Process for the preparation of poly(ether-ketone) polymers

DETAILED DESCRIPTION We claim: 1.
Process for the preparation of a poly(ether-ketone) containing at least 50 mole percent of monomer segments derived from an aromatic dicarboxylic acid and a bis(4-phenoxybenzoyl)hydrocarbon, which comprises reacting at a temperature of about 0.
degree.
to 150.
degree.
C.
until the desired degree of polymerization is achieved an aromatic dicarboxylic acid and a bis(4-phenoxybenzoyl)hydrocarbon in the presence of a perfluoroalkanesulfonic acid in an amount which is at least three times the theoretical amount of poly(ether-ketone) product and (1) an oxide of phosphorus and/or (2) a perhaloalkanoic anhydride in an amount of at least a total of two gram-moles of --P--O--P-- unit and/or gram-moles of perhaloalkanoic anhydride per gram-mole of dicarboxylic acid reactant.
2.
Process according to claim 1 wherein the aromatic dicarboxylic acid has the formula HOOC--Ar.
sup.
1 --COOH and the bis(4-phenoxybenzoyl)hydrocarbon has the formula ##STR4## wherein Ar.
sup.
1 is phenylene, naphthylene or biphenylene and each --COOH is an aromatically bound carboxyl separated from the other --COOH group by at least three carbon atoms and R.
sup.
1 is alkylene or cycloalkylene having 4 to 18 carbon atoms or Ar.
sup.
1.
3.
Process according to claim 2 wherein the poly(ether-ketone) product has an inherent viscosity of about 0.
6 to 1.
8 and the process is performed at a temperature of about 10.
degree.
to 40.
degree.
C.
4.
Process for the preparation of a poly(ether-ketone) containing at least 75 mole percent of monomer segments derived from one or more aromatic dicarboxylic acids and a bis(4-phenoxybenzoyl)hydrocarbon, which comprises reacting at a temperature of about 10.
degree.
to 40.
degree.
C.
until a poly(ether-ketone) having an inherent viscosity of about 0.
7 to 1.
5 is obtained one or more dicarboxylic acids having the formula HOOC--Ar.
sup.
1 --COOH with a bis(4-phenoxybenzoyl)hydrocarbon having the formula ##STR5## in the presence of trifluoromethanesulfonic acid in an amount which is about four to nine times the theoretical weight of the poly(ether-ketone) product and an oxide of phosphorus in an amount of at least two gram-mole of --P--O--P-- per gram-mole of dicarboxylic acid reactant; wherein Ar