HIPS mass process

The greatest difference between the ABS mass process and the HIPS mass process is the presence or absence of acrylonitrile monomer, but in the two processes there are many other similar points. See Fig. 6.4. Any other differences between the two processes involve the method for removing reaction heat, the radial and vertical mixing extent, the numbers of reactors, etc. The reaction heat can be removed by means of boihng and reflux coohng, heat-transfer surface, addition of low-temperature monomer and solvent, etc. 

Access to Practice. Publications and patents on the batch mass process are limited. Bishop s book CD contains the most detailed description of the polymerization press and mass-suspension processes for PS and HIPS. Fong (16) presents an economic analysis of the press process based on Bishop s description. Patent references are few for the batch-mass process the 1939 Bakelite patent on transfer of prepoly syrup to chambers or containers is of historical interest (17). 

General Considerations. Continuous mass processes for polystyrene have been in commercial use since the 1930 s, and for rubber-modified polystyrene (HIPS) since the 1950 s. Much of the information on equipment design, process configuration and operating parameters connected with continuous processes is found in the patent literature. There are inherent limitations to such sources. Recognizing this, we will provide... 

Rubber-Modified Copolymers. Acrylonitrile—butadiene—styrene polymers have become important commercial products since the mid-1950s. The development and properties of ABS polymers have been discussed in detail (76) (see Acrylonitrile polymers). ABS polymers, like HIPS, are two-phase systems in which the elastomer component is dispersed in the rigid SAN copolymer matrix. The electron photomicrographs in Figure 6 show the difference in morphology of mass vs emulsion ABS polymers. The differences in stmcture of the dispersed phases are primarily a result of differences in production processes, types of mbber used, and variation in mbber concentrations. 

Table I provides an overview of general reactor designs used with PS and HIPS processes on the basis of reactor function. The polymer concentrations characterizing the mass polymerizations are approximate there could be some overlapping of agitator types with solids level beyond that shown in the tcd>le. Polymer concentration limits on HIPS will be lower because of increased viscosity. There are also additional applications. Tubular reactors, for example, in effect, often exist as the transfer lines between reactors and in external circulating loops associated with continuous reactors.

Both Bishop QJ and Fong (] ) give extensive patent reviews of the mass-suspension process for HIPS including the pioneering patents of Stein and Walter (18). 

Figure 20. Schematic of Monsanto Co. patented continuous mass HIPS process...

Osteoporosis is defined as a generalized decrease in bone mass (osteopenia) that affects bone matrix and mineral content equally, giving rise to fractures of vertebral bodies with bone pain, kyphosis, and shortening of the torso. Fractures of the hip and the distal radius are also commoa The underlying process is a disequilibrium between bone formation by osteoblasts and bone resorption by osteoclasts. 

While chains having molecular weights of a few thousands only form brittle waxes, polyethylenes having molar masses of above hundred thousand show much better mechanical properties. They can be processed into films, pipes, and other performance products. When molar mass is further increased up to several millions, even higher impact strengths and abrasion resistances are achieved which enable these materials to be used in heavy-duty applications like skating floors and artificial hips. 

The emission levels generated at the processing of HIPS were estimated from static monitors positioned around the engine. In the monitoring positions stainless steel tubes packed with Tenax and Chromosorb as a general purpose adsorbent material were established. After sampling, the adsorbed chemicals were desorbed at 250°C and subsequently analyzed by gas chromatography (GC) coupled with mass spectroscopy (MS). 

The grafting is accomplished in the commercial mass polymerization process by polymerizing styrene in the presence of a dissolved rubber. Dissolving the elastomer in the styrene monomer before polymerization produces HIPS grades. Since the two polymer solutions are incompatible, the styrene-rubber system phase separates very early in conversion. Polystyrene forms the continuous phase, with the rubber phase existing as discrete particles having occlusions of polystyrene. Different production techniques and formulations allow the rubber phase to be tailored to a wide range of properties. Typically ... 

Acrylonitrile/Butadiene/Styrene (ABS) Acry-lonitrile/butadiene/styrene (ABS) polymers are not true terpolymers. As HIPS they are multipolymer composite materials, also called polyblends. Continuous ABS is made by the copolymerization of styrene and acrylonitrile (SAN) in the presence of dissolved PB rubber. It is common to make further physical blends of ABS with different amounts of SAN copolymers to tailor product properties. Similar to the bulk continuous HIPS process, in the ABS process, high di-PB (>50%, >85% 1,4-addition) is dissolved in styrene monomer, or in the process solvent, and fed continuously to a CSTR where streams of AN monomer, recycled S/AN blends from the evaporator and separation stages, peroxide or azo initiators, antioxidants and additives are continuously metered according to the required mass balance to keep the copolymer composition constant over time at steady state. 

A number of important commercial resins are manufactured by suspension polymerization, including poly(vinyl chloride) and copolymers, styrene resins [general purpose polystyrene, EPS, high impact polystyrene (HIPS), poly(styrene-acrylonitrile) (SAN), poly(acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene) (ABS), styrenic ion-exchange resins], poly(methyl methacrylate) and copolymers, and poly(vinyl acetate). However, some of these polymers rather use a mass-suspension process, in which the polymerization starts as a bulk one and, at certain conversion, water and suspending agents are added to the reactor to form a suspension and continue the polymerization in this way up to high conversions. No continuous suspension polymerization process is known to be employed on a... 

As has been seen in Table 4.1, the polymer microstructure influences the application properties of the polymer, such as melt flow index (MFI). The MFI is the mass flow rate [in g (10 min) ] of a HIPS melt that flows through a capillary, when forced by a piston loaded by a constant weight. It indicates the processability of the polymer and it is an important quality control variable in the polymerization process. MFI mainly depends... 

The human body is subjected to many environmental forces that may be treated as stochastic (random) processes. For example, how would you estimate the forces on an individual during an automobile crash How about the stress on a hip as a person transverses a rocky terrain A second area of interest focuses on the treatment of uncertainties in the measurement of anthropometric data or human performance. Refer to Sec. 31.2.9 ( Human Factors ) for more details. A clinician estimates the mass of a man s arm as 0.4 kg from anthropometric tables, but how do we quantify the effects that might occur due to an error in the estimate One method to quantify the effect of stochastic processes is the Monte Carlo simulation. ... 

Acrylonitrile-Butadiene-Styrene Polymer. The name acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (ABS) polymer is reserved for a family of thermoplastics with the SAN matrix containing dispersed elastomer particles.The oldest approach to the ABS preparation, similarly as in the case of HIPS, is mechanical blending of individual components. At present the graft polymerization of a mixture of styrene with acrylonitrile in the presence of a suitable rubber component is the current process of ABS polymer manufacture. Most producers employ some form of emulsion technology, but the mass or mass-emulsion polymerization is also technologically feasible (60,272). 

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