Process for polymerization of ethylene

US4042767A · kind A · utility

Assignee

• Ruhrchemie Aktiengesellschaft · DE

Inventors

• Wolfgang Payer · Ulm, DE
• Volker Riepe
• Wilhelm Zoller

Key dates

• Filing date: Feb 9, 1976
• Grant date: Aug 16, 1977
• Expiry date: Feb 9, 1996

Classification

• Technology area (CPC C): Chemistry; Metallurgy
• CPC primary: C08F10/00
• WIPO field: Macromolecular chemistry, polymers
• WIPO sector: Chemistry

Abstract

A method for avoiding decomposition of ethylene during polymerization in a tube form reactor having one or more side branches opening into the reactor wherein the diameter of the side branches is made to be not greater than about 12 mm and a flow number is maintained at between about 0.20 m.sup.2 /sec. and 0.55 m.sup.2 /sec, the flow number being defined as the product of the internal diameter of the tube reactor and the rate of flow of the reactant through the reactor. Flow numbers greater than 0.55 m.sup.2 /sec can be used as long as the diameter of the side branches is reduced to not more than 10 mm.