Abstract: A method of making a polyetherimide comprises: combining a bisphenol A dianhydride, p-phenylene diamine and a halogenated aromatic solvent to form a reactant solution; heating the reactant solution to a temperature of 205° C. to 330° C. at a pressure sufficient to prevent boiling to afford a reaction solution; removing water from the reaction solution; maintaining the reaction solution at a temperature of 205° C. to 330° C. and a pressure sufficient to prevent boiling for 10 minutes to 5 hours to form a product mixture comprising the polyetherimide and solvent; and isolating the polyetherimide.

Abstract: A method of making a polyetherimide includes forming an intermediate polyetherimide with an anhydride-amine stoichiometry of ?2 to ?40 mol % and melt mixing the intermediate polyetherimide with a bis(ether anhydride) for greater than 3 minutes at a temperature 50 to 225° C. greater than the glass transition temperature of a final polyetherimide to produce the final polyetherimide.

Abstract: A method of making a polyetherimide includes forming a monomer mixture comprising a bis(ether anhydride), a diamine and a volatile organic solvent; removing the volatile organic solvent to form a particulate solid; and melt polymerizing the particulate solid at a temperature 50 to 225° C. greater than the glass transition temperature of the polyetherimide in a single melt mixing device. The polyetherimide has an anhydride-amine stoichiometry and the standard deviation of anhydride-amine stoichiometry is less than 0.4 mol %.

Abstract: A method for modifying a polyimide includes reacting a first polyimide with an amine to produce a second polyimide having an anhydride-amine stoichiometry of ?2 to ?40 mol % and reacting the second polyimide with a monoanhydride, a bis(anhydride), a bis(ether anhydride) or a tetracarboxylic acid to produce a final polyimide having an anhydride-amine stoichiometry of ?1 to 2 mol %.

Abstract: A method of making a polyetherimide includes melt mixing a composition comprising an aromatic bis(ether anhydride) and a diamine to form a polyetherimide wherein melt mixing occurs at a temperature 50 to 225° C. greater than the glass transition temperature of the polyetherimide and after the composition attains a weight average molecular weight that is greater than or equal to 20% of the weight average molecular weight of the polyetherimide melt mixing occurs at a pressure less than atmospheric pressure.

Abstract: A method of making a polyetherimide comprises: combining a bisphenol A dianhydride, p-phenylene diamine and a halogenated aromatic solvent to form a reactant solution; heating the reactant solution to a temperature of 205° C. to 330° C. at a pressure sufficient to prevent boiling to afford a reaction solution; removing water from the reaction solution; maintaining the reaction solution at a temperature of 205° C. to 330° C. and a pressure sufficient to prevent boiling for 10 minutes to 5 hours to form a product mixture comprising the polyetherimide and solvent; and isolating the polyetherimide.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a friable polyimide powder having a weight average molecular weight, as determined by gel permeation chromatography (GPC) using polystyrene standards, of less than or equal to 24,500 Daltons and a reactive aromatic amine end group concentration greater than or equal to 3 mole percent, wherein 90 weight percent of the powder particles are reducible to less than or equal to 75 micrometers by mechanical grinding. Also disclosed is a method of making the friable polyimide powder, a processed polyimide resulting from the friable polyimide powder and compositions comprising the processed polyimide.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a friable polyimide powder having a weight average molecular weight, as determined by gel permeation chromatography (GPC) using polystyrene standards, of less than or equal to 24,500 Daltons and a reactive aromatic amine end group concentration greater than or equal to 3 mole percent, wherein 90 weight percent of the powder particles are reducible to less than or equal to 75 micrometers by mechanical grinding. Also disclosed is a method of making the friable polyimide powder, a processed polyimide resulting from the friable polyimide powder and compositions comprising the processed polyimide.

Abstract: A method of purifying a poly(phenylene ether) is described. The method includes mixing a poly(phenylene ether) solution comprising a poly(phenylene ether) and a poly(phenylene ether) solvent with first washing solvents including a C1-C4 alkanol and water to form a first liquid phase including poly(phenylene ether) and poly(phenylene ether) solvent, and a second liquid phase comprising C1-C4 alkanol and water, and separating the first liquid phase from the second liquid phase. The first and second liquid phases combined comprise about 60 to about 95 weight percent poly(phenylene ether) solvent, about 4 to about 32 weight percent C1-C4 alkanol, and about 1 to about 36 weight percent water. When optionally combined with evaporative removal of the poly(phenylene ether) solvent, the method reduces C1-C4 alkanol usage compared to the antisolvent precipitation method, and it produces poly(phenylene ether) having reduced catalyst metal ion residue and reduced color.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a method for producing poly(arylene) ethers with improved particle size characteristics. The improved particle size characteristics of the polyphenylene ether include one or both of: (i) up to about 50 weight percent of particles smaller than 38 micrometers; and a (ii) mean particle size greater than 100 or more micrometers.

Abstract: A method of purifying a poly(phenylene ether) is described. The method includes mixing a poly(phenylene ether) solution comprising a poly(phenylene ether) and a poly(phenylene ether) solvent with first washing solvents including a C1-C4 alkanol and water to form a first liquid phase including poly(phenylene ether) and poly(phenylene ether) solvent, and a second liquid phase comprising C1-C4 alkanol and water, and separating the first liquid phase from the second liquid phase. The first and second liquid phases combined comprise about 60 to about 95 weight percent poly(phenylene ether) solvent, about 4 to about 32 weight percent C1-C4 alkanol, and about 1 to about 36 weight percent water. When optionally combined with evaporative removal of the poly(phenylene ether) solvent, the method reduces C1-C4 alkanol usage compared to the antisolvent precipitation method, and it produces poly(phenylene ether) having reduced catalyst metal ion residue and reduced color.

Abstract: A method of purifying a capped poly(phenylene ether) includes mixing a poly(phenylene ether) capping reaction mixture comprising a capped poly(phenylene ether), a capping agent, a capping byproduct, a capping catalyst, and a poly(phenylene ether) solvent, and first washing solvents comprising a C1-C4 alkanol and water to form a first liquid phase comprising the capped poly(phenylene ether) and poly(phenylene ether) solvent, and a second liquid phase comprising C1-C4 alkanol and water; and separating the first liquid phase from the second liquid phase. Capped poly(phenylene ether) having reduced levels of residual capping agent, capping byproduct, and capping catalyst is produced from poly(phenylene ether) capping reaction mixtures by this method.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a method for producing poly(arylene) ethers with improved particle size characteristics. The improved particle size characteristics of the polyphenylene ether include one or both of: (i) up to about 50 weight percent of particles smaller than 38 micrometers; and a (ii) mean particle size greater than 100 or more micrometers.