A method for continuously producing an aromatic polyether according to the present invention includes simultaneously implementing: a supply step of supplying a polymerization solvent, an alkali metal compound, and a raw material; a polymerizing step; and a movement step. The alkali metal compound is supplied as an aqueous mixture. According to the present invention, clogging of piping in the continuous production apparatus can be suppressed, and the aromatic polyether can be stably obtained.

A polyaryletherketone, PAEK, in the form of particles is a copolymer with at least 95 mole % repeat units of formula (I) and repeat units of formula (II) and a molar ratio 1:11 from 55:45 to 80:20. The PAEK has a melt viscosity, MV, from 0.35 to 0.55 kNsm.sup.−2 at 1000 s.sup.−1. The PAEK is of use in formation of components having high elongation at break when formed by selective sintering and melt-bonding of sequentially deposited layers of powder comprising the PAEK particles. Also provided are processes for making the PAEK particles, powders including them and their use and methods of their use in component formation.

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A method of making a shaped article comprising printing layers of a polymer composition comprising at least one PEEK-PEmEK copolymer having R.sub.PEEK and R.sub.PEmEK repeat units in a molar ratio R.sub.PEEK/R.sub.PEmEK ranging from 95/5 to 45/55, the polymer composition optionally including at least one reinforcing filler, at least one additive, or a combination thereof, and shaped articles obtained from the method. Also described are methods of making the PEEK-PEmEK copolymer and methods of making the polymer composition.

A polymeric material has a repeat unit of formula —O-Ph-O-Ph-CO-Ph- I and a repeat unit of formula —O-Ph-Ph-O-Ph-CO-Ph- II wherein Ph represents a phenylene moiety; wherein the repeat units I and II are in the relative molar properties I:II of from 65:35 to 95:5; wherein log.sub.10 (X %)>1.50-0.26 MV; wherein X % refers to the % crystallinity measured as described in Example 31 and MV refers to the melt viscosity measured as described in Example 30. A process for making the polymeric material comprises polycondensing a mixture of at least one dihydroxybenzene compound and at least one dihydroxybiphenyl compound in the molar proportions 65:35 to 95:5 with at least one dihalobenzophenone in the presence of sodium carbonate and potassium carbonate wherein: (i) the mole % of said potassium carbonate is at least 2.5 and/or (ii) the following relationship applies $\frac{\mathrm{the}{D}_{50}\mathrm{of}\mathrm{said}\mathrm{sodium}\mathrm{carbonate}\mathrm{in}\mathrm{\mu m}}{\mathrm{mole}\%\mathrm{of}\mathrm{potassium}\mathrm{carbonate}}=$

A poly(phenylene ether) copolymer of 2-methyl-6-phenylphenol and a dihydric phenol having an absolute number average molecular weight of 1,000 to 10,000 grams/mole is made by polymerization of 2-methyl-6-phenylphenol and a dihydric phenol in the presence of molecular oxygen, a polymerization catalyst comprising a metal ion and at least one amine ligand, and a solvent composed of at least 95 weight percent of a C.sub.1-C.sub.3 alcohol selected from methanol, ethanol, 1-propanol, and 2-propanol. The poly(phenylene ether) copolymer can be, for example, a copolymer of 2-methyl-6-phenylphenol, 2,2-bis(3,5-dimethyl-4-hydroxyphenol)propane, and optionally 2,6-dimethylphenol. The poly(phenylene ether) copolymer finds utility in curable compositions, cured compositions, and articles.

The present invention relates to poly(ether ketone ketone) (PEKK) polymers, a method for the manufacture thereof, to articles and composites made therefrom, to methods of making the composites, and composite articles including the PEKK composites. It was surprisingly discovered that by synthesizing the PEKK polymers from low-metal monomers and selectively controlling the relative amounts of reactants during the synthesis, PEKK polymers having unexpectedly improved melt stability can be obtained. The PEKK composites including the PEKK polymers are especially well-suited for fabrication of thick composite parts where melt stability of the polymer matrix is important.

The present invention generally relates a polymer-metal junction comprising PEEK-PEmEK copolymers compositions, in contact with a metal substrate, wherein the PEEK-PEmEK copolymer having R.sub.PEEK and R.sub.PEmEK repeat units in a molar ratio R.sub.PEEK/R.sub.PEmEK ranging from 95/5 to 45/55. The present invention also relates to shaped articles including the polymer-metal junction, and methods of making the polymer-metal junctions.

A method of making a PEEK-PEmEK copolymer having R.sub.PEEK and R.sub.PEmEK repeat units in a molar ratio R.sub.PEEK/R.sub.PEmEK ranging from 95/5 to 45/55, the PEEK-PEmEK copolymer obtained from the method and the polymer composition including the PEEK-PEmEK copolymer, at least one reinforcing filler, at least one additive, or a combination thereof, shaped articles including the polymer composition, polymer-metal junctions including the polymer composition. Also described are methods of making the polymer composition, methods of making the shaped articles, and methods of making the polymer-metal junctions.

Provided is a composition suitable for a process of building a three-dimensional object layer-by-layer by electromagnetic radiation-generated sintering, including at least one poly(aryl-ether-ketone) (PAEK), where the composition has an aromatic ether content of from 0 and 0.4% by mass, based on the total mass of the composition, and an aluminium mass content of lower than 1000 ppm. The composition may be used in process for building an object comprising sintering the composition with electromagnetic radiation. The present invention also includes a three-dimensional object obtained by such a process. A process for preparing the composition is also provided.

The invention relates to a Poly(aryl-ether-ketone) (PAEK) composition, useful in a process for building a three-dimensional object layer by layer by electromagnetic radiation-generated sintering, said composition being characterized in that it has an aromatic ether content comprised between 0 and 0.4% by mass and an aluminium mass content lower than 1000 ppm, preferably lower than 600 ppm and more preferably lower than 500 ppm.