Continuous adiabatic inverse emulsion polymerization process
US9434793B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jul 24, 2015 |
| Grant date | Sep 6, 2016 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jul 24, 2035 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC C)Chemistry; Metallurgy
- CPC primaryC08F220/56
- WIPO fieldMacromolecular chemistry, polymers
- WIPO sectorChemistry
Abstract
The present invention provides a method for continuous polymerization of ethylenically unsaturated monomers in a water-in-oil inverse emulsion under adiabatic conditions without the need for external cooling during the polymerization. The method comprises neutralizing a monomer composition comprising at least one acidic vinyl monomer with a base in an aqueous medium comprising water and water ice to form an aqueous monomer solution therefrom; homogenizing and degassing to form an inverse monomer emulsion; initiating polymerization; passing the inverse emulsion through a tube reactor without cooling, and flash evaporating a portion of the water from inverse emulsion to cool and concentrate the resulting polymer-containing inverse emulsion. During neutralization, the aqueous medium comprises an amount of water ice sufficient to maintain a temperature of 30° C. or less, and the polymerization is initiated by adding a free-radical polymerization initiator to the emulsion prior to passing the emulsion through the tube reactor.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.