Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
222 words
A process for the production of a melt-stable poly(arylene thioether-ketone), which comprises polymerizing an alkali metal sulfide and a dihalogenated aromatic compound consisting principally of 4,4'-dichlorobenzophenone and/or 4,4'-dibromobenzophenone by dehalogenation and sulfuration reaction in an organic amide solvent, under the following conditions (a)-(c): (a) ratio of the water content to the amount of the charged organic amide solvent being 2.5-15 (mole/kg); (b) ratio of the amount of the charged dihalogenated aromatic compound to the amount of the charged alkali metal sulfide being 0.95-1.2 (mole/mole); and (c) reaction temperature being 60°-300° C. with a proviso that the reaction time at 210° C. and higher is within 10 hours, said poly(arylene thioether-ketone) having predominant recurring units of the formula ##STR9## wherein the --CO-- and --S-- are in the para position to each other, and having a residual melt crystallization enthalpy, ΔHmc (420° C./10 min) being at least 10 J/g and a melt crystallization temperature, Tmc (420° C./10 min) being at least 210° C., wherein said ΔHmc (420° C./10 min) and Tmc (420° C./10 min) are determined by a differential scanning colorimeter at a cooling rate of 10° C./min after the poly(arylene thioether-ketone) is held at 50° C. for 5 minutes in an inert gas atmosphere, heated to 420° C. at a rate of 75° C./min and then held for 10 minutes at 420° C.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
222 words
A process for the production of a melt-stable poly(arylene thioether-ketone), which comprises polymerizing an alkali metal sulfide and a dihalogenated aromatic compound consisting principally of 4,4'-dichlorobenzophenone and/or 4,4'-dibromobenzophenone by dehalogenation and sulfuration reaction in an organic amide solvent, under the following conditions (a)-(c): (a) ratio of the water content to the amount of the charged organic amide solvent being 2.5-15 (mole/kg); (b) ratio of the amount of the charged dihalogenated aromatic compound to the amount of the charged alkali metal sulfide being 0.95-1.2 (mole/mole); and (c) reaction temperature being 60°-300° C. with a proviso that the reaction time at 210° C. and higher is within 10 hours, said poly(arylene thioether-ketone) having predominant recurring units of the formula ##STR9## wherein the --CO-- and --S-- are in the para position to each other, and having a residual melt crystallization enthalpy, ΔHmc (420° C./10 min) being at least 10 J/g and a melt crystallization temperature, Tmc (420° C./10 min) being at least 210° C., wherein said ΔHmc (420° C./10 min) and Tmc (420° C./10 min) are determined by a differential scanning colorimeter at a cooling rate of 10° C./min after the poly(arylene thioether-ketone) is held at 50° C. for 5 minutes in an inert gas atmosphere, heated to 420° C. at a rate of 75° C./min and then held for 10 minutes at 420° C.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
37 words
The process as claimed in claim 1, wherein the reaction is conducted in a reactor at least a portion of which, said portion being brought into contact with the reaction mixture, is made of a corrosion-resistant material.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
24 words
The process as claimed in claim 2, wherein the corrosion-resistant material is selected from the group of titanium materials, Hastelloy C and austenitic steel.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
29 words
The process as claimed in claim 1, wherein the organic amide solvent is at least one amide selected from the group of N-methylpyrrolidone, N-ethylpyrrolidone, dimethylimidazolidinone, hexamethylphosphoric triamide and tetramethylurea.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
51 words
The process as claimed in claim 1, wherein the poly(arylene thioether-ketone) has a melting point, Tm of 310°-380° C. and a reduced viscosity of from 0.2 to 2 dl/g as determined by viscosity measurement at 25° C. and a polymer concentration of 0.5 g/dl in 98 percent by weight sulfuric acid.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
31 words
The process as claimed in claim 1, wherein the poly(arylene thioether-ketone) has a density of at least 1.34 g/cm 3 at 25° C. when annealed at 280° C. for 30 minutes.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
15 words
The process as claimed in claim 1, wherein the poly(arylene thioether-ketone) is an uncured polymer.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
21 words
The process as claimed in claim 1, wherein the poly(arylene thioether-ketone) is a polymer having a partially crosslinked and/or branched structure.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
51 words
The process as claimed in claim 8, wherein the structure is introduced by incorporating a polyhalobenzophenone having at least three halogen atoms in such an amount that the ratio of the amount of the charged dihalogenated aromatic compound to the amount of the charged polyhalobenzophenone ranges from 100/0 to 95/5 (mole/mole).
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
69 words
The process as claimed in claim 1, wherein in a final stage of the reaction, at least one halogen-substituted aromatic compound containing at least one group having electron-withdrawing property at least equal to --CO-- group is added in an amount of 0.1-100 moles per 100 moles of the charged alkali metal sulfide and is reacted at from 60° C. to 300° C. for from 0.1 hour to 20 hours.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
25 words
The process as claimed in claim 10, wherein 4,4'-dichlorobenzophenone and/or 4,4'-dibromobenzophenone is added as the halogen-substituted aromatic compound in the final stage of the reaction.