Abstract:
A PROCESS OF PRODUCTING A SOLUBLE FUSIBLE PRE-POLYMER IS DESCRIBED IN WHICH AT LEAST ONE OF TOLUENE AND XYLENE IS REACTED WITH P-XYLYLENEGLYCOL DIMETHYL ETHER IN THE PRESENCE OF A MILD FRIEDEL-CRAFTS TYPE CATALYST SO THAT THE TOLUENE AND/OR XYLENE REACT WITH THE P-XYLYLENEGLYCOL DIMETHYL ETHER WITH THE ELIMINATION OF METHANOL, THE REACTION BEING ALLOWED TO PROCEED ALMOST TO THE GELATION POINT. THE PRE-POLYMERS PRODUCED ARE PARTICULARLY SUITABLE FOR MAKING CARBON FIBRE REINFORCED PLASTICS MATERIALS.