Abstract Apparatus for finishing viscous materials, as in polycondensation reactions for the production of polyamides and polyesters wherein a low viscosity liquid is fed into one end of a cylindrical vessel having one or more vapor outlets and at least one horizontally mounted agitator, mounted for rotation within said vessel, and having a drive shaft running throughout the full length of said vessel having spoked wheels interspaced and interconnected by circularly arranged serrated blades, said wheels being spaced closer together at the feed end and being spaced at greater distances towards a discharge port located at the opposite end from the feed end of said vessel, said serrated blades being located in such a way as to keep a close clearance between the blade and wall and thus maintain a continuous shear gradient between blade and wall, and carry an amount of liquid with them each time they leave the liquid surface which is poured from the blade near the apex of its travel and in this manner an unsupported corrugated film is formed parallel to the axis of the drive shaft yielding a large surface area which aids in rapid evaporation of volatile material thus expediting the polycondensation reaction.
The apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein the scoop curvature alignment angle is from about 10* to about 30*.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
28 words
The apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein the serration size in both width and depth can be adjusted for control of film thickness of the viscous material.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
30 words
The apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein the agitator components are so interrelated and positioned in relation to said material that no pumping of the viscous material takes place.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
33 words
The apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein agitator components are so interrelated to said vessel to continually remove material being processed from the interior surfaces of the vessel as the agitator rotates.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
27 words
The apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein the scoop curvature alignment can vary from the feed end of the vessel to discharge end of the vessel.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
246 words
A process for the continuous polycondensation of a liquid viscous material having a viscosity in the range of up to 30,000 poises consisting of a linear saturated or unsaturated polyester or polyamide by heating the melt under pressure and wherein it is desired to effect degassing of said materials with consequent removal of volatile materials, comprising the steps of: a. continuously feeding a quantity of the liquid into an inlet chamber of a revolving cylindrical agitator within a vessel; b. controlling and maintaining liquid quantity input with liquid quantity output within said chamber to a liquid level within said vessel of from about 10 to about 60 percent thereof; c. lifting continuously a quantity of the liquid as an unsupported corrugated film in a continuous movement substantially perpendicular to the surface of said liquid by passing an elongate member through said material having spoked wheels interspaced and interconnected by circularly arranged serrated substantially radial scoop blades having a designated alignment angle in relation to the wheel wherein it is attached; d. stretching said unsupported film within each chamber of said vessel continuously from the exit point of said liquid until reentry of said unsupported film on the side opposite the exit point of said liquid by placement and interrelationship of each compartment component in relation to the liquid material being processed and the speed in which the agitator is revolved; e. evacuating continuously volatile materials during said polycondensation, and f. recovering said degassed liquid viscous material.