Abstract: A solid surface is coated with an adhesive composition comprising an aromatic polysulphone which has a reduced viscosity of at least 0.3 and which contains at least 0.2 (desirably 0.5 to 3.5) hydroxyl groups per 100 polymer repeat units and has been heated at 330.degree. to 450.degree.C in the presence of oxygen.

Abstract: Compounds of the formula ##SPC1##Where X is ##SPC2##Or a group having the formula ##SPC3##In which m takes the value 1, 2 or 3 and where Q is fluorine, chloride, bromine or a hydroxyl group or alkali metal salt thereof. Compounds are also provided having the formula ##SPC4##Where Z is a hydrogen atom or a hydroxyl group (or alkali metal salt thereof) where Q is a hydroxyl group (or alkali metal salt thereof).

Abstract: Phenol precursors are provided having the formula (Q'ZQO).sub.m Y in which Q is a bivalent aromatic radical, Q' is a univalent aromatic radical or the moiety of a bivalent aromatic radical, Z is --SO.sub.2 --, --SO--, --CO-- or --CH.sub.2 --, Y is --CO-- or --POCl.sub.2 and m is an integer having the value 1 when Y is --POCl.sub.2 and the value 2 when Y is --CO--.

Abstract: New aromatic polymers comprising units of the formula ##SPC1##And copolymers comprising such units or other units such as ##SPC2##The new polymer may be made from the alkali metal salt of a halophenol of the formula ##SPC3##

Abstract: A method for the preparation of aromatic thiols which comprises reacting a benzenoid compound having at least one halogen atom activated by an inert electron-attracting group with an alkali metal disulphide in stoichiometric proportion of from 1.0 to 2.0 moles per gram atom of activated halogen to be replaced.

Abstract: A process for the preparation of aromatic sulphone copolymers in which a polyaryl sulphone containing repeat units --Ar--SO.sub.2 -- (where Ar is a bivalent aromatic residue which may vary from unit to unit in the polymer chain and at least some of the Ar units have an aromatic ether or thioether group in the polymer chain ortho or para to at least one --SO.sub.2 -- group) is caused to react with an alkali metal salt of at least one halophenol or halothiophenol or with essentially equimolar quantities of an alkali metal salt of at least one dihydric phenol or thiophenol and at least one dihalobenzenoid compound, in which the halogen atoms are activated by an electron-attracting group.