Polymer solubilization
AssigneePhillips Petroleum Company
InventorTimothy W. Johnson
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Arylene sulfide polymers such as poly(p-phenylene sulfide) are solubilized (depolymerized) under mild conditions by contact with a solution comprising at least one aromatic hydrocarbon and a Group IIIA metal halide. In a specific embodiment, arylene sulfide polymers are depolymerized to form aryl sulfides. The solution is useful to remove arylene sulfide polymers deposited on process equipment.
Claims16
A process for solubilizing (depolymerizing) arylene sulfide polymers which comprises contacting same with a solution comprising a metal halide selected from the halides of aluminum, gallium, and indium and at least one aromatic solvent having from 6 to about 10 carbon atoms per molecule and a boiling point less than about 260.degree. C. at atmospheric pressure selected from aromatic hydrocarbons and and halogenated derivatives thereof having up to 4 halogen atoms, and optionally in admixture with a normally liquid paraffin or cycloparaffin having up to 10 carbon atoms per molecule, under conditions of temperature and pressure which solubilize said arylene sulfide polymer and form a solution comprising a complex mixture of arylene sulfides.
A process for cleaning process equipment contaminated with polyarylene sulfide resin deposits which comprises contacting process equipment having said deposits with a solution comprising a metal halide selected from the halides of aluminum, gallium, and indium and at least one aromatic solvent having from 6 to about 10 carbon atoms per molecule and boiling points less than about 260.degree. C. at atmospheric pressure selected from aromatic hydrocarbons and halogenated derivatives thereof having up to 4 halogen atoms, and optionally in admixture with a normally liquid paraffin or cycloparaffin having up to 10 carbon atoms per molecule under conditions of temperature and pressure which solubilize said arylene sulfide polymer, discontinuing contacting of the processing equipment with said solution, and washing the process equipment with water to remove residual solution containing said deposits.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.