Abstract: The catalyst is removed in the preparation of high molecular weight polyphenylene ethers from monohydric phenols, which are alkyl-substituted at the two ortho-positions but not at the para-position and may or may not be alkyl-substituted at the meta-position, by an oxidative coupling reaction with oxygen at from 15.degree. to 50.degree. C.

Abstract: High molecular weight polyphenylene ethers are prepared from a monohydric phenol by an oxidative coupling reaction with oxygen in the presence of a catalyst complex obtained from a copper salt and an organic amine, and in the presence of a solvent, by a process in which the metal component of the catalyst is removed after the polymerization by adding one or more organic ammonium salts of the general formula ##STR1## where A.sup..crclbar. is an anion or polyanion of an organic carboxylic, sulfonic or phosphonic acid, R.sup.1 is hydrogen, R.sup.2 and R.sup.3 are each hydrogen, alkyl of 1 to 18 carbon atoms or aryl and R.sup.4 is alkyl of 1 to 18 carbon atoms or aryl.

Abstract: (Co)polymers which are composed of one or more monomers from the group comprising(a) the vinyl-aromatic monomers and(b) the ethylenically unsaturated monomersand furthermore contain one or more monomer components (a) or (b), or (a) and (b), as unreacted residual monomers are treated at above the glass temperature of the (co)polymer and in the presence of one or more assistants, which have been added to the (co)polymer. The assistant used is a bicyclic compound of the general formula I ##STR1## where X is a methylene, ethylene, 1,1-ethenyl, 1,2-ethenyl, carbonyl, azo, amino, ether or thioether group which is unsubstituted or substituted by halogen, alkyl, alkenyl, cycloalkyl, aryl, carboxyl, carboxyalkyl, an ether group or a thioether group, R.sup.1, R.sup.2, R.sup.3 and R.sup.4 are each hydrogen, halogen, alkyl, alkenyl, cycloalkyl, aryl, carboxyalkyl or nitrile, R.sup.5 and R.sup.6 are each hydrogen, halogen, alkyl or carboxyalkyl, and R.sup.7 and R.sup.

Abstract: A process for the preparation of high molecular weight polyphenylene ethers from alkyl-substituted monohydric phenols by an oxidative coupling reaction with oxygen in the presence of a catalyst complex of a copper salt and an organic amine, subsequent stopping of the reaction and removal of the metal component of the catalyst by addition of chelating and/or salt-forming agents, wherein the polymer solution is treated with a compound having the general structure: ##STR1## where R.sup.2 and R.sup.3 can be identical or different and each is OH, NH.sub.2, NHR.sup.5, where R.sup.5 is alkyl or cycloalkyl, or SH, and where R.sup.1 and R.sup.4 are identical or different, being hydrogen, alkyl, cycloalkyl, aryl, carbonyl, carboxyl, carboxyalkyl or nitrile, and can be linked to form a ring, advantageously in an amount of from 0.1 to 100 mmoles and advantageously in from 1 to 20% strength aqueous solutions.

Abstract: High molecular weight polyphenylene ethers are prepared from monohydric phenols by an oxidative coupling reaction with oxygen in the presence of a catalyst complex obtained from a copper salt and an organic amine by a method wherein the metal component of the catalyst is separated off, after the polymerization, by the addition of a polymeric polycarboxylic acid which is essentially composed of unsaturated monofunctional or difunctional carboxylic acids and/or their anhydrides.Advantageously, the polymeric polycarboxylic acids used are homopolymers or copolymers of (a) from 50 to 100% by weight of one or more unsaturated monofunctional acids of 3 to 10 carbon atoms and/or one or more difunctional acids or their anhydrides of 4 to 6 carbon atoms and from 0 to 50% by weight of one or more monomers which do not possess an acid function and can be copolymerized with (a).

Abstract: In the preparation of a high molecular weight polyphenylene ether from a monohydric phenol by an oxidative coupling reaction with oxygen in the presence of a catalyst complex obtained from a metal salt and an organic amine and in the presence of a solvent, and isolation of the metal ion component of the catalyst from the polyphenylene ether solution by means of a complex-forming or chelate-forming compound, the catalyst is removed by a method wherein complex formation and isolation of the metal ion component of the catalyst are carried out in an aqueous medium in the presence of from 0.1 to 5,000 mg of an anionic or non-ionic surfactant.

Abstract: Molding materials containing high molecular weight polyphenylene ethers are produced by a process in which a solution of a polyphenylene ether in an organic solvent, together with another polymer, is freed of solvent by multi-stage evaporation.The solvent is preferably an aromatic compound from the class comprising the hydrocarbons, halohydrocarbons, ethers or esters, the ratio of the other polymer to the polyphenylene ether is advantageously from 99:1 to 20:80 parts by weight, the other polymer is, in particular, a homopolymer or copolymer of styrene or of a homolog thereof, which may be modified with rubber, and the multi-stage evaporation process preferably comprises not less than two and not more than four working up stages.The evaporation is carried out in general at from 120.degree. to 280.degree. C. and under a pressure of from 1 to 3,000 mbar, advantageously in the presence of assistants which reduce the partial pressure, eg. water and/or methanol.

Abstract: A process for removing vaporizable constituents from high-viscosity solutions or melts of thermoplastics by continuous evaporation along a heated devolatilization zone and separation of the vapor phase from the liquid phase in a downstream separating vessel. The plastic solution or melt is first heated stepwise in increments, in the devolatilization zone, while the product is in the form of thin layers from about 0.5 to 4 mm, so as to maintain a temperature difference of less than 50.degree. C.

Abstract: A process and an apparatus for heating or cooling very viscous solutions or melts of thermoplastics in the form of thin layers. The plastic solution or melt is spread under the temperature conditions of the feed solution or melt, and the thin layers are heated stepwise so that the temperature difference between the heat transfer medium and the solution or melt is at all times less than 50.degree. C. and preferably less than 20.degree. C. Viscous solutions or melts of thermoplastics can be heated or cooled rapidly and uniformly under gentle and controlled conditions, to prepare the solutions or melts for further treatment in conventional equipment.