Patent ID: 6201097
Filing Date: 2001-03-13
Classification: C08G

Abstract:
A process comprising:1) removing a majority of a first high molecular weight poly(arylene sulfide) product from a polymerization reaction mixture and recovering a recycle mixture;wherein said polymerization reaction mixture comprises said first high molecular weight poly(arylene sulfide) product, low molecular weight poly(arylene sulfide), cyclic and linear poly(arylene sulfide) oligomers, at least one first polar organic compound, at least one first promoter compound, an alkali metal by-product, reactants, and water;wherein said recycle mixture comprises:(a) low molecular weight poly(arylene sulfide);(b) cyclic poly(arylene sulfide) oligomers of the formula ##STR8##where 4.ltoreq.n.ltoreq.30;(c) linear poly(arylene sulfide) oligomers of the formula ##STR9##where 1.ltoreq.p.ltoreq.50, and X and Y are independently selected from the group consisting of a hydrogen atom; a halogen atom; a phenoxy group; a halogenated phenyl group; a hydroxy group and the salts thereof; a cyclic amide; mercaptan groups and the salts thereof; substituted and unsubstituted amines of the formula ##STR10##where R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 are selected from the group consisting of a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group having from 1 to 10 carbon atoms, a carboxylic acid having from 1 to 10 carbon atoms and a carboxylate having from 1 to 10 carbon atoms;2) forming a two phase recycle mixture by a method selected from the group consisting of maintaining sufficient first polar organic compound and first promoter compound in said recycle mixture or adding sufficient second polar organic compound and second promoter compound to said recycle mixture;3) heating said two phase recycle mixture to produce a recycle product reaction mixture;4) recovering a second high molecular weight poly(arylene sulfide) product from said recycle product reaction mixture.