Arylene sulfide polymer purification
AssigneePhillips Petroleum Company
InventorsFred T. Sherk, James T. Edmonds, Jr.
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Abstract
Arylene sulfide polymers containing ash-forming impurities or materials are purified by contacting an aqueous mixture of such polymer with molecular oxygen under conditions sufficient to reduce the ash-forming impurities and concurrently at least partially cure the polymer.
Claims6
A process for the concurrent reduction of ash-forming impurities contained in prepurified arylene sulfide polymers and production of at least partially cured polymer which comprises contacting an aqueous slurry consisting essentially of particulate purified raw arylene sulfide polymer substantially freed of organic amide, unreacted reactants, alkali metal halide, containing residual ash-forming impurities or materials and water with an oxygen-containing gas at an elevated temperature not exceeding about 25.degree. F. below the melting point of the polymer for a period of time sufficient to reduce the ash content and, at the same time, at least partially cure and reduce the melt flow of the polymer.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.