Process for production of polyarylenesulfides

A process for the production of a polyarylene-sulfide, in which an alkali metal sulfide is reacted with a dihalo-aromatic compound in an organic amide solvent, which comprises causing at least one compound selected from the oxides and hydroxides of alkaline earth metals to exist in a proportion not less than 0.01 mole but less than 0.1 mole per mole of the alkali metal sulfide charged in the reaction system, and performing the reaction of the alkali metal sulfide and dihalo-aromatic compound through the following at least two steps:

• First step
• a step comprising reacting the alkali metal sulfide with the dihalo-aromatic compound in the presence of water in a proportion of 0.5-10 moles per mole of the alkali metal sulfide charged at a temperature of 180.degree.-235.degree. C. until the conversion of the dihalo-aromatic compound becomes at least 50 mole %;
• and
• Second step
• a step comprising controlling the total water content in the reaction system to 1.8-10 moles per mole of the alkali metal sulfide charged by adding water to the reaction system or without addition of water, and raising the temperature to 245.degree.-290.degree. C. to continue the reaction.