Abstract: An aromatic polyether including structural units represented by the following formulas (1A) to (4A):

Abstract: A process for continuous production of a branched polyarylene sulfide, which includes pre-polymerizing a sulfur source with a dihalogenated aromatic compound in such a manner that the reaction rate of the dihalogenated aromatic compound is less than 95% so as to produce a polyarylene sulfide, prepolymer, and polymerizing the prepolymer in the presence of a branching agent while dispersing the phase of the polymer into the form of spherical droplets in the phase of a solvent. When the prepolymer is added to the solvent phase to which a phase separator is beforehand added, spherical droplets of the polymer phase can be produced.

Abstract: The present invention provides a design-for-product creating system and a design-for-product processing system. In the design-for-product creating system, a product vendor provides a user with a product design program, which enables the user to view virtual products that are graphics expressing designs created by the product vendor, and virtual part data representing virtual parts that constitute each virtual product. The user downloads the product design program and digital part data into his/her own computer, uniquely designs a product or part in a desired manner, and asks the product vendor over the Internet or the like to manufacture a product or part of the unique design. The product vendor in turn manufactures a product or part according to the desired unique design for a product or part provided by the user, and supplies the product or part of the unique design to the user.

Abstract: A process for continuous production of a branched polyarylene sulfide, which includes pre-polymerizing a sulfur source with a dihalogenated aromatic compound in such a manner that the reaction rate of the dihalogenated aromatic compound is less than 95% so as to produce a polyarylene sulfide, prepolymer, and polymerizing the prepolymer in the presence of a branching agent while dispersing the phase of the polymer into the form of spherical droplets in the phase of a solvent. When the prepolymer is added to the solvent phase to which a phase separator is beforehand added, spherical droplets of the polymer phase can be produced.

Abstract: The present invention provides a design-for-product creating system and a design-for-product processing system. In the design-for-product creating system, a product vendor provides a user with a product design program, which enables the user to view virtual products that are graphics expressing designs created by the product vendor, and virtual part data representing virtual parts that constitute each virtual product. The user downloads the product design program and digital part data into his/her own computer, uniquely designs a product or part in a desired manner, and asks the product vendor over the Internet or the like to manufacture a product or part of the unique design. The product vendor in turn manufactures a product or part according to the desired unique design for a product or part provided by the user, and supplies the product or part of the unique design to the user.

Abstract: There are disclosed a process for producing a polycarbonate through transesterification which comprises using, as a polymerization catalyst, (1) a combination of a nitrogen-containing organic basic compound and a quaternary phosphonium salt, (2) a tetraarylphosphonium salt having a specific chemical structure, or (3) a quaternary phosphonium salt having a specific chemical structure and containing a branched alkyl group; and a process for producing a polycarbonate which comprises the steps of preparing a polycarbonate prepoplymer by preliminary polymerization and thereafter polymerizing the resultant prepolymer in a state of a solid phase by the use of a quaternary phosphonium salt as a catalyst.By using any of these processes it is made possible to produce, in extremely high efficiency, a high-quality polycarbonate being excellent in appearance, heat resistance, hydrolysis resistance and the like.