General Electric Company

Peter Alexander Knops

Adrianus J F M Braat

Ruud Trion

Hugo G E Ingelbrecht

A process for removal of a catalyst from a polymerization reaction mixture, comprises adding at least one polar solution to the reaction mixture to form a first at least two phase mixture, wherein one phase of the first at least two phase mixture is a first polymer phase; liquid/liquid centrifuging the first at least two phase mixture to separate the phases; removing the first polymer phase from the first at least two phase mixture; adding water to the first polymer phase to form a second at least two phase mixture, where one phase of the second at least two phase mixture is a second polymer phase; and separating the second polymer phase from the second at least two phase mixture.

Poly (arylene ether) and process for making the same

The present invention relates to substantially pure poly(arylene ether), e.g. purities exceeding about 99%, and to a method for making the same. The method which eliminates multiple rinses with a complexing reagent includes removing the catalyst from the polymerization mixture by mixing the polymerization mixture with a complexing reagent and liquid/liquid centrifuging the multiphase mixture. Water is then added to the polymer phase prior to a subsequent liquid/liquid centrifuge process. Once the catalyst has been sufficiently removed, the polymer can be concentrated in a flash vessel (which is not heated) by introducing a heated polymer phase to the vessel at a high pressure and quickly reducing the pressure. The concentrated polymer can then be introduced to an extruder to produce the high purity polymer. Due to the introduction of low molecular weight poly(arylene ether) at the intake zone of the extruder, essentially pure poly(arylene ether) can be isolated by this process. By combining the extruder process with an underwater pelletizer, thus providing extremely rapid cooling of the polymer melt when it exits the extruder and contacts air, much better color and lower amount of black specs in the final product is obtained.

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Papendrecht, Netherlands

Peter Alexander Knops