Abstract: Block copolymers composed of poly(phenylene sulfide) segments and poly(arylene sulfide/sulfone) segments are prepared by first polymerizing a dihalobenzene, utilizing a suitable sulfur source in the presence of a polar organic compound, to form poly(phenylene sulfide) segments then adding and polymerizing a dehaloaromatic sulfone thereby forming said block copolymer which block copolymers are employed as coatings and also are used to enhance compatibility of polymer blends.

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 process for purifying a halogenated aromatic sulfone or ketone compound comprising contacting the compound with a solvent having a normal boiling point less than about 225.degree. C. to form a mixture, heating the mixture to a temperature above the normal boiling point of the solvent in a closed system to form a solution, cooling the solution to recrystallize the compound, and recovering the compound. A second embodiment of the invention comprises repeating the purification process steps at least once to further purify the halogenated aromatic sulfone or ketone compound.

Abstract: A method for preparing a water soluble lubricating additive having the generic structural formula: ##STR1## wherein R.sub.1 is an alkyl, cycloalkyl, aryl, alkaryl or aralkyl group having from 1 to 34 carbon atoms; R.sub.2, R.sub.3 and R.sub.4 are independent alkylene groups having from 2 to 30 carbon atoms; x is either 1 or 2; y is either 0 or 1 when x=1 and is 0 when x=2; m is either 0 or 1 and n=2 to 30 is disclosed, wherein a sulfur-containing alcohol is initially reacted with an organic carboxylic acid to produce an alkylmercapto ester which is then further reacted with an alkylene oxide to produce the lubricating additive. The water-soluble lubricating additives produced in this manner are useful as lubricating additives for water-based fluids used in metalworking operations.