Abstract: Amorphous aromatic etherketone/sulphone copolymers, normally of reduced viscosity.gtoreq.0.

Abstract: A melt-processable composition comprising at least one polymer capable of forming an anisotropic melt and at least one other melt-processable polymer characterized in that the temperature range over which the polymer can form an anisotropic melt overlaps the temperature range over which the melt-processable polymer may be melt processed. The melt viscosity of such compositions may be very much less than that of the melt-processable polymer in the absence of the anisotropic melt-forming polymer particularly at high shear rates, corresponding to those encountered during moulding and extrusion operations. On the other hand at low shear rates and particularly when the concentration of anisotropic melt-forming polymer does not exceed 5% by weight increases in melt viscosity are obtainable which are valuable in fabrication processes operated at low shear rate where retention of form stability is required.

Abstract: A melt-processable composition comprising at least one polymer capable of forming an anisotropic melt and at least one other melt-processable polymer characterized in that the temperature range over which the polymer can form an anisotropic melt overlaps the temperature range over which the melt-processable polymer may be melt processed. The melt viscosity of such compositions may be very much less than that of the melt-processable polymer in the absence of the anisotropic melt-forming polymer particularly at high shear rates, corresponding to those encountered during moulding and extrusion operations.

Abstract: Production of a dihydroxy arylophenone by reacting a diaryl carbonate in the presence of a fluoroalkane sulphonic acid. The diaryl carbonate is preferably diphenyl carbonate, the product so formed being 4,4'-dihydroxy-benzophenone. The sulphonic acid is preferably trifluoromethane sulphonic acid.

Abstract: A polyaryletherketone polymer which is a hydrophilic sulphonated polymer derived by controllably sulphonating a copolymer having the repeat unit of formula ##STR1## together with the repeat unit of formula ##STR2## at least 70% (preferably substantially all) of the units A being sulphonated after sulphonation and substantially all the units B remaining non-sulphonated after sulphonation. The sulphonation may be effected using 98% w/w concentrated sulphuric acid at an elevated temperature.

Abstract: Aromatic polysulphones are prepared by the reaction under substantially anhydrous conditions in the presence of a fluoroalkane sulphonic acid, particularly trifluoromethane sulphonic acid or difluoromethane sulphonic acid, of the reactants selected from the following class:(a) an aromatic compound of specified formula (such as diphenyl ether or diphenyl) and a sulphonating agent;(b) an aryl monosulphonic acid of specified formula (such as diphenyl ether-4-sulphonic acid or diphenyl-4-sulphonic acid); and(c) an aryl disulphonic acid of specified formula (such as diphenyl ether-4,4'-disulphonic acid or diphenyl-4,4'-disulphonic acid) and an aromatic compound as defined in (a).

Abstract: Production of an aromatic polyketone by reacting in the presence of a fluoroalkane sulphonic acid the reactants selected from: (a) a mixture of (i) at least one aromatic diacyl halide WOC--Ar--COW where --Ar'-- is a divalent aromatic radical, W is halogen and COW is an aromatically bound acyl halide group, which diacyl halide is polymerizable with the at least one aromatic compound of (ii), and (ii) at least one aromatic compound H--Ar'--H where --Ar'-- is a divalent aromatic radical and H is an aromatically bound hydrogen atom, which compound is polymerizable with the at least one diacyl halide of (i); (b) at least one aromatic monoacyl halide H--Ar"--COW where --Ar"-- is a divalent aromatic radical and H, W, and COW are as defined in (a), which monoacyl halide is self-polymerizable; and (c) a combination of (a) and (b).

Abstract: Production of an aromatic polyketone by reacting in the presence of a quinquevalent phosphorous halide (preferably PCl.sub.5) and a fluoroalkane sulphonic acid (preferably CF.sub.3 SO.sub.2 OH) the reactants selected from: (a) a mixture of (i) at least one aromatic dicarboxylic acid HO.sub.2 C--Ar--CO.sub.2 H where --Ar'-- is a divalent aromatic radical and CO.sub.2 H is an aromatically bound carboxylic acid group, which dicarboxylic acid is polymerizable with the at least one aromatic compound of (ii), and (ii) at least one aromatic compound H--Ar'--H where --Ar'-- is a divalent aromatic radical and H is an aromatically bound hydrogen atom, which compound is polymerizable with the at least one dicarboxylic acid of (i); (b) at least one aromatic monocarboxylic acid H--Ar"--CO.sub.2 H where --Ar"-- is a divalent aromatic radical and H and CO.sub.2 H are as defined in (a), which monocarboxylic acid is self-polymerizable; and (c) a combination of (a) and (b).

Abstract: A melt-processable composition comprising at least one polymer capable of forming an anisotropic melt and at least one other melt-processable polymer characterized in that the temperature range over which the polymer can form an anisotropic melt overlaps the temperature range over which the melt-processable polymer may be melt processed. The melt viscosity of such compositions may be very much less than that of the melt-processable polymer in the absence of the anisotropic melt-forming polymer particularly at high shear rates, corresponding to those encountered during moulding and extrusion operations.

Abstract: Tough crystalline thermoplastic aromatic polyetherketones containing the repeat units ##STR1## alone or in conjunction with other repeat units especially ##STR2## and having an inherent viscosity IV of at least 0.7, preferably at least 0.8. The polymers may be made by condensation of hydroquinone, 4,4'-difluorobenzophenone and an alkali metal carbonate or bicarbonate in the presence of an aromatic sulphone solvent, e.g. diphenylsulphone, at 150.degree.-400.degree. C. The polymers are very useful for wire coating.

Abstract: A polyarylethersulphone copolymer which is a hydrophilic sulphonated copolymer derived by controllably sulphonating a copolymer having the repeat unit of formula ##STR1## together with the repeat unit B of formula ##STR2## substantially all the units A being sulphonated after sulphonation and substantially all the units B remaining non-sulphonated after sulphonation. The sulphonation is effected using 98% w/w sulphuric acid.

Abstract: Block copolymers are prepared by heating at above 250.degree. C. (i) a halophenate, (ii) dihalobenzenoid compound plus bisphenate, and/or (iii) a polymer formed from (i) or (ii) having at least one phenate end group, said halophenate and/or dihalobenzenoid compound containing SO.sub.2 groups ortho or para to the halogen atoms, in the presence of a suspension of a crystalline polyetherketone or etherketone/sulphone copolymer.

Abstract: A polyaryletherketone polymer which is a hydrophilic sulphonated polymer derived by controllably sulphonating a polymer having the repeat unit of formula ##STR1## alone or in conjunction with the repeat unit of formula ##STR2## the latter units, if present, remaining substantially non-sulphonated after sulphonation. The sulphonation may be effected using 98% w/w concentrated sulphuric acid.

Abstract: Tough crystalline thermoplastic aromatic polyetherketones containing the repeat units ##STR1## alone or in conjunction with other repeat units especially ##STR2## and having an inherent viscosity IV of at least 0.7, preferably at least 0.8. The polymers may be made by condensation of hydroquinone, 4,4'-difluorobenzophenone and an alkali metal carbonate or bicarbonate in the presence of an aromatic sulphone solvent, e.g. diphenylsulphone, at 150.degree.-400.degree. C. The polymers are very useful for wire coating.