Combining Functional Prototyping of 3D Printed Reactors with a Modular Reactor Setup for Continuous Emulsion Polymerization. Issue 8 (26th April 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Zentel, Kristina M.; Reinbeck, Andreas; Deckert, Christian; Pauer, Werner; Luinstra, Gerrit A.
• Is Part Of: Chemie Ingenieur Technik. Volume 94:Issue 8(2022)
• Page Start: 1105
• Page End: 1116
• Publication Date: 2022-04-26
• Subjects: 3D printing -- Emulsion polymerization -- Rapid prototyping -- Thermal imaging; Chemical engineering -- Patents -- Periodicals; Chemical engineering -- Periodicals; Chemical industry -- Periodicals; Chemistry, Technical -- Periodicals; 660.05
• DOI: 10.1002/cite.202200005
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0009-286X

Abstract

Abstract: The potential for fast and specific process optimization by functional prototyping with 3D printed reactors was shown for a known continuous emulsion polymerization in a modular setup. Three tubular reactors, two with static mixing elements and a continuously stirred tank reactor (CSTR) were printed from polylactic acid. Thermal imaging of the reactors allows to map the basically adiabatic progress of the redox‐started radical polymerization in a space‐resolved way. The application of static mixing elements led to a higher conversion stability and a more uniform product, as expected for a better mass transfer. Polymerization in combinations of CSTR and a tubular reactor showed further improvements of process stability and product uniformity in terms of particle size and mol masses. Abstract : Four reactors with different mixing characteristics were designed, 3D printed and applied individually as well as in modular combinations for the continuous emulsion polymerization of styrene/butyl acrylate.