| abstract |
A process for the production of branched polymers of arylene sulfide in which a reaction mixture of (1) at least one p-dihalobenzene, (2) at least one alkali metal sulfide, (3) at least one organic amide, (4) water in an amount of about 1.0 mole to about 2.4 moles per mole of alkali metal sulfide, and (5) at least one alkali metal carboxylate is contacted under polymerization conditions for a time sufficient to form arylene sulfide polymer and the arylene sulfide polymer formed in said reaction mixture is contacted under polymerization conditions with a polyhaloaromatic compound having more than two halogen substituents per molecule for a time having a range of up to about 75 minutes before entering upon termination of the polymerization process. An embodiment of the process in which the alkali metal sulfide is produced in situ by the reaction of an excess of alkali metal hydroxide with alkali metal hydrosulfide. An embodiment in which carbon dioxide is contacted with arylene sulfide polymer formed in the reaction mixture to stabilize the polymer. A melt spun fiber that is the product of this reaction. |