Continuous reaction for preparation of arylene sulfide polymer

Claim 1

A continuous process using a plurality of reaction vessels connected in series for producing arylene sulfide polymer by contacting a dihalo aromatic compound with a sulfur source in an organic amide to produce a particulate polymeric product, said method comprising: a. introducing the reactant compounds into a first reaction vessel maintained at polymerization conditions of temperature and pressure sufficient to remove water and organic amide from the reaction by evaporation thereby producing a reaction mixture; b. introducing effluent reaction mixture from the first reaction vessel to a second reaction vessel maintained at a pressure about 2 Kg/cm 2 below the pressure of the first reactor that flow of reactants is induced from said first reaction vessel to said second reaction vessel, said second reaction vessel maintained at a temperature sufficient to evaporate water and organic amide from the reaction mixture thereby concentrating the reaction mixture in the second reaction vessel; and c. subjecting the effluent reaction mixture from the second reaction vessel to a reduced pressure sufficient to flash evaporate the liquid portion to recover a particulate, polymeric product and a condensible vapor.