Polymer process design

We have reviewed here, in the brief space available, some recent developments in phase equilibrium representations for polymer solutions. With these recent developments, reliable tools have become available for the polymer process designer to use in considering effects of phase equilibrium properly. 

McKenna, T. F., and Malone, M. F., Polymer process design. 1. Continuous production of chain-growth homopolymers. Compul. Chem. Eng. 14, 1127 (1990). 

The utilization of commercially available finite element packages in the simulation of routine operations in industrial polymer processing is well established. However, these packages cannot be usually used as general research tools. Thus flexible in-house -created programs are needed to carry out the analysis required in the investigation, design and development of novel equipment and operations. 

The problems of monomer recovery, reaction medium viscosity, and control of reaction heat are effectively dealt with by the process design of Montedison Fibre (53). This process produces polymer of exceptionally high density, so although the polymer is stiU swollen with monomer, the medium viscosity remains low because the amount of monomer absorbed in the porous areas of the polymer particles is greatly reduced. The process is carried out in a CSTR with a residence time, such that the product k jd x. Q is greater than or equal to 1. is the initiator decomposition rate constant. This condition controls the autocatalytic nature of the reaction because the catalyst and residence time combination assures that the catalyst is almost totally expended in the reactor. 

MORTON-JONES, D. H. and ELLIS, J. w.. Polymer Products—Design, Materials and Processing, Chapman and Hall, London (1986)... 

In Section 5.11 design examples relating to polymer processing will be illustrated. In these examples the flow data supplied by material manufacturers will be referred to, so it is proposed in this section to show how this data may be obtained. 

In many process design applications like polymerization and plasticization, specific knowledge of the thermodynamics of polymer systems can be very useful. For example, non-ideal solution behavior strongly governs the diffusion phenomena observed for polymer melts and concentrated solutions. Hence, accurate modeling of... 

Natural monomers and polymers present a scenario where they have a structural diversity and complexity that, with appropriate chemical modifications, and taking information from modern techniques of molecular and process designs could be utilized for transforming them into high-value polymers. This was exemplified by showing the example of a natural monomer, cardanol. 

Zvergin VG, Gladchenko AN, Sazonov WV (1984) In Quality and efficiency control and design and fabrication of polymer processing equipment. VNIIRTmaxsh Publication, Tambov, p 32... 

Step-growth polymer industry, 2 Step-growth polymerization processes, design of, 13 Step-growth polymers applications for, 2 histoiy of, 1 -2... 

The development of commercial continuous processes involves the consideration of many factors associated with process design and product quality. Most of the factors discussed in this paper will be important. Other, equally significant parameters, may be important for specific polymer products. Failure to deal with any of these problems may mean failure to develop an economical process. 

As is common in most polymer reactor design problems, heat transfer is one of the major process concerns. For example, if the heat transfer is primarily through the wall of a jacketed reactor, the overall heat transfer coefficient is a function of both the agitator configuration and the degree of swelling of the particles. 

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