| abstract |
P-Phenylene sulfide polymers are produced by reacting a mixture of p-dihalobenzene, at least one organic amide, lithium sulfide and additional alkali metal sulfide chosen from among sodium sulfide, potassium sulfide, rubidium sulfide, cesium sulfide, and mixtures thereof at conditions suitable for producing a polymer. The use of additional alkali metal sulfide along with lithium sulfide produces polymers of higher molecular weight than can be prepared using a single alkali metal sulfide. The higher molecular weight polymer can be molded into films which, upon quenching, are tough, creasible, and opaque as contrasted with the brittle, transparent character of quenched, molded films produced from polymer prepared using a single alkali metal sulfide. |