Copolymers of polyphenylene oxides and poly(aryl ether)s

A copolymer comprising:

• (a) A polyphenylene oxide selected from the group consisting of the formula:
• ##STR24## wherein n is at least equal to 10, R', R", R'", and R"" are independently hydrogen, a hydrocarbon radical, a halohydrogen radical having at least 2 carbon atoms between the halogen atoms and phenol nucleus, a hydroxycarbonoxy radical, or a halohydrocarbonoxy radical having at least two carbon atoms between the halogen atoms and phenol nucleus, ##STR25## wherein independently each --OZO-- is a divalent quinone residue, Z is a divalent arylene radical, a and b are at least equal to 1, the sum of the a and b is at least equal to 10, and R', R", R'" and R"" are as heretofore defined, and mixtures thereof and
• (b) a thermoplastic poly(aryl ether) having recurring units of the formula:
• O--E--O--E'
• wherein E is the residuum of a dihydric phenol and E' is the residuum of a dihydric benzenoid compound having an inert electron withdrawing group in at least one of the positions ortho and para to the valence bonds, both of the residuum being valently bonded to the ether oxygens through aromatic carbon atoms.