A sulfur-containing compound and a halogenated aromatic compound are used as raw materials, with an alkaline compound and a fatty acid as polycondensation aids to carry out a polycondensation reaction. After purification treatment, a primary polyphenylene sulfide is obtained which then reacts with a chain extender at high temperature to form a high molecular weight polyphenylene sulfide resin. A preparation method has the advantages of being high yield, low cost, and capable of selectively and controllably preparing polyphenylene sulfide resins with different melt viscosities and molecular weights, and the obtained polyphenylene sulfide resins have excellent heat resistance. The linear high molecular weight polyphenylene sulfide resin with high thermal stability can be used for producing plates, pipes and rods, can be mechanically processed like metals, such as cutting, grinding, polishing, drilling, and can be used to produce fibers, membranes, films, and are applicable to automotive parts, electronic/electrical equipment, chemical and machinery.

A sulfur-containing compound and a halogenated aromatic compound are used as raw materials, with an alkaline compound and a fatty acid as polycondensation aids to carry out a polycondensation reaction. After purification treatment, a primary polyphenylene sulfide is obtained which then reacts with a chain extender at high temperature to form a high molecular weight polyphenylene sulfide resin. A preparation method has the advantages of being high yield, low cost, and capable of selectively and controllably preparing polyphenylene sulfide resins with different melt viscosities and molecular weights, and the obtained polyphenylene sulfide resins have excellent heat resistance. The linear high molecular weight polyphenylene sulfide resin with high thermal stability can be used for producing plates, pipes and rods, can be mechanically processed like metals, such as cutting, grinding, polishing, drilling, and can be used to produce fibers, membranes, films, and are applicable to automotive parts, electronic/electrical equipment, chemical and machinery.

A method of producing a polyarylene sulfide composed of amino groups, the method including allowing at least a dihalogenated aromatic compound, an inorganic sulfurizing agent and a compound (A) to react in an organic polar solvent and in the presence of an alkali metal hydroxide, wherein: said compound (A) is present in an amount of 0.04 moles or more and 0.5 moles or less with respect to 1 mole of said inorganic sulfurizing agent, in a reaction vessel; and said compound (A) is a compound comprising at least one aromatic ring, and having, on said one aromatic ring, an amino group, and at least one functional group selected from the group consisting of hydroxyl group, a salt of hydroxyl group, thiol group and a salt of thiol group.

A polymer (B) essentially contains units represented by the following formulas (1), (2) and (3), wherein the number of moles of unit (1) is 0 to 95, the number of moles of unit (2) is 0 to 50, and the number of moles of unit (3) is 2 to 80 when the total number of moles of units (1), (2) and (3) is 100:

##STR00001##

In units (1) to (3), “X” is a recurring unit having a benzene ring, in unit (2), —CH.sub.3 is substituted on the benzene ring, “m” is an integer of 1-6, unit (3) is obtained by substituting a hydrogen of —CH.sub.3 in unit (2) by a substituent “Z” derived from a carboxylic acid or anhydride thereof, “n” is an integer of 1-6 indicative of the number of substitutions, l+n=m, and unit (3) is a unit in which “n” is an integer of 1-6 or a combination thereof.

A polymer (B) essentially contains units represented by the following formulas (1), (2) and (3), wherein the number of moles of unit (1) is 0 to 95, the number of moles of unit (2) is 0 to 50, and the number of moles of unit (3) is 2 to 80 when the total number of moles of units (1), (2) and (3) is 100:

##STR00001##

In units (1) to (3), “X” is a recurring unit having a benzene ring, in unit (2), —CH.sub.3 is substituted on the benzene ring, “m” is an integer of 1-6, unit (3) is obtained by substituting a hydrogen of —CH.sub.3 in unit (2) by a substituent “Z” derived from a carboxylic acid or anhydride thereof, “n” is an integer of 1-6 indicative of the number of substitutions, l+n=m, and unit (3) is a unit in which “n” is an integer of 1-6 or a combination thereof.

A foam and a foaming composition are provided. The foam includes a composite material and a plurality of foam cells, wherein the foam cells are disposed in the composite material. The composite material includes a modified sulfur-containing polymer and a fluorine-containing polymer fiber, wherein a degree of orientation as defined by the ratio I.sub.110/I.sub.200 is from 1.0 to 1.3, wherein I.sub.110 is the X-ray diffraction peak intensity of (110) planes of the modified sulfur-containing polymer and I.sub.200 is the X-ray diffraction peak intensity of (200) planes of the modified sulfur-containing polymer.

A foam and a foaming composition are provided. The foam includes a composite material and a plurality of foam cells, wherein the foam cells are disposed in the composite material. The composite material includes a modified sulfur-containing polymer and a fluorine-containing polymer fiber, wherein a degree of orientation as defined by the ratio I.sub.110/I.sub.200 is from 1.0 to 1.3, wherein I.sub.110 is the X-ray diffraction peak intensity of (110) planes of the modified sulfur-containing polymer and I.sub.200 is the X-ray diffraction peak intensity of (200) planes of the modified sulfur-containing polymer.

A fiber-reinforced polyarylene sulfide copolymer composite base material includes a continuous reinforcing fiber, or a reinforcing fiber base material with discontinuous reinforcing fibers dispersed therein; and a polyarylene sulfide copolymer impregnated into the continuous reinforcing fiber or the reinforcing fiber base material; in which the glass transition temperature of the polyarylene sulfide copolymer is 95° C. to 190° C. The fiber-reinforced polyarylene sulfide copolymer composite base material has high workability during molding of molded articles from the composite base material and increased rigidity at high temperature, while having chemical resistance of polyarylene sulfide.

A fiber-reinforced polyarylene sulfide copolymer composite base material includes a continuous reinforcing fiber, or a reinforcing fiber base material with discontinuous reinforcing fibers dispersed therein; and a polyarylene sulfide copolymer impregnated into the continuous reinforcing fiber or the reinforcing fiber base material; in which the glass transition temperature of the polyarylene sulfide copolymer is 95° C. to 190° C. The fiber-reinforced polyarylene sulfide copolymer composite base material has high workability during molding of molded articles from the composite base material and increased rigidity at high temperature, while having chemical resistance of polyarylene sulfide.

The present invention relates to a polyarylene sulfide resin composition having good processability and showing excellent properties due to its more improved miscibility with other polymer materials or fillers, and a formed article. Such polyarylene sulfide resin composition includes a polyarylene sulfide including a disulfide repeating unit in the repeating units of the main chain; and at least one component selected from the group consisting of a thermoplastic resin, a thermoplastic elastomer, and a filler.