LOWRESCO: Production of polymers with a low residual monomer and solvent content

• Research unit: EU RFP
• Project number: 97.0594-1

Key words (English)

Devolatilization; PMMA; mixing; reaction; flashing; stripping

Alternative project number (English)

EU project number: BPR-CT97-0532

Research programs (English)

EU-programme: 4. Frame Research Programme - 2.1 Industrial and materials technologies

Short description (English)

See abstract

Partners and International Organizations (English)

Coordinator: Universitat Del Pais Vasco (E)

Abstract (English)

Highly efficient and reliable static reactor systems have found many applications in the polymer production technology. The scope of this experimental as well as theoretical investigations was to proof both the technical and the commercial feasibility of a continuous MMA solution polymerisation plant of industrial size using static reaction and static devolatilization technology. Residual volatile content in the final product should be less than 100 ppm.
Data acquired during devolatilization experiments never confirmed the theoretically calculated residual MMA content of approx. 100 ppm. The formation of monomer along the devolatilization path due to de-polymerisation reactions as well as variations of foam stability within the devolatilization equipment led to this discrepancy. However, the results confirmed clearly the dominant influence of parameters like melt temperature, content of stripping agent and devolatilization pressure on the overall devolatilization performance. Further optimising the aforementioned parameters are necessary to reach low volatile contents as well as to make the entire continuous MMA solution polymerisation process technically feasible.
The estimated profitability of the process is not positive under all circumstances. To get a clear picture of the interrelation within the extremely diversified and not very transparent MMA-PMMA business further market investigations are needed. However, the grade of up- and downwards integration seems to play a major role on the profitability.

References in databases (English)

Swiss Database: Euro-DB of the
State Secretariat for Education and Research
Hallwylstrasse 4
CH-3003 Berne, Switzerland
Tel. [phone]
Swiss Project-Number: 97.0594-1