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 for removing oligomers and non-polymeric impurities from poly(arylene sulfide) polymers and producing the polymers in easily recoverable granular form is provided in which a poly(arylene sulfide) polymer associated with oligomers and non-polymeric impurities is contacted with a solvent, water, and optionally, a base, at a sufficient temperature to substantially dissolve the polymer, oligomers and impurities; then the solution is cooled to a temperature at which the poly(arylene sulfide) precipitates while oligomers and impurities remain in solution, then the precipitated polymer is separated from the solution containing the oligomers and impurities. A polymer product produced by this method is also disclosed.

Abstract: A method is provided for producing a poly(arylene sulfide) polymer having reduced amounts of impurities by contacting a poly(arylene sulfide) polymerization reaction mixture with an acid.

Abstract: The present invention provides: (a) a method for producing a poly(arylene sulfide)(PAS) resin composition: (b) a PAS resin composition produced by the inventive resin composition production method; (c) a method which utilizes the inventive PAS resin composition in the production of a continuous fiber-reinforced composite; and (d) a PAS composite produced by the inventive composite production method. The PAS resin composition produced by the inventive resin composition production method comprises a crystallizable arylene sulfide polymer and a nucleating agent. The nucleating agent is admixed with the crystallizable arylene sulfide polymer by adding said nucleating agent to the polymerization reaction system. The inventive PAS resin composition solidifies to a fine-grained crystalline morphology and is well suited for use in the production of continuous fiber-reinforced composites, molded articles, and other products.

Abstract: A method for recovering a liquid diluent having a low salt content from an organic/aqueous mixture which contains significant quantities of the diluent, an alkali metal salt, and water comprises an integrated process which joins extraction and ion exchange steps and a reaction for the conversion of an alkali metal hydroxide. In the initial step the diluent is extracted from the original mixture employing a suitable extractant material. The extract from the initial step containing diluent, extractant material, along with reduced quantities of water and salt, is passed to an ion exchange column for conversion of the alkali metal salt to its hydroxide. In a following fractional distillation dewatering column the diluent begins to react with the alkali metal hydroxide to form an alkali-metal salt of aminocarboxylic acid which can pass harmlessly through the dewatering column for removal in further following fractional distillation step.

Abstract: According to this invention, improved results in terms of molecular weight and percent yield of aromatic sulfide/sulfone polymers are achieved by the employment of a low level modifying agent within a specific range in the polymerization reaction mixture. The modifying agent employed is a salt of an amino carboxylic acid. The salt can be employed as an already existing salt of an amino carboxylic acid or can be formed in situ by employing either an amino carboxylic acid and a base; or a lactam and a base.

Abstract: A method is provided for recovering poly(arylene sulfide) polymers characterized by low ash and oligomer concentrations and having a larger particle size, which method comprises, during recovery, adding or maintaining a sufficient amount of a polar organic compound to the reaction mixture immediately after solidifying the poly(arylene sulfide) polymer.

Abstract: In a first embodiment, arylene sulfide resins are provided by contacting, in a polymerization mixture, during a polymerization process, reactants comprising: an alkali metal sulfide, an organic amide, an alkali metal carboxylate, water and a monomer source which comprises at least one dihaloaromatic compound. The amount of alkali metal carboxylate present during the polymerization process ranges from about 0.01 to about 0.03 mole per each mole of sulfur present in the resulting arylene sulfide resin. The total amount of water present during the polymerization process ranges from about 1.02 to about 2.1 moles per each mole of sulfur present in the resulting arylene sulfide resin.

Abstract: A process is provided for the production of aromatic sulfide-sulfone polymers which comprises contacting under suitable polymerization reaction conditions: (1) at least one dihaloaromatic sulfone, (2) water, and (3) a complex comprising at least one alkali metal hydrosulfide.

Abstract: A process is provided for the production of aromatic sulfide/sulfone polymers which comprises contacting under suitable polymerization reaction conditions: (1) at least one dihaloaromatic sulfone, (2) water, and (3) a complex comprising at least one alkali metal hydrosulfide.

Abstract: Poly(arylene sulfide/sulfone) polymers prepared using a sulfur-rich reaction mixture are treated in order to increase melt stability by contacting the poly(arylene sulfide/sulfone) polymer with an acidic solution, followed by contacting the polymer with a soluble zinc compound.

Abstract: A process is provided for the production of aromatic sulfide/sulfone polymers which comprises contacting under suitable polymerization reaction conditions: (1) at least one dihaloaromatic sulfone, (2) water, and (3) a complex comprising at least one alkali metal hydrosulfide.

Abstract: A process for preparing a branched, high molecular weight poly(arylene sulfide ketone) by the addition of a polyhaloaromatic compound to a reaction mixture containing a dihaloaromatic ketone, an organic amide, an alkali metal sulfide, and water, and the product produced therefrom.

Abstract: A process is provided for the production of aromatic sulfide/sulfone polymers which involves contacting under suitable polymerization reaction conditions: (1) at least one dihaloaromatic sulfone, (2) at least one organic amide, (3) at least one alkali metal hydrosulfide, (4) water, and (5) at least one member selected from the group consisting of (a) alkali metal carbonates and (b) mixtures of alkali metal carbonates with alkali metal hydroxides wherein said mixtures have at least about 0.5 mole percent alkali metal carbonate.

Abstract: Poly(arylene sulfide) resins are modified by melt mixing a resin with a basic additive to form a resin product composition. The basic additive is selected from the group consisting of inorganic hydroxides, inorganic oxides and organic metal salts wherein the metals are from Group IA, IIA, or IIB and the salts are of carboxylic acids and phenols. The product compositions are suitable for injection molding, film forming and fiber spinning processes.

Abstract: A process for the production and use of branched polymers of arylene sulfide in which (A) a reaction mixture of (1) at least one p-dihalo-benzene, (2) at least one alkali metal sulfide, (3) at least one organic amide, (4) water in an amount of about 1.0 mole to about 2.

Abstract: A process for the production and use of branched polymers of arylene sulfide in which (A) a reaction mixture of (1) at least one p-dihalo-benzene, (2) at least one alkali metal sulfide, (3) at least one organic amide, (4) water in an amount of about 1.0 mole to about 2.

Abstract: A method for affecting the crystallization of poly(phenylene sulfide), i.e., lowering the melt crystallization temperature or lowering the rate of crystallization of the polymer, in which phenylene sulfide polymer is contacted with polyvalent metal cations in solution, preferably aqueous at a temperature and for a time sufficient to affect the crystallization of the polymer.

Abstract: A method for recovering granular poly(arylene sulfide) from a polymerization reaction mixture at a temperature above that at which poly(arylene sulfide) is in molten phase comprising polar organic solvent and poly(arylene sulfide) in which, in the presence of a sufficient amount of separation agent to cause a phase separation of molten poly(arylene sulfide) and polar organic solvent, the temperature of the polymerization reaction mixture is reduced sufficiently to solidify the poly(arylene sulfide) to produce a slurry comprising particulate poly(arylene sulfide) in polar organic solvent. In a preferred embodiment a slurry comprising particulate poly(phenylene sulfide) in N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone is produced using water, and optionally an alkali metal carboxylate, as separation agent.

Abstract: Alkali metal aminoalkanoate is prepared by contacting in the presence of an alkali metal carboxylate a reaction mixture in which there is at least one alkali metal hydroxide, at least one lactam, and water. Arylene sulfide polymer is prepared by contacting at polymerization conditions a reaction mixture that contains at least one alkali metal aminoalkanoate prepared as described above; at least one polyhalo-substituted aromatic compound; at least one organic amide as solvent and H.sub.2 S. In an embodiment of the polymerization the organic amide used as solvent can be the same as the lactam from which the alkali metal aminoalkanoate was produced.