Utilization of coal conversion process by-products. Quarterly report, December 26, 1976--March 25, 1977. [Polymers from carboxylic acid mixtures]

Technical Report · Sun May 01 04:00:00 EDT 1977

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/7218268· OSTI ID:7218268

Solomon, I. J.; Giori, C.

A feasibility study has been initiated which is aimed at the manufacture of low cost, thermosetting, cross-linkable polymers by using the carboxylic acid mixture obtained in the oxidation of the coal conversion process chars. The main criteria utilized in the selection of polymerization approaches are: (1) the polymerization process should be commercially feasible; (2) the co-reactant(s) should be low cost, readily available materials; (3) the polymerization should be relatively insensitive to the composition of the char acid mixture, which may vary from batch to batch; and (4) char acids should be an essential constituent of the final product. Several polyester compositions were prepared by condensation of char acid extracts with various glycols and subsequently evaluated as molding materials. Among the various glycols investigated, tetraethylene glycol bottoms, a by-product of the synthesis of ethylene glycol, was found to be a promising co-reactant for polyesterification. Polymerization reactions were conducted under conditions leading to the formation of fusible, partially polymerized resins, which were subsequently cross-linked in a mold with epoxide-functional curing agents in the presence of amine catalysts. Very encouraging results have been obtained up to this point and it appears that commercially valuable polymers can be produced. Larger scale studies, in which physical properties of the polymer can be obtained, are planned.

• Research Organization: IIT Research Inst., Chicago, IL (USA)
• OSTI ID: 7218268
• Report Number(s): FE-1724-27; IITRI-C-6322-27
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

01 COAL, LIGNITE, AND PEAT
010500* -- Coal
Lignite
& Peat-- Products & By-Products
ALCOHOLS
BY-PRODUCTS
CARBOXYLIC ACIDS
CHARS
CHEMICAL PREPARATION
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
COST
DISPERSIONS
ESTERIFICATION
FEASIBILITY STUDIES
GLYCOLS
HYDROXY COMPOUNDS
MIXTURES
ORGANIC ACIDS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC POLYMERS
OXIDATION
POLYMERIZATION
POLYMERS
SYNTHESIS