Abstract: Disclosed are thermal processes for increasing polyareneazole inherent viscosities.

Abstract: Disclosed are processes for preparing polyareneazole polymers including contacting a molar excess of a free base in water with a terephthalic acid salt to form an aqueous mixture, adjusting the pH to precipitate a monomer complex, contacting the monomer complex with metal powder, and polymerizing the monomer complex. Polyareneazoles, filaments and yarns are also disclosed.

Abstract: Disclosed are processes for preparing polyareneazole polymers that include contacting, in polyphosphoric acid, azole-forming monomers and metal powder, the metal powder added in an amount of from about 0.05 to about 0.9 weight percent, based on the total weight of the azole-forming monomers, and reacting the azole-forming monomers to form the polyareneazole polymers. Polyareneazoles, filaments and yarns are also disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention concerns a process for making a polyareneazole polymer comprising the steps of: a) contacting azole-forming monomers, metal powder, and optionally P2O5, in polyphosphoric acid to form a mixture; b) blending the mixture at a temperature of from about 50° C. to about 110° C.; c) further blending the mixture at a temperature of up to about 145° C. to form a solution comprising an oligomer; d) optionally, degassing the solution; and e) reacting the oligomer solution at a temperature of about 160° C. to about 250° C. for a time sufficient to form a polymer.

Abstract: Disclosed are processes for preparing polyareneazole polymers characterized as providing polymer solutions having an inherent viscosity of at least about 22 dl/g at 30° C. at a polymer concentration of 0.05 g/dl in methane sulfonic acid. Polyareneazoles, filaments and yarns are also disclosed.