Abstract: Disclosed herein is a process for preparing cured arylene sulfide polymers. A first curing vessel comprising a first agitator is used to cure a poly(arylene sulfide) compacted powder. The curing proceeds until the compacted powder reaches a melt flow rate within a target range. When the melt flow rate of the compacted powder first reaches the target range, the power consumption of the first agitator is determined. A second curing vessel comprising a second agitator is charged with a second quantity of the compacted poly(arylene sulfide) powder. The second quantity of compacted powder is cured in the second vessel until the power consumption of the second agitator reaches the value at which the melt flow rate in the first curing vessel first reached the target range.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a process for preparing cured arylene sulfide polymers. A first curing vessel comprising a first agitator is used to cure a poly(arylene sulfide) compacted powder. The curing proceeds until the compacted powder reaches a melt flow rate within a target range. When the melt flow rate of the compacted powder first reaches the target range, the power consumption of the first agitator is determined. A second curing vessel comprising a second agitator is charged with a second quantity of the compacted poly(arylene sulfide) powder. The second quantity of compacted powder is cured in the second vessel until the power consumption of the second agitator reaches the value at which the melt flow rate in the first curing vessel first reached the target range.

Abstract: A process is provided for producing a poly(arylene sulfide) polymer in which polymerization reactants comprising an aqueous alkali metal hydroxide and a polar organic compound are pre-reacted at a first temperature to form a mixture, then the mixture is reacted with a sulfur source at a second temperature under conditions sufficient to remove at least a portion of the water that is contained in the mixture, thereafter the thus dehydrated mixture is contacted with at least one dihaloaromatic compound under polymerization conditions.

Abstract: In a multistage counter current wash operation wherein an original solvent contained in a cake of polymeric material is displaced with a wash solvent which enters the final stage and progresses forwardly a mathematical model of the counter current wash operation is developed for providing a feedforward control system. In use, the feedforward control system maintains a desired weight fraction of the original solvent that remains in the cake exiting the final wash stage at a desired low level by manipulating the wash solvent flow rate as a function of the flow rate of the feed material. Additionally a feedback control is used in conjunction with the feedforward control.

Abstract: A process is provided for producing a poly(arylene sulfide) polymer in which polymerization reactants comprising an aqueous alkali metal hydroxide and a polar organic compound are pre-reacted at a first temperature to form a mixture, then the mixture is reacted with a sulfur source at a second temperature under conditions sufficient to remove at least a portion of the water that is contained in the mixture, thereafter the thus dehydrated mixture is contacted with at least one dihaloaromatic compound under polymerization conditions.

Abstract: A process is provided for curing poly(arylene sulfide) polymers by achieving and maintaining curing conditions in a cure vessel, then intermittently adding uncured polymer to said cure vessel and intermittently removing polymer from the cure vessel wherein the removal of polymer from the cure vessel is performed at intervals such that the presence of uncured polymer is minimized or avoided.

Abstract: A process is provided to recover at least one modifier compound and at least one polar organic compound from a poly(arylene sulfide) reaction mixture comprising high molecular weight poly(arylene sulfide), low molecular weight poly(arylene sulfide), cyclic and linear poly(arylene sulfide) oligomers, at least one polar organic compound, at least one modifier compound, and an alkali metal halide by-product.

Abstract: A process is provided to recover at least one modifier compound and at least one polar organic compound from a reaction mixture comprising high molecular weight Poly(arylene sulfide) product, low molecular weight P(AS), cyclic and linear P(AS) oligomers, at least one POC, at least one modifier, an alkali metal halide by-product, and water.

Abstract: A process is provided to recover at least one modifier compound and at least one polar organic compound from a P(AS) recycle mixture.

Abstract: A novel treatment and recovery process is provided which produces commercially desirable high molecular weight poly(arylene sulfide)s from undesirable low molecular weight poly(arylene sulfide)s. The novel process reduces the quantity of low molecular weight poly(arylene sulfide)s which otherwise have little or no commercial value and can require disposal.

Abstract: A process is provided for producing a poly(arylene sulfide) polymer which employs at least one base as a reactant, wherein the base is contacted with the polymerization reaction mixture incrementally during the polymerization.

Abstract: A method is provided for hydrovisbreaking hydrocarbon polymers, particularly those derived from scrap articles, in which a mixture of at least one hydrocarbon polymer and a solvent is contacted with hydrogen under conditions sufficient to hydrovisbreak the polymer. The solvent comprises a combined weight percentage of C.sub.n H.sub.2n-8 and C.sub.n H.sub.2n-10 hydrocarbons of at least about 10 weight percent, where n is an integer of at least 8 in C.sub.n H.sub.2n-8 and n is an integer of at least 10 in C.sub.n H.sub.2n-10. The hydrovisbroken polymer can be fed to a catalytic cracker for cracking to cracked products.

Abstract: A process for the production of arylene sulfide polymers is provided which comprises subjecting a mixture of at least one first sulfur source, at least one second sulfur source comprised of at least one organic monothiol compound, at least one polyhalo-substituted aromatic compound and at least one polar organic compound to polymerization conditions sufficient to produce the arylene sulfide polymer. The organic monothiol compound can be added at any time prior to substantial completion of polymerization to provide arylene sulfide polymers of increased extrusion rate.

Abstract: A contacting apparatus that is a vertically elongated, cylindrical shell having closed ends and separated by horizontal baffle plates into a multiplicity of discrete chambers with access from one chamber to another through concentric circular holes, axially centered in the baffles with a continuously rotatable shaft extending concentric with the baffles within the shell with at least one agitator means attached to the shaft positioned in each chamber and with the shaft in the circular openings providing annular openings in the baffles such the the ratio of backflow rate to feed rate through the openings is less than 1.5.

Abstract: Continuous production of arylene sulfide polymer is provided in a series of two or more substantially liquid-full reactors maintained at seriatim reduced temperature and pressure and discharging into a final zone which has a vapor space above a controlled liquid level and is maintained at a pressure lower than the liquid-full reaction train by vapor withdrawal with the reaction temperature increased at least to exceed all but the highest temperature in the liquid-full reactors so that at least a portion of the water produced in the arylene sulfide polymerization and a portion of the organic amide diluent are vaporized to concentrate the reaction slurry. The reaction slurry effluent from the vaporizing reactor can then be flashed with or without the aid of superheated steam dilution to produce a vapor which can be condensed, separated and recycled to the continuous reaction process and a particulate, polymeric product.