Abstract:
There is disclosed a method of making fluoropolymers by separating a solution of fluoropolymer and carbon dioxide, said method comprising:
providing a solution consisting essentially of carbon dioxide and a fluoropolymer; and passing the solution through an orifice to separate the fluoropolymer from the solution and form a fluoropolymer layer on a substrate.
Abstract:
The invention concerns a method for continuous preparation of halogenated polymers comprising free radical polymerisation of halogenated monomers in a medium comprising liquid or supercritical carbon dioxide, in at least two pressurised reactors in series. The invention also concerns the resulting halogenated polymers.
Abstract:
A method of forming a polymer having reactive functionality comprises providing a reaction mixture comprising at least one monomer having at least one reactive functional group and carbon dioxide; and polymerizing the at least one monomer in the reaction mixture to form a polymer having reactive functionality associated with the at least one reactive functional group.
Abstract:
A method for forming a fluoropolymer comprises providing a reaction mixture comprising carbon dioxide, at least one fluoromonomer, and an initiator; and reacting the at least one fluoromonomer in the reaction mixture to form a fluoropolymer. The fluoropolymer has a multimodal molecular weight distribution.
Abstract:
A method for carrying out the continuous polymerization of a monomer in a carbon dioxide reaction medium comprises the steps of: (a) providing an apparatus including a continuous reaction vessel and a separator; (b) carrying out a polymerization reaction in the reaction vessel by combining a monomer and a carbon dioxide reaction medium therein (and preferably by also combining an initiator therein), wherein the reaction medium is a liquid or supercritical fluid, and wherein the reaction produces a solid polymer product in the reaction vessel; then (c) withdrawing a continuous effluent stream from the reaction vessel during the polymerization reaction, wherein the effluent stream is maintained as a liquid or supercritical fluid; then (d) passing the continuous effluent stream through the separator and separating the solid polymer therefrom while maintaining at least a portion of the effluent stream as a liquid or supercritical fluid; and then (e) returning at least a portion of the continuous effluent stream to the reaction vessel while maintaining the effluent stream as a liquid or supercritical fluid. The need for significant recompression of the continuous effluent stream prior to return to the reaction vessel is thereby minimized. Apparatus for carrying out such methods is also disclosed.
Abstract:
The invention relates to a method of preparation for polymers, particularly binders for powder coatings and powder coatings which are prepared as a solution in a supercritical fluid phase. Binders for powder coatings are prepared from at least two ethylenically unsaturated monomers capable of free-radical or ionic copolymerisation, and conventional initiators and regulators in supercritical fluids, whereby polymerisation is carried out in the homogeneous phase, and, after the reaction has ended, either the composition or the phase parameters of the mixture are altered so that at least two phases with supercritical fluid are obtained, and the phase containing predominantly polymer is separated and the polymer is separated as a powder from the sc fluid by depressurisation or the polymer phase is further processed under supercritical phase conditions to the powder coating.
Abstract:
Fluoromonomer is polymerized to obtain a fluoropolymer with the polymerization being carried out in a pressurized polymerization reactor containing a polymerization medium comprising liquid or supercritical CO2. The polymerization medium is withdrawn from the reactor together with the fluoropolymer and flash decompressed to thereby recover the fluoropolymer from the medium.
Abstract:
The present invention provides a process for making fluorinated polymers and copolymers having stable end groups. The process includes (1) contacting a fluoromonomer, an initiator capable of producing stable end groups on the polymer chain, and a polymerization medium comprising carbon dioxide, and (2) polymerizing the fluoromonomer. The polymerization medium preferably comprises liquid or supercritical carbon dioxide. Advantageously, the process may also include the step of separating the fluoropolymer from the polymerization medium. The present invention also provides polymerization reaction mixtures useful in the processes of the present invention.