Journal of Applied Polymer Science, Vol.81, No.6, 1388-1400, 2001
The forced gas sweeping process for semibatch melt polycondensation of poly(ethylene terephthalate)
The experimental and modeling studies are presented on the melt polycondensation of poly(ethylene terephthalate) by a gas sweeping process. In this process, low molecular weight prepolymer is polymerized to a higher molecular weight polymer in a molten state at ambient pressure as ethylene glycol is removed by nitrogen gas bubbles injected directly to the polymer melt through a metal tube. In the temperature range of 260-280 degreesC, the rate of polymerization by the gas sweeping process is quite comparable to that of conventional high vacuum process. The effects of nitrogen gas flow rate and reaction temperature on polymerization rate and polymer molecular weight were investigated. Polymer molecular weight increases with an increase in gas flow rate up to certain limits. A dynamic mass transfer-reaction model has been developed, and the agreement between experimental data and model simulations was quite satisfactory. The effect of ethylene glycol bubble nucleation on the polymerization has also been investigated. It was observed that the presence of nucleated ethylene glycol bubbles induced by the bulk motion of polymer melt has: negligible impact on the polymerization rate and polymer molecular weight.
Keywords:melt polycondensation;poly(ethylene terephthalate);forced gas sweeping process;polymerization;mass transfer-reaction model;bubble nucleation