Glass Tube Reactor Experiment with Release of Reaction Fluid

4 Glass Tube Reactor Experiment with Release of Reaction Fluid 

Another set of polymerizations was carried out in a small-scale glass tube reactor within an ethylene glycol bath (Fig. 2.2.6). The tube was sealed with a Teflon cap after the reactants mixture was added in and bubbled with N2. 

The pressure glass tube was to be filled with a 5 ml MEK/4.75 water mixture, since according to the International Critical Tables, this mixture has an LCST of about —16°C. About 0.4 ml of vinyl acetate (VA) was to be incorporated into the mixture. The actual sequence used was the addition of 5 ml MEK into the pressurized glass tube followed by the 0.4 ml VA, and then finally injecting in the 4.75 ml water which resulted in a cloudy mixture. Then, the glass tube was sealed using the Teflon  

After at least 24 h, the following observations were made  

The Teflon cap on the tube was partially charred/melted, as if burnt Teflon had ran down the side of the glass tube. 

---