DuPont internal functions

Hydrogen cyanide is a large volume-hazardous chemical that serves diverse functions. DuPont is the single largest manufacturer of HCN in the world, producing 500 million pounds each year, both for internal use in synthesis and for external sales. The majority of HCN manufactured at DuPont is used internally, primarily for adiponitrile synthesis en route to production of nylon. In that case, HCN is reacted with butadiene to produce adiponitrile, an intermediate in the manufacture of nylon polymer. In addition, over one million lbs per year are shipped out in gas cylinders (approximately 4000 cylinders/year). 

A survey of the modulus as a function of exfoliation efficiency of Cloisite 30B in polyethylene with a varying degree of chlorine content is provided by Kim and White [44]. Polyethylene (2045 LLDPE produced by Dow) was the control. The wt. % chlorine content increased from chlorinated polyethylene (Tyrin random replacement of hydrogen with chlorine on the polymer backbone 36% chlorine, manufactured by DuPont Dow Elastomers), polyvinyl chloride (334 EG 56.7% chlorine, manufactured by OxyVinyl), chlorinated polyvinyl chloride (TempRite, 63.5% chlorine, manufactured by Noveon), to polyvinylidene chloride (Saran, greater than 71.5% chlorine, manufactured by Dow Chemical). The composites were prepared with a Brabender internal mixer at 180°C and 100 r/min. The composites were prepared with 3, 5, and 10 wt.% Cloisite 30B content. The samples for mechanical testing were prepared by compression molding. The composites were characterized by WAXS and TEM. 

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