Abstract: Novel polyester compositions, particularly suitable for the insulation of wires, contain an aromatic polyester, especially polybutylene terephthalate. The presence of certain tin (II) compounds, for example tin (II) oxide, oxalate, phthalate, pyromellitate, or phosphite, reduces the flammability and smoke generation of such compositions. The presence of an aliphatic polyester, and optionally a thermoplastic elastomer, can also improve the properties of such compositions.

Abstract: An electrode is formed on a substrate such as a varistor, a PTC ceramic, or a piezoelectric ceramic by coating a surface of the substrate with a combination of a metal source and a source of reducing carbon. The substrate and/or the combination is an absorber of microwave radiation. Irradiation with microwave radiation causes a carbothermic reduction to occur, converting the metal source to a metal electrode on the substrate.

Abstract: Novel aromatic poly(ether ketones) having imide, amide, ester, azo, quinoxaline, benzimidazole, benzoxazole, or benzothiazole groups, comprising, for example, a repeat unit ##STR1## are prepared by Friedel Crafts polymerization.

Abstract: Aromatic carbonyl compounds, in particular arylene ether ketones, are prepared by reacting an appropriate reagent system in the presence of free Lewis acid and a complex between a Lewis acid, for example, aluminum trichloride, and an inorganic salt controlling agent, for example, lithium chloride, and, optionally, a diluent, such as methylene chloride. The process is particularly advantageous for the preparation of substantially or all para-linked arylene ether ketones as the presence of the Lewis acid/Lewis base complex markedly reduces alkylation and ensures the substantial absence of ortho substitution.

Abstract: A process for producing an aromatic polyketone which comprises polymerizing an appropriate monomer or monomers by a Friedel-Crafts polymerization reaction using a Lewis acid catalyst. A controlling agent such as a Lewis base may be added to the reaction medium and/or the reaction is conducted under specified conditions to control the reaction. The reaction medium comprises, for example, aluminum trichloride as the Lewis acid, an organic Lewis base such as N,N-dimethylformamide or an inorganic Lewis base such as sodium or lithium chloride, and a diluent such as methylene chloride or dichloroethane. The amount of Lewis acid, the amount of Lewis base, the temperature of the reaction and the monomer to diluent molar ratio are varied depending on the monomer system to obtain melt-processable, high molecular weight, substantially linear polymers, for example poly(carbonyl-p-phenylene-oxy-p-phenylene), poly(carbonyl-p-phenylene-oxy-p-phenylene-oxy-p-phenylene), and the like.

Abstract: Aromatic oligomers, in particular arylene ketone and arylene sulfone oligomers, are prepared by reacting an appropriate monomer system in the presence of free Lewis acid and a complex between a Lewis acid, for example, aluminum trichloride, and a Lewis base, for example, N,N-dimethylformamide, and, optionally, a diluent, such as methylene chloride. The process is particularly advantageous for the preparation of substantially or all paralinked arylene ether ketone oligomers as the presence of the Lewis acid/Lewis base complex markedly reduces alkylation and ensures the substantial absence of ortho substitution. The monomer system can be, for example, a self-reacting monomer such as p-phenoxy-benzoyl chloride or a two-monomer system such as 1,4-diphenoxybenzene and terephthaloyl chloride.

Abstract: Novel aromatic poly(ether ketones) having imide, amide, ester, azo, quinoxaline, benzimidazole, benzoxazole, or benzothiazole groups, comprising, for example, a repeat unit ##STR1## are prepared by Friedel Crafts polymerization.

Abstract: A method of preparing 4,4'-diphenoxybenzophenone, comprising reacting diphenyl ether and carbon dioxide in the presence of a Friedel-Crafts catalyst and a promoting agent, preferably selected from the group consisting of phosphoryl chloride, phosphorus pentoxide, tetrachlorosilane, methyltrichlorosilane, dimethyldichlorosilane, titanium tetrachloride, zirconium tetrachloride, zirconium oxyhalide, and phosphorus pentachloride. In a preferred embodiment, the Friedel-Crafts catalyst is aluminum chloride and the promoting agent is phosphoryl chloride.

Abstract: A method of preparing a poly(arylene ether ketone) having a repeat unit ##STR1## comprising polymerizing a monomer system comprising (I) a monomer of the formula ##STR2## and (II) a monomer of the formula ##STR3## wherein R.sup.1 is p-phenylene, m-phenylene, or 4,4'-biphenylene;R.sup.2 is p-phenylene, m-phenylene, biphenylene, or naphthylidene; andX is a group displaceable under Friedel-Crafts polymerization conditions;in a polymerization medium comprising(a) a Lewis base present in an amount between about 0.05 and about 2 equivalents per equivalent of acid halide groups present in the monomer system and(b) a Lewis acid present in an amount of at least one equivalent per equivalent of carbonyl groups present, plus an equivalent per equivalent of Lewis base present, plus an amount effective to act as a catalyst for the polymerization.

Abstract: Aromatic carbonyl compounds, in particular arylene ether ketones, are prepared by reacting an appropriate reagent system in the presence of free Lewis acid and a complex between a Lewis acid, for example, aluminum trichloride, and a Lewis base, for example, N,N-dimethylformamide, and, optionally, a diluent, such as methylene chloride. The process is particularly advantageous for the preparation of substantially or all para-linked arylene ether ketones as the presence of the Lewis acid/Lewis base complex markedly reduces alkylation and ensures the substantial absence of ortho substitution.

Abstract: This invention relates to novel copolymers derived from diphenyl ether, terephthalic acid derivative and a third monomer of the formula ##STR1## where n=1 or 2. The copolymers can be prepared by Friedel-Crafts polymerization. Preferred copolymers are derived from diphenyl ether, terephthaloyl chloride, and 1,4-diphenoxybenzene.

Abstract: A method for preparing poly(aryl ether ketones) having the repeat unit of the formula--CO--Ar--CO--Ar'--wherein Ar and Ar' are aromatic moieties at least one of which contains a diaryl ether linkage forming part of the polymer backbone, wherein Ar and Ar' are covalently linked to the carbonyl groups through aromatic carbon atoms, and wherein Ar and Ar' are independently selected from substituted and unsubstituted phenylene and substituted and unsubstituted polynuclear aromatic moieties, which method comprises heating an appropriate monomer system, for example, the potassium salt of 4-fluoro-4'-hydroxybenzophenone, in the presence of a solvent comprising an aromatic ketone of the formula ##STR1## where Y is a direct bond; two hydrogen atoms, one bonded to each aromatic ring; carbonyl; oxygen; sulfur; sulfoxide; or sulfone; and wherein Z and Z' are independently hydrogen, phenyl, phenoxy, or substituted phenyl or phenoxy, with the proviso that if Z and Z' are both hydrogen, then Y is other than two hydrogen ato

Abstract: Aromatic oligomers, in particular arylene ketone and arylene sulfone oligomers, are prepared by reacting an appropriate monomer system in the presence of free Lewis acid and a complex between a Lewis acid, for example, aluminum trichloride, and a Lewis base, for example, N,N-dimethylformamide, and, optionally, a diluent, such as methylene chloride. The process is particularly advantageous for the preparation of substantially or all paralinked arylene ether ketone oligomers as the presence of the Lewis acid/Lewis base complex markedly reduces alkylation and ensures the substantial absence of ortho substitution. The monomer system can be, for example, a self-reacting monomer such as p-phenoxy-benzoyl chloride or a two-monomer system such as 1,4-diphenoxybenzene and terephthaloyl chloride.

Abstract: A process for producing an aromatic polyketone which comprises polymerizing an appropriate monomer or monomers by a Friedel-Crafts polymerization reaction using a Lewis acid catalyst. A controlling agent such as a Lewis base may be added to the reaction medium and/or the reaction is conducted under specified conditions to control the reaction. The reaction medium comprises, for example, aluminum trichloride as the Lewis acid, an organic Lewis base such as N,N-dimethylformamide or an inorganic Lewis base such as sodium or lithium chloride, and a diluent such as methylene chloride or dichloroethane. The amount of Lewis acid, the amount of Lewis base, the temperature of the reaction and the monomer to diluent molar ratio are varied depending on the monomer system to obtain melt-processable, high molecular weight, substantially linear polymers, for example poly(carbonyl-p-phenylene-oxy-p-phenylene), poly(carbonyl-p-phenylene-oxy-p-phenylene-oxy-p-phenylene), and the like.

Abstract: The preparation of poly(arylene ether ketones) by Friedel-Crafts polymerization, in the presence of a Lewis acid catalyst and a diluent, is conducted under conditions in which the polymer and/or its complex with the catalyst is suspended in the diluent during at least part of the polyreaction mixture if desired. The dispersant may be a polymer or an organic compound containing at least eight carbon atoms and is preferably a Lewis base. The dispersant preferably contains at least one molecular segment substantially compatible with the poly(arylene ether ketone) or its complex with the Lewis acid and substantially incompatible with the diluent and at least one molecular segment substantially compatible with the diluent and substantially incompatible with the poly(arylene ether ketone) or its complex with the Lewis acid.

Abstract: A method of purifying an aromatic carboxylic acid halide, for example p-phenoxybenzoyl chloride, comprising the steps of: (a) adding an acidic catalyst, for example a molecular sieve, to the acid halide; (b) heating the resulting mixture of the acidic catalyst and the acid halide to a temperature of about 180.degree. C. to about 250.degree. C. for a period of at least 0.5 hours; (c) distilling the mixture to obtain acid halide substantially free of aldehyde and the halo derivative thereof. Optionally, a reactive aromatic compound may be added to the mixture of the acid halide and the acidic catalyst before the heating step. The process is particularly useful for providing aromatic acid halides of sufficient purity for preparing melt stable aromatic polyketones.

Abstract: A process for producing aromatic ketone-sulfone copolymers which comprises polymerizing appropriate monomers by a Friedel-Crafts polymerization reaction using a Lewis acid catalyst. A controlling agent such as a Lewis base is added to the reaction medium. The reaction medium comprises, for example, aluminum trichloride as the Lewis acid, an organic Lewis base such as N,N-dimethylformamide or an inorganic Lewis base such as sodium or lithium chloride as the controlling agent, and a diluent such as methylene chloride or 1,2-dichloroethane. The amount of Lewis acid, the amount of Lewis base, the temperature of the reaction and the monomer to diluent molar ratio are varied depending on the monomer system to obtain melt-processable, high molecular weight, substantially linear polymers, for example prepared from copolymerization of p-phenoxybenzoyl chloride and p-phenoxybenzenesulfonyl chloride or of terephthaloyl chloride, 1,4-benzenedisulfonyl chloride and diphenyl ether, or of like monomers.

Abstract: Substantially pure p-phenoxybenzoyl compounds are prepared by reacting diphenyl ether and an appropriate acyl compound in the presence of hydrogen fluoride. The resulting p-phenoxyaryl alkyl ketone can be converted into p-phenoxybenzoic acid or salts thereof, p-phenoxybenzoyl halide or lower alkyl p-phenoxybenzoate for use preparing homo- and copolymers containing a p-phenoxybenzoyl repeating unit.

Abstract: Poly(arylene ketones) are prepared by the reaction of difunctional aromatic compounds with derivatives of thio- or dithiocarbonic acids in the presence of a superacid catalyst system. In a preferred embodiment, diphenyl ether reacts with S-methyl chlorothioformate in HF/BF.sub.3 to produce poly(p-phenyleneoxy-p-phenylene carbonyl), i.e.

Abstract: A composition comprising a polymer having a processing temperature of at least 200.degree. and from about 0.1 wt % up to about 30 wt % of crosslinking agent said crosslinking agent comprising a compound of the formula ##STR1## wherein X is hydrogen and Y is ##STR2## and X and Y are substituents on adjacent carbon atoms of A or wherein X and Y together form the imide ring system ##STR3## which is joined to A on adjacent carbons atoms, thereof, wherein A is an aromatic, heteroaromatic, alicyclic, or heterocyclic system or an open chain aliphatic moiety, where R is vinyl, allyl, methallyl or propargyl and wherein R' is hydrogen, C.sub.1 to C.sub.12 alkyl or R and mixtures thereof.Compounds per se and articles manufactured from the above-indicated polymer composition are also taught.