Manufacturing process polyester

Stabilizers. Hydroquinone [123-31 -9] (4) is widely used in commercial resins to provide stabiHty during the dissolution of the hot polyester resin in styrene during the manufacturing process. Aeration of the styrene with oxygen (air) is required to activate the stabilizer, which is converted to an equiHbrium mixture of quinone and the quinhydrone (5) (11). At levels of 150 ppm, a shelf life of over 6 months can be expected at ambient temperatures. 

Vinyl ester resins generally offer mechanical properties superior to those of polyester matrices but at an increased cost. Vinyl esters are chemically similar to epoxy resins but are manufactured via a cold-curing process similar to that used in the manufacture of polyester resins. Vinyl esters offer superior resistance to water and chemical attack and are used in such appHcations as underground pipes, tank liners, and storage tanks (see Vinyl polymers). 

Some of the common types of plastics that ate used ate thermoplastics, such as poly(phenylene sulfide) (PPS) (see Polymers containing sulfur), nylons, Hquid crystal polymer (LCP), the polyesters (qv) such as polyesters that ate 30% glass-fiber reinforced, and poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET), and polyetherimide (PEI) and thermosets such as diaHyl phthalate and phenoHc resins (qv). Because of the wide variety of manufacturing processes and usage requirements, these materials ate available in several variations which have a range of physical properties. 

Toyobo has developed high strength polyester tire cords, flame-resistant polyester (HEIM) that contribute to the improvement of car safety and helps save labor in manufacturing processes [40]. 

PCT, PETG, PCTG and PCTAs can all be prepared readily via standard melt-phase poly condensation processes [34, 35], The diacid can be delivered via transesterification of the dimethyl esters or via direct esterification of the diacids. Numerous conventional catalyst and catalyst combinations can be employed. The use of a catalyst or catalyst combination is important for the manufacture of polyesters via the melt-phase process and has been well reported in the literature [36-41], Appropriate catalyst systems enable the production of polyesters with high processing rates and high molecular... 

This is one of the most important industrial oxidation processes. Terephthalic acid (TPA) is mostly used for the manufacture of polyester fibers, films and plastics, and its world production capacity reaches 8 Mt/year. Two major processes have been developed. The Amoco-Mid Century process produces terephthalic acid by the one-step oxidation of p-xylene in acetic acid, whereas the Dynamit Nobel process yields dimethyl terephthalate in several steps and in the absence of solvent.83,84,86... 

The oxidation of cyclohexanone by nitric acid leads to the generation of nitrogen dioxide, nitric oxide, and nitrous oxide. The first two gases can be recycled for the synthesis of nitric acid. Nitrous oxide, however, is an ozone depleter and cannot be recycled. Indiscriminate nitrous oxide emission from this process is therefore the cause of considerable concern. As shown by 8.9, part of the cyclohexanone can also be converted to the corresponding oxime and then to caprolactam—the monomer for nylon 6. Phthalic acids are one of the monomers for the manufacture of polyesters. As shown by Eq. 8.10, it is made by the oxidation of p-xylene. A general description of polyamides (nylons) and polyesters are given in Section 8.4. 

Starch-based biopolymers are lower cost materials than some other biodegradable polymer types such as synthetic co-polyesters and PLA. They are produced from relatively cheap agricultural feedstock and have simpler manufacturing processes compared with synthetic biopolymers. 

Terephthalic acid (TPA), a raw material in the manufacture of polyester fiber, film, and soft drink bottles, is synthesized from p-xylene (PX) in the process shown below. 

New processes include synthesis of /V-alkylated anilines from olefins and aniline in an inert solvent with at least one catalyst from a range that includes alkali metal alcoholates, alkaline earth metal alcoholates, alkali metal amides and alkaline earth amides36. The uses for /V,/V-dimethylaniline (11) include in the manufacture of polyester resins, sulfur recovery (in copper refining), insecticides and fungicides, dyes, pharmaceuticals, explosives, rubber products, specialty isocyanates and petroleum additives. The /V-ethylaniline (26) is a dye intermediate and rubber additive, and is used for bum control in explosives, while /V,/V-diclhylaniline is used in production of polyester resins, pharmaceuticals, diazo prints (lithographic), and dyes, and as a petroleum additive37. 

There are many examples of the application of CD or RD for esterification.f" Esterification of methanol or ethanol with acetic acid forms methyl acetate or ethyl acetate, respectively. Methyl acetate is important in the manufacture of polyesters and is an important solvent for cellulose while ethyl acetate is used in inks, fragrances, and pharmaceuticals. The manufacture of high-purity methyl acetate is difficult because of the equilibrium limitation and also the formation of azeotropes. The production of methyl acetate by Eastman Chemical Co. was the first commercial application of RD using a homogeneous liquid acid catalyst. Only one RD column and two smaller columns for processing sidestreams are required while in the conventional methyl acetate synthesis, two reactors and eight distillation columns are required. 

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