Method for parallel melt-polymerization

A method for conducting parallel melt-polymerization reactions, said method comprising the steps of:

• providing an array of reaction vessels;
• premixing bisphenol-A and diphenylcarbonate to form a plurality of homogeneous reaction mixtures;
• charging less than 100 mg of each of said reaction mixtures into each of said reaction vessels thereby providing a reaction film having a thickness sufficient to allow the reaction rate of the polymerization reaction to be essentially independent of mass transport;
• polymerizing said bisphenol-A and diphenylcarbonate with a catalyst at reaction conditions effective in substantially maintaining the homogeneity of said reaction mixture without stirring, said polymerizing including the steps of increasing the reaction temperature in a stepwise manner such as to avoid substantial loss of reaction components through vaporization and maintaining the reaction temperature at each step until said reaction mixtures substantially reach chemical equilibrium;
• and
• analyzing the products obtained.