the polycarbonate composition obtained by the method according to the invention has improved color properties compared to the polycarbonate in particulate form to be processed (hereinafter sometimes referred as “starting polycarbonate”), i.e. the method according to the invention allows improving color properties of polycarbonate which has already been solidified. Accordingly, even if the starting polycarbonate does not have the color properties required for an intended use, the method according to the invention advantageously allows transforming it into a polycarbonate composition having desired color properties.

The starting polycarbonate may e.g. be polycarbonate in powder form, polycarbonate in pellet form or polycarbonate in flake form. The starting polycarbonate may comprise or consist of polycarbonate that has been prepared by interfacial technology (hereinafter also referred as interfacial polycarbonate). Interfacial process does not involve use of a transesterification catalyst as in the melt technology and therefore interfacial polycarbonate does not comprise a catalyst quencher (also referred as catalyst deactivator, quencher or quenching agent) such as butyl tosylate for deactivating the transesterification catalyst.

Preferably, the starting polycarbonate is interfacial polycarbonate in powder form.

The starting polycarbonate may comprise or consist of polycarbonate that has been prepared by melt technology. The starting polycarbonate may comprise or consist of polycarbonate that has been prepared by a process comprising the steps of

- melt reacting a dihydroxy compound and a carbonate in the presence of a transesterification catalyst, thereby forming a stream of molten polycarbonate and

- combining said stream of molten polycarbonate with a catalyst quencher for deactivating the transesterification catalyst at least in part.

This melt technology process involves combining the stream of molten polycarbonate formed by melt reaction with water. It will thus be appreciated that this process does not comprise an intermediate step of solidifying the molten polycarbonate (e.g. pelletizing the molten polycarbonate) between the step of forming the stream of molten polycarbonate by melt reaction and the step of combing said stream with water. It will further be appreciated that the method follows the steps in a sequential order.

Preferably, no catalyst quencher is added in said extruder in the method according to the invention.

Unlike US5,514,767 which is directed to obtaining a polycarbonate composition with improved heat stability and color stability from the reaction product polycarbonate which is still in a molten state, the method according to the invention improves the color properties of polycarbonate which has already been solidified. It is noted that US5,514,767 mentions Comparative Example 3 where the reaction product polycarbonate was first made into pellets and these pellets were fed to an extruder wherein a sulfur-containing acid compound and water were added to make new pellets. In Comparative Example 3 of US5,514,767, the reaction product polycarbonate was first made into pellets without the addition of a sulfur- containing acid compound and water and thus the new pellets were made from pellets which still contain catalysts which have not been deactivated.

Water addition

According to the invention, a small amount of water is added and mixed with the starting polycarbonate fed to an extruder. The resulting polycarbonate composition has improved color properties (in particular the yellowing expressed by the parameter b*) compared to the starting polycarbonate.

For the purpose of the present invention the water needs to be as pure as possible. In particular it should be neutral in pH, meaning a pH from 6.0 - 8.0, preferably from 6.5 - 7.5, more preferably from 6.9 - 7.1. It is preferred that the water has a total dissolved solids content (TDS) of at most 3.0 ppm at 25 °C. The water may have one or more of an iron ion content of at most 0.05 ppm, a copper ion content of at most 0.01 ppm, a carbon dioxide content of at most 2.0 ppm, a silica content of at most 0.1 ppm. The water may have a bicarbonate content of at most 1 .0 ppm.

It is preferred that the water has an electrical conductivity of at most 5.0 pS/cm at 25°C. More preferably, the electrical conductivity of the water is at most 3.0 pS/cm, more preferably at most 1.0 pS/cm, more preferably at most 0.5 pS/cm, even more preferably 0.05 pS/cm, at 25°C. Measurement methods for measuring the electrical conductivity of water are known to the skilled person. Thus, the electrical conductivity of water is measured using a conductivity meter by determining its resistance between two flat or cylindrical electrodes which are separated by a fixed distance. An alternating voltage is usually applied in order to avoid electrolysis. The conductivity is determined in accordance with ISO 7888:1985.

The amount of water to be added and mixed is 5 - 5000 ppm based on the weight of the polycarbonate. The present inventors found that if the amount of water is too high this may not result in the desired improvement of the color properties. A too low amount will generally not have the desired effect or at least show only a very small improvement in the color properties of the polycarbonate. It is preferred that the amount of water is in the range of 10 - 4000 ppm, 30 - 3000 ppm, 50 - 2500 ppm, 75 - 1000 ppm, 100 - 800 ppm or 150 - 500 ppm, with a range of from 200-400 ppm being most preferred, wherein the amount in ppm is based on the weight of the polycarbonate. In a specific embodiment, the amount of water is in the range of 5 - 800 ppm, wherein the amount in ppm is based on the weight of the polycarbonate.

It is desirable that the amount of water with respect to the polycarbonate is well-controlled and therefore the amount of water in the starting polycarbonate is preferably low. Preferably, the starting polycarbonate has a water content of at most 2500 ppm, preferably at most 1500 ppm, more preferably at most 500 ppm, more preferably at most 100, most preferably at most 50 ppm. This can be achieved by storing the starting polycarbonate in a dry environment and/or drying the starting polycarbonate before it is fed to the extruder.

The water is added in the extruder. The water may be combined with the polycarbonate before and/or after the polycarbonate has melted. Alternatively or additionally, the water may be combined with the polycarbonate which has partly melted. Preferably, the water is combined with the polycarbonate after the polycarbonate has melted. This has an advantage that the handling of moist particulate polycarbonate is avoided. Moist particulate polycarbonate, in particular moist polycarbonate powder, is more difficult to handle than dry particulate polycarbonate.

Preferably, the method according to the invention is performed such that loss of molecular weight of the molten polycarbonate by the addition of water in the extruder is limited. This is achieved e.g. by suitably selecting the amount of water to be combined with the polycarbonate in the extruder.

When the water is combined with the polycarbonate after the polycarbonate has melted, the molten polycarbonate preferably has a first weight average molecular weight as determined using GPC on the basis of polystyrene standards and the molten polycarbonate after the combination with 5-5000 ppm of water has a second weight average molecular weight as determined using GPC on the basis of polystyrene standards, wherein the second weight average molecular weight is at least 90%, preferably at least 95%, more preferably at least 99% of the first weight average molecular weight. The method may further comprise subjecting the polycarbonate to a vacuum after it is combined with water. This may be performed by a vacuum means provided in the extruder. The vacuum may e.g. be in the range of 1 - 800 mbar, for example 100 - 700 mbar.

In the method according to the invention, the extruder to which the polycarbonate in particulate form is fed may comprise a vent port for subjecting the polycarbonate to a vacuum.

Siloxane compound

A siloxane compound may be combined with the polycarbonate in the extruder. The siloxane compound may be combined with the polycarbonate before and/or after the polycarbonate has melted. Alternatively or additionally, the siloxane compound may be combined with the polycarbonate which has partly melted. Preferably, the siloxane compound is added after the polycarbonate has melted.

The siloxane compound may be added in the melt mixing device before, at the same time and/or after the addition of water.

The addition of a siloxane compound can have an advantage that the amount of residual dihydroxy compound such as residual bisphenol A in the polycarbonate is reduced. The present inventors observed an advantageous effect of the addition of the siloxane compound in a melt transesterification process for the manufacture of melt polycarbonate and accordingly expect that the same beneficial effect may be observed in the context of the present invention for an interfacial polycarbonate.

The amount of the siloxane compound may be 50 to 10000 ppm, e.g. 50 to 5000 ppm or 100 to 1000 ppm, based on the weight of the polycarbonate.

The siloxane compound may be represented by a general formula (I):

wherein each occurrence of R1 may be the same or different and is selected from hydrogen, methyl, ethyl, phenyl and vinyl, each occurrence of R2 may be the same or different and is selected from hydrogen, methyl, ethyl, phenyl and vinyl, each of R3 and R6 is selected from hydrogen, hydroxyl, vinyl, methyl, methoxy and ethoxy, each of R4, R5, R7 and R8 is selected from methyl, methoxy, ethyl, ethoxy and phenyl and x is an integer between 1 and 500.

Preferably, x is an integer between 2 and 400, 3 and 300, 4 and 200, 5 and 100 or 10 and 50. A higher value of x leads to the siloxane compound having a lower volatility so that the losses in the vent port of a melt mixing device such as an extruder is reduced. A lower value of x leads to the siloxane compound having a lower viscosity so that it mixes well with the polycarbonate. These preferred ranges of x provide a good balance of the volatility and viscosity for use in the present invention.

Preferably, each of R4, R5, R7 and R8 is selected from methyl and phenyl.

Preferably, at least one of R3 and R6 is methyl. In some embodiments, each of R3 and R6 is methyl. In some embodiments, one of R3 and R6 is methyl and the other one of R3 and R6 is hydrogen, hydroxyl or vinyl. In some embodiments, each of R3 and R6 is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, hydroxyl and vinyl.

Preferably, at least one of R4, R5, R7 and R8 is methyl. More preferably, at least two, at least three of R4, R5, R7 and R8 are methyl. Most preferably, each of R4, R5, R7 and R8 is methyl. In some preferred embodiments, each of R3, R6, R4, R5, R7 and R8 is methyl.

In some preferred embodiments, the siloxane compound (I) comprises or is a compound represented by:

wherein each occurrence of R1 may be the same or different and is selected from hydrogen and phenyl and y is an integer and z is an integer and y+z=x. y/(y+z) may be 0.0 (i.e. y is 0) to 1.0 (i.e. z is 0). y/(y+z) may be at least 0.1 to 0.9, for example 0.4 to 0.6. y/(y+z) may be at most 0.1 , at most 0.05 or at most 0.01. y/(y+z) may be at least 0.9, at least 0.95 or at least 0.99.

In some preferred embodiments, the siloxane compound (I) is comprises or is a compound represented by:

wherein y is an integer and z is an integer and y+z=x. This has an advantage that the polycarbonate obtained has good haze properties. Preferably, y/(y+z) is at least 0.1 , for example 0.4 to 0.6, and may be at least 0.9, at least 0.95 or at least 0.99. In some embodiments, z is 0.

In some preferred embodiments, the siloxane compound (I) is represented by:

wherein y is an integer and z is an integer and y+z=x. This has an advantage that the polycarbonate obtained has good haze properties and the reduction in the amount of bisphenol in the polycarbonate is particularly large. Preferably, y/(y+z) is at least 0.1 , for example 0.4 to 0.6, and may be at least 0.9, at least 0.95 or at least 0.99. In some embodiments, z is 0. In some preferred embodiments, the siloxane compound (I) is represented by:

wherein y is an integer and z is an integer and y+z=x. This has an advantage that the reduction in the amount of bisphenol in the polycarbonate is particularly large. Preferably, y/(y+z) is at least 0.1 , for example 0.4 to 0.6, and may be at least 0.9, at least 0.95 or at least 0.99. In some embodiments, z is 0.

The siloxane compound used according to the invention may consist of one type of the siloxane compound represented by formula (I) or a mixture of different types of the siloxane compound represented by formula (I) such as a mixture of the siloxane compounds represented by formula (ll)-(VI).

Preferably, the siloxane compound comprises or is a compound selected from the group consisting of phenyl methyl siloxane, methyl hydrogen siloxane, methyl methyl siloxane and phenyl hydrogen siloxane and combinations thereof, most preferably methyl hydrogen siloxane.

The amount of the siloxane compound to be added in the extruder is 50 to 10000 ppm based on the weight of the polycarbonate, for example 50 to 5000 ppm or 150 to 1000 ppm.

While the present inventors have found the foregoing siloxane compounds, having predominantly R2Si-O2 repeating units, to be advantageous, other siloxane compounds having any combination of R2Si-O2 repeating units, RaSi-0 repeating units and/or RSi-Oa repeating units and/or Si-O4 repeating units may also be applied (the “R” groups corresponding to any of R1 - R8 as described above).

The starting polycarbonate may be any polycarbonate in particulate form. The preparation methods of polycarbonate such as the melt technology and the interfacial technology are well-known to the skilled person and are not described herein in detail.

In some preferred embodiments, the polycarbonate comprises or consists of bisphenol A (BPA) polycarbonate homopolymer.

The starting polycarbonate may be fed to the extruder in its pure form or as a mixture of the polycarbonate and additives, for example pellets comprising or consisting of the polycarbonate and additives.

Suitable examples of the additives in the mixture (e.g. pellets) include one or more of an impact modifier, flow modifier, filler, reinforcing agent (e.g., glass fibers or talc), antioxidant, heat stabilizer, light stabilizer, UV light stabilizer and/or UV absorbing additive, plasticizer, lubricant, release agent, in particular glycerol monostearate, pentaerythritol tetra stearate, glycerol tristearate, stearyl stearate, antistatic agent, antifog agent, antimicrobial agent, colorant (e.g., a dye or pigment), flame retardant either or not combined with an anti-drip agent such as polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) or PTFE-encapsulated styrene-acrylonitrile copolymer. The present invention is not limited in terms of the type and amount of additives and an embodiment is possible wherein none of these additives exemplified above is added.

In some embodiments, the additives comprise tris(2,4-di-tert.-butylphenyl) phosphite (commercially available e.g. as Irgafos® 168 from BASF). The amount of tris(2,4-di-tert.- butylphenyl) phosphite with respect to the amount of the polycarbonate may e.g. be 10 to 800 ppm, for example 10 to 100 ppm or 100 to 800 ppm.

During the preparation of the starting polycarbonate, the stream of molten polycarbonate may have passed through a melt filter. Thus, in an aspect of the invention, the stream of molten polycarbonate is passed through a melt filter. In another aspect of the invention, the stream of molten polycarbonate is not filtered. The melt filter may have a pore size of for example 2.5-60 micrometer. A melt filter has the function of removing any particulate matter or gels from the stream. Depending on the pore size, passing the stream of molten polycarbonate through a melt filter may cause a temperature increase of the molten polycarbonate.

In the method according to the invention, the extruder to which the polycarbonate in particulate form is fed does not comprise a melt filter having a pore size of at most 100 micrometer. This avoids any negative effect caused by the mixture of the molten polycarbonate and water passing through the melt filter.

In some embodiments, the method further comprises combining the polycarbonate with additives. The additives may be selected from the group consisting of an impact modifier, flow modifier, filler, reinforcing agent (e.g., glass fibers or talc), antioxidant, heat stabilizer, light stabilizer, UV light stabilizer and/or UV absorbing additive, plasticizer, lubricant, release agent, in particular glycerol monostearate, pentaerythritol tetra stearate, glycerol tristearate, stearyl stearate, antistatic agent, antifog agent, antimicrobial agent, colorant (e.g., a dye or pigment), flame retardant either or not combined with an anti-drip agent such as polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) or PTFE-encapsulated styrene-acrylonitrile copolymer. The additives may be a non-polymeric additive such as the non-polymeric additives in this group.

The additives may be combined with the polycarbonate before and/or after the polycarbonate has melted. The additives may be combined with the polycarbonate which has partly melted.

The method may further comprise cooling the polycarbonate composition from the extruder and cutting the cooled polycarbonate composition into pellets.

The invention further relates to a polycarbonate composition obtainable by or obtained by the method according to the invention.

The polycarbonate composition may have a Melt Volume-Flow Rate determined according to ISO1133-1 :2022 at 1.2 kg and 300 °C of e.g. 1.0 to 100.0 cm³/10 min, preferably 2.0 to 50.0 cm³/10 min, more preferably 3.0 to 30.0 cm³/10 min. For example, the polycarbonate composition may have a Melt Volume-Flow Rate determined according to ISO1133-1 :2022 at 1.2 kg and 300 °C of 1.0 to 7.5 cm³/10 min, 7.5 to 12.5 cm³/10 min, or 12.5 to 30.0 cm³/10 min.

Preferably, the polycarbonate composition has a b* value of at most 7.0, preferably at most 6.5, more preferably at most 6.0, preferably at most 5.5, more preferably at most 4.5, as determined by according to Cl ELAB (ASTM D6290-05) and ASTM E313 using a 45/0 geometry, light source D65 and a 10° viewing angle with a 32 mm measurement area.

The present invention further provides a thermoplastic composition comprising the polycarbonate composition according to the invention and at least one further polymer, preferably selected from the group consisting of polycarbonate - polyorganosiloxane copolymers, polycarbonate-polyester copolymers, polyesters, polyolefins, acrylonitrile/butadiene/styrene copolymer, methyl methacrylate/butadiene/styrene copolymer, styrene/butadiene/styrene copolymer (SBS), styrene/ ethylene-butylene /styrene copolymer (SEBS), styrene/ ethylene-propylene /styrene copolymer (SEPS) styrene/acrylonitrile copolymer (SAN), acrylonitrile/styrene/acrylonitrile copolymer (ASA), polybutylene terephthalate (PBT), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), unsaturated polyester (LIPES), polyamide (PA), thermoplastic urethane (TPU), polystyrene (PS), high impact polystyrene (HIPS), polyvinyl chloride (PVC). The amount of the polycarbonate composition may e.g. be at 5 to 95 wt%, 50 to 95 wt% or 55 to 95 wt% with respect to the thermoplastic composition.

The thermoplastic composition according to the invention may be made e.g. by melt-mixing the polycarbonate composition according to the invention and the at least one further polymer.

The present invention further provides a molded article comprising or consisting of the polycarbonate composition according to the invention or the thermoplastic composition according to the invention.

The present invention further provides a method for the manufacture of a molded article comprising molding the polycarbonate composition according to the invention or the thermoplastic composition according to the invention. The polycarbonate composition manufactured in accordance with the invention has an improved color compared to an otherwise identical polycarbonate composition manufactured under otherwise identical conditions yet without the addition of water to the extruder.

Claims

C L A I M S

1. Method for the manufacture of a polycarbonate composition comprising the steps of feeding polycarbonate in particulate form to a feed section of an extruder, combining said polycarbonate with from 5 - 5000 ppm of water and optionally from 50 - 10000 ppm of a siloxane compound, based on the weight of the polycarbonate in said extruder.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein said polycarbonate comprises or consists of interfacial polycarbonate.

3. The method of claim 1 or 2 wherein said polycarbonate comprises or consists of polycarbonate that has been prepared by a process comprising the steps of melt reacting a dihydroxy compound and a carbonate in the presence of a transesterification catalyst, thereby forming a stream of molten polycarbonate and combining said stream of molten polycarbonate with a catalyst quencher for deactivating the transesterification catalyst at least in part.

4. The method of any one or more of the preceding claims wherein said polycarbonate has a water content of at most 2500 ppm, preferably at most 1500 ppm, more preferably at most 800 ppm, more preferably at most 500 ppm, more preferably at most 100 ppm, more preferably at most 50 ppm.

5. The method of any one or more of the preceding claims wherein said polycarbonate is in powder form.

6. The method of any one or more of the preceding claims wherein no catalyst quencher is added in said extruder.

7. The method of any one or more of the preceding claims wherein the extruder does not comprise a filter having a pore size of at most 100 micrometer.

8. The method of any one or more of the preceding claims wherein said polycarbonate comprises or consists of bisphenol A (BPA) polycarbonate homopolymer.

9. The method of any one or more of the preceding claims wherein the siloxane compound is represented by a general structure (I):

wherein each occurrence of R1 may be the same or different and is selected from hydrogen, methyl, ethyl, phenyl and vinyl, each occurrence of R2 may be the same or different and is selected from hydrogen, methyl, ethyl, phenyl and vinyl, each of R3 and R6 is selected from hydrogen, hydroxyl, vinyl, methyl, methoxy and ethoxy, each of R4, R5, R7 and R8 is selected from methyl, methoxy, ethyl, ethoxy and phenyl and x is an integer between 1 and 500, preferably wherein the siloxane compound of formula (I) comprises or is a compound represented by:

wherein each occurrence of R1 may be the same or different and is selected from hydrogen and phenyl and y is an integer and z is an integer and y+z=x; more preferably wherein the siloxane compound of formula (I) comprises or is a compound represented by:

(V) or

wherein y/(y+z) is at least 0.1 , for example 0.4 to 0.6, or at least 0.9, at least 0.95 or at least 0.99, or z is 0; more preferably wherein the siloxane compound comprises or is a compound selected from the group consisting of phenyl methyl siloxane, methyl hydrogen siloxane, methyl methyl siloxane and phenyl hydrogen siloxane and combinations thereof, preferably the siloxane compound comprises or is methyl hydrogen siloxane.

10. The method of any one or more of the preceding claims wherein the amount of water is 10 - 4000 ppm, 30 - 3000 ppm, 50 - 2500 ppm, 75 - 1000 ppm, 100 - 800 ppm or 150 - 500 ppm or 200 - 400 ppm and/or wherein the water has an electrical conductivity of at most 5 pS/cm at 25°C measured in accordance with ISO 7888:1985.

11 . The method of any one or more of the preceding claims further comprising cooling the polycarbonate composition and cutting the cooled polycarbonate composition into pellets.

12. Polycarbonate composition obtained or obtainable by the method of any one or more of claims 1-11.

13. Method comprising combining the polycarbonate composition according to claim 12 with at least one further polymer component, preferably selected from the group consisting of polycarbonate - polyorganosiloxane copolymers, polycarbonate-polyester copolymers, polyesters, polyolefins, acrylonitrile/butadiene/styrene copolymer, methyl methacrylate/butadiene/styrene copolymer, styrene/butadiene/styrene copolymer (SBS), styrene/ ethylene-butylene /styrene copolymer (SEBS), styrene/ ethylenepropylene /styrene copolymer (SEPS) styrene/acrylonitrile copolymer (SAN), acrylonitrile/styrene/acrylonitrile copolymer (ASA), polybutylene terephthalate (PBT), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), unsaturated polyester (LIPES), polyamide (PA), thermoplastic urethane (TPU), polystyrene (PS), high impact polystyrene (HIPS), polyvinyl chloride (PVC).

14. Method for the manufacture of a molded article comprising molding the polycarbonate composition according to claim 12.

15. Molded article comprising or consisting of the polycarbonate composition of claim 12.