US5084134A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Process for the devolatilization of polymer solutions
Assignee: Montedipe SpA
•
Filing: 1991-01-16
•
Granted: 1992-01-28
•
Expires: 2011-01-16
Abstract
Abstract A process for the devolatilization of polymer solutions including: (a) feeding the solution to a zone of indirect thermal exchange in which the ratio between the surface of thermal exchange and the flow per hour of the solution is over 80 m 2 /m 3 /h; (b) moving the solution forward into each channel at a speed below 0.5 mm/second; (c) keeping the solution of the polymer in each channel for about 120-200 seconds; and (d) separating the volatile components from the devolatilized polymer solution.
Inventors
- 👤 Andrea Mattiussi
- 👤 Claudio Buonerba
- 👤 Franco Balestri
- 👤 Dino Dall'Acqua
- 👤 Savino Matarrese
- 👤 Italo Borghi
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 19:33
CPC Classifications
B; B01; B01D; B01D1/00; B01D3/00; B01D3/06; B01D1/22; B01D1/221; B01D19/00; C; C08; C08F; C08F6/00; C08F6/001; C08F6/003; C08F6/06; C08F6/10; F; F28; F28D; F28D9/00; F28D9/0012; F28D9/0018; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S159/00; Y10S159/10; Y10S159/16; Y10S159/32
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
224 words
A process for the devolatilization of polymer solutions consisting of: (a) feeding the polymer solution to a zone of indirect thermal exchange comprising a plurality of channels arranged in parallel with respect to one another, heated to a temperature higher than the temperature of vaporization of the volatile components and up to the boiling temperature of the solution, wherein the ratio between the whole surface of thermal exchange, expressed in m 2 , and the flow per hour of the fed polymer solution, expressed in m 3 /h, is above 80 m 2 /m 3 /h; (b) moving the polymer solution forward into each channel at a speed below 0.5 mm/second and the pressure of the polymer solution at the inlet of the channels ranges from 2 to 5.10 5 Pascal; (c) keeping the polymer solution in each channel for a period of time ranging from 120 to 200 seconds, in order to evaporate at least 90% of the volatile components from said polymer solution; (d) separating the volatile components from the devolatilized polymer solution; (e) wherein the temperature of the polymer solution is at least 50 centigrade degrees over a glass transition temperature Tg of the polymer; and (f) wherein the difference between the temperature of a heating medium and that of the polymer solution leaving the channels is below 10 centigrade degrees.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
224 words
A process for the devolatilization of polymer solutions consisting of: (a) feeding the polymer solution to a zone of indirect thermal exchange comprising a plurality of channels arranged in parallel with respect to one another, heated to a temperature higher than the temperature of vaporization of the volatile components and up to the boiling temperature of the solution, wherein the ratio between the whole surface of thermal exchange, expressed in m 2 , and the flow per hour of the fed polymer solution, expressed in m 3 /h, is above 80 m 2 /m 3 /h; (b) moving the polymer solution forward into each channel at a speed below 0.5 mm/second and the pressure of the polymer solution at the inlet of the channels ranges from 2 to 5.10 5 Pascal; (c) keeping the polymer solution in each channel for a period of time ranging from 120 to 200 seconds, in order to evaporate at least 90% of the volatile components from said polymer solution; (d) separating the volatile components from the devolatilized polymer solution; (e) wherein the temperature of the polymer solution is at least 50 centigrade degrees over a glass transition temperature Tg of the polymer; and (f) wherein the difference between the temperature of a heating medium and that of the polymer solution leaving the channels is below 10 centigrade degrees.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
20 words
A process according to claim 1, wherein the polymer solution has a viscosity in the molten state over 10,000 centipoises.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
23 words
A process according to claim 1, wherein the polymer solution has a viscosity in the molten state ranging from 100,000 to 1,000,000 centipoises.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
28 words
A process according to claim 1, wherein the polymer is selected from the group consisting of thermoplastic polymers, silicone polymers, elastomers, and lubricants having a high molecular weight.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
36 words
A process according to claim 4, wherein the thermoplastic polymer is selected from the group consisting of polystyrene, impact-resistant polystyrene, polyphenylene ethers, polycarbonates, polyvinyl chloride, polyurethanes, polyetherimides, polyamides, polyesters, polyacrylates, polymethacrylates, linear polyethylene and mixtures thereof.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
17 words
A process according to claim 5, wherein the thermoplastic polymer is a mixture of polyphenylene ether polystyrene.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
24 words
A process according to claim 1, wherein the polymer is selected from the group consisting of copolymers styrene-acrylonitrile, styrene methyl-methacrylate, styrene-maleic anhydride, and styrene-acrylonitrile-rubber.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
30 words
A process according to claim 1, wherein the polymer solution contains at least 25% by weight or at least 40% by weight of polystyrene or of a copolymer of polystyrene.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
19 words
A process according to claim 1, wherein the temperature of the polymer solution ranges from 100° to 400° C.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
19 words
A process according to claim 1, wherein the temperature of the polymer solution ranges from 150° to 350° C.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
30 words
A process according to claim 1, wherein the pressure of the polymer solution is lower than the pressure of saturation of the volatile components toward the outlet of each channel.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
39 words
A process according to claim 1, wherein the ratio between the surface of the exchanger expressed in m 2 and the flow per hour of the polymer solution expressed in m 3 /h ranges from above 80 to 150.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
38 words
A process according to claim 1, wherein the ratio between the surface of the exchanger expressed in m 2 and the flow per hour of the polymer solution expressed in m 3 /h ranges from 100 to 110.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
22 words
A process according to claim 1, wherein the speed of the polymer solution in each channel ranges from 0.3 to 0.4 mm/second.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
41 words
A process according to claim 1, wherein the zone of thermal exchange comprises from 1,000 to 100,000 channels and each channel is from 50 to 150 mm long, from 1 to 3 mm high, and from 10 to 30 mm wide.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US2941985A
Cited
US3453184A
Cited
US3365808A
Cited
US3679368A
Cited
US3741272A
Cited
US3865672A
Cited
US3966538A
Cited
US3980529A
Cited
US4153501A
Cited
US4400236A
Cited
EP0226204A2
Cited
US4808236A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1995-01-27 | 1995-07-29 | 1996-01-28 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1999-01-27 | 1999-07-29 | 2000-01-28 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2003-01-27 | 2003-07-29 | 2004-01-28 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |