Polymer Reaction Engineering

Polymers are an example of products-by-process, where the final product properties are mostly determined during manufacture, in the reactor. An understanding of processes occurring in the polymerization reactor is therefore crucial to achieving efficient, consistent, safe and environmentally friendly production of polymeric materials. Polymer Reaction Engineering provides the link between the fundamentals of polymerization kinetics and polymer microstructure achieved in the reactor. Organized according to the type of polymerization, each chapter starts with a description of the main polymers produced by the particular method, their key microstructural features and their applications Polymerization kinetics and its effect on reactor configuration, mass and energy balances and scale-up are covered in detail. The text is illustrated with examples emphasizing general concepts, principles and methodology. Written as an authoritative guide for chemists and chemical engineers in industry and academe, Polymer Reaction Engineering will also be a key reference source for advanced courses in polymer chemistry and technology. Cover Page 1 Title: Polymer Reaction Engineering 3 ISBN 1405144424 4 Contents (with page links) 5 1 Introduction to Polymerization Processes 5 2 Coordination Polymerization 6 3 Free-Radical Polymerization: Homogeneous Systems 6 4 Free-Radical Polymerization: Heterogeneous Systems 7 5 Suspension Polymerization 7 6 Emulsion Polymerization 7 7 Step-Growth Polymerization 8 8 Control of Polymerization Reactors 8 Contributors 10 Preface 12 Notation 14 Greek letters 18 Acronyms 20 Chapter 1 Introduction to Polymerization Processes 23 1.1 Microstructural features of polymers and their effect on properties 23 1.2 Classes of polymerizations 31 1.3 Polymerization techniques 38 1.4 Main commercial polymers 40 1.5 Polymerization reactors 45 References 49 Chapter 2 Coordination Polymerization 51 2.1 Polyolefin types: microstructural classification and analytical techniques 52 2.2 Catalysts for olefin polymerization 65 2.3 Polymerization kinetics for single- and multiple-site catalysts 76 2.4 Inter- and intraparticle mass and heat transfer resistances 108 2.5 Industrial olefin polymerization reactors 121 Acknowledgments 137 References 137 Chapter 3 Free-Radical Polymerization: Homogeneous Systems 140 3.1 Free-radical polymers: properties and applications 140 3.2 FRP mechanisms and kinetics 141 3.3 Controlled radical polymerization 173 3.4 Polymer reaction engineering aspects 178 3.5 A “roadmap” for mathematical modeling 193 References 196 Chapter 4 Free-Radical Polymerization: Heterogeneous Systems 201 4.1 Introduction 201 4.2 High-impact polystyrene 201 4.3 Vinyl chloride monomer bulk polymerization 217 Acknowledgments 228 References 228 Chapter 5 Suspension Polymerization 231 5.1 Introduction 231 5.2 Surface active agents 234 5.3 Mixing phenomena 236 5.4 The “bead” suspension polymerization process 238 5.5 The “powder” suspension polymerization process 239 5.6 Population balance modeling 242 5.7 Physical properties and phase equilibrium calculations 246 5.8 Effect of operating conditions on PSD 249 5.9 Scale-up of suspension polymerization reactors 249 References 252 Chapter 6 Emulsion Polymerization 255 6.1 Main products and markets 255 6.2 Microstructural features and their effect on properties 256 6.3 Emulsion polymerization fundamentals 258 6.4 Reactor engineering 278 6.5 Related processes 289 References 291 Chapter 7 Step-Growth Polymerization 295 7.1 Introduction 295 7.2 Polymerization kinetics and modeling 300 7.3 Industrial step-growth products, processes and modeling 312 7.4 Summary 334 References 335 Chapter 8 Control of Polymerization Reactors 337 8.1 Characterization of the control problem 337 8.2 Classical polymerization reaction control problems 338 8.3 On-line monitoring 344 8.4 Safety 358 8.5 Optimum operation design and setpoint specification 362 8.6 Calculation of the control action and control schemes 371 8.7 Concluding remarks 378 References 378 Index (with page links) 385 Polymers are an example of 8220;products-by-process8221;, where the final product properties are mostly determined during manufacture, in the reactor. An understanding of processes occurring in the polymerization reactor is therefore crucial to achieving efficient, consistent, safe and environmentally friendly production of polymeric materials. Polymer Reaction Engineering provides the link between the fundamentals of polymerization kinetics and polymer microstructure achieved in the reactor. Organized according to the type of polymerization, each chapter starts with a description of the main polymers produced by the particular method, their key microstructural features and their applications Polymerization kinetics and its effect on reactor configuration, mass and energy balances and scale-up are covered in detail. The text is illustrated with examples emphasizing general concepts, principles and methodology. Written as an authoritative guide for chemists and chemical engineers in industry and academe, Polymer Reaction Engineering will also be a key reference source for advanced courses in polymer chemistry and technology "Polymer Reaction Engineering provides the link between the fundamentals of polymerization kinetics and polymer in microstructure achieved in the reactor. Organized according to the type of polymerization, each chapter starts with a description of the main polymers produced by the particular method, their key microstructural features and their applications. Polymerization kinetics and its effect on reactor configuration, mass and energy balances and scale-up are covered in detail. The text is illustrated with examples emphasizing general concepts, principles and methodology." "Written as an authoritative guide for chemists and chemical engineers in industry and academe, Polymer Reaction Engineering will also be a key reference source for advanced courses in polymer chemistry and technology."--BOOK JACKET