Increased reactor performance versus reactor safety aspects in acrylate copolymerization

The aim of reducing cycle times of semibatch-polymerization processes requi res systematic investigations of the kinetics, careful adjustment of the de sired polymer properties, proper thermal reactor design and reliable reacto r safety assessment [1]. As a concrete example, a semibatch-copolymerizatio n was carefully examined with respect to four different aspects. Thermo-kin etics of the reaction were investigated with isoperibolic reaction calorime try and GC. In order to obtain reliable values for the overall heat transfe r coefficient of the production scale reactor, cooling experiments were car ried out with solvent and final copolymer solution as reactor content. For consistent reactor safety assessment additional investigations are necessar y including case studies of breakdown incidences. These simulations were pe rformed with a mathematical model based on the GC data and experimental vap or pressure curves. As a result of these calculations: a reduction of react ion time from 10 to 6 hours was possible. To convert into practice, it must be ensured that even in this shortened time a product of the same quality is produced.