Radiation-induced polymerization of ethylene in pilot plant. III. Heavy-phase recycling process. [Gamma radiation]

Journal Article · Mon Oct 15 04:00:00 EDT 1979 · J. Appl. Polym. Sci.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1002/app.1979.070240805· OSTI ID:5584612

Takehisa, M; Watanabe, H; Kurihara, H

Radiation-induced polymerization of ethylene using aqueous tert-butyl alcohol as medium was carried out in a large-scale pilot plant with a 50-liter central source-type reactor at a pressure of 105 to 395 kg/cm/sup 2/, temperature of 30 to 80/sup 0/C, mean dose rate of 4.5 x 10/sup 4/ to 1.9 x 10/sup 5/ rads/h, ethylene feed rate of 5.5 to 23.5 kg/h, and medium feed rate of 21 to 102.1/h. The space-time yield and molecular weight of the polymer were in the range of 4.7 to 16.8 g/l.-h and 1.3 x 10/sup 4/ to 8.9 x 10/sup 4/, respectively. The space-time yield and molecular weight increased with mean residence time at 30/sup 0/C, whereas at 80/sup 0/C they became almost independent of the time. The space-time yield increased with pressure and dose rate, slightly decreased with temperature, and was maximum at ethylene molar fraction of 0.5. The polymer molecular weight increased with pressure and ethylene molar fraction, and decreased with dose rate and temperature. The total amount of deposited polymer on the reactor wall, source case wall, and scraping blades was usually less than 1 kg, which was negligibly small for the analysis of polymerization. Continuous discharge of the polymer slurry and production of fine-powder polyethylene were successfully carried out. In the central source-type reactor, a dose rate of 1.9 x 10/sup 5/ rads/h was obtained with a /sup 60/Co source of ca. 12 kCi. 13 figures, 1 table.

• Research Organization: Japan Atomic Energy Research Inst., Takasaki
• OSTI ID: 5584612
• Journal Information: J. Appl. Polym. Sci.; (United States), Journal Name: J. Appl. Polym. Sci.; (United States) Vol. 24:8; ISSN JAPNA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
360406 -- Materials-- Polymers & Plastics-- Radiation Effects-- (-1987)
38 RADIATION CHEMISTRY, RADIOCHEMISTRY, AND NUCLEAR CHEMISTRY
400600* -- Radiation Chemistry
ALCOHOLS
ALKENES
BUTANOLS
CHEMICAL RADIATION EFFECTS
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
CHEMISTRY
ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION
ETHYLENE
FUNCTIONAL MODELS
GAMMA RADIATION
HYDROCARBONS
HYDROXY COMPOUNDS
IONIZING RADIATIONS
MEDIUM TEMPERATURE
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC POLYMERS
PILOT PLANTS
POLYETHYLENES
POLYMERIZATION
POLYMERS
POLYOLEFINS
RADIATION CHEMISTRY
RADIATION EFFECTS
RADIATIONS