Method of preparing poly(arylene sulfide) polymers, polymers and polymer blends

A process for producing arylene sulfide polymers comprising:

• contacting an initiator compound, a halothiophenol compound, a polar organic compound, and a base at polymerization conditions;
• wherein said initiator compound is represented by the formula XR(RS).sub.n Y, where R is a divalent hydrocarbon radical selected from the group consisting of arylene, alkyl-substituted arylene, cycloalkyl substituted arylene, and aryl substituted arylene radicals having 6 to 24 carbon atoms;
• n is 1-5;
• X is a halogen selected from the group consisting of fluorine, chlorine, bromine, and iodine;
• and Y is --NH.sub.2 ;
• wherein said halothiophenol is represented by the formula XR'SH, where R' is a divalent hydrocarbon radical selected from the group consisting of arylene, alkyl-substituted arylene, cycloalkyl substituted arylene, and aryl substituted arylene radicals having 6 to 24 carbon atoms and X is a halogen selected from the group consisting of fluorine, chlorine, bromine, and iodine;
• and
• said base is selected from the group consisting of alkali metal hydroxides, alkali metal carbonates, and mixtures thereof.