Patent ID: 7683157

Claim:
A process for making a polyareneazole polymer, comprising the steps of: a) contacting areneazole-forming monomers, metal powder, and optionally P 2 O 5 , in polyphosphoric acid to form a mixture; wherein the metal powder is iron powder and wherein said mixture comprises 0.1 to 0.5 wt % iron based on the weight of said monomers; b) blending the mixture at a temperature of from about 50° C. to about 110° C.; c) further blending the mixture at a temperature of up to about 145° C. to form a solution comprising an oligomer; d) optionally, degassing the solution; and e) reacting the oligomer solution at a temperature of about 160° C. to about 250° C. for a time sufficient to form a polymer.