Method for synthesizing polyaryletherketones

A process for preparing polyaryl ether ketones, which consists of the following steps:

• placing one or more aromatic acid chlorides and one or more aromatic ethers in contact with a Lewis acid in a solvent which dissolves water only to a content of less than 0.05% at 25° C. at a temperature of between −5 and +25° C., with stirring;
• completion of the polymerization at a temperature of between 50 and 120° C.;
• separation of part of the solvent;
• placing the reaction mixture in contact with water with stirring in the optional presence of acid;
• separation of the polyaryl ether ketones and of the liquid effluents;
• washing of the polyaryl ether ketones with water in the presence or absence of acid and separation of the aqueous liquors;
• azeotropic distillation on the polymer containing residual solvent and separation of the aqueous liquors;
• washing and neutralization of the acidity of the effluents and of the PAEK particles and separation of the aqueous liquors;
• drying of the polyaryl ether ketones at a temperature above Tg +20° C.