Production of branched arylene sulfide polymers

Abstract

A method is provided for producing branched arylene sulfide polymers by contacting at least one p-dihalobenzene, at least one polyhalo aromatic compound having more than two halogen substituents per molecule, at least one alkali metal sulfide, at least one lithium carboxylate or lithium chloride, N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone, and at least one alkali metal hydroxide. The use of the polyhalo aromatic compound, which is employed in minor amounts, results in a polymer of reduced melt flow, which, without prior curing, can be molded, extruded, or spun into fibers.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.