Recent Advances in Modern Static Devolatilization

Abstract

Summary: The present paper deals with state‐of‐the‐art static devolatilization technology for polymer melts. Recent results obtained by CFD‐studies as well as by experimental testing at pilot scale are presented for the devolatilization of technical thermoplasts like polystyrene, poly (methyl methacrylate) and polycarbonate. It is shown that with the correct design of preheater and devolatilization chamber, volatiles like monomers and solvents can be efficiently removed from the polymer melt, both from the economical and technological point of view. As design criteria for the preheater, maldistribution and heat transfer efficiency are explained in detail.

From Laboratory to Industrial Continuous Production of Polylactic Acid with Low Residual Monomer

“…A scheme representing the continuous plant is shown in Scheme . It combines a reaction and a devolatilization section similar to those previously reported in the literature . In particular, the reaction section comprises a loop reactor followed by a tubular reactor, both built using static mixers (e.g., SMX ™ , SMX ™ plus, SMXL ™ ) and static mixer reactors, SMR™.…”