METHOD OF PROCESSING POLYMER MATERIAL AND APPARATUS FOR IMPLEMENTATION THEREOF Russian patent published in 2003 - IPC

FIELD: polymer materials. SUBSTANCE: invention relates to methods and apparatuses for mixing, destroying, and dispersing polymer materials to produce homogenized low-molecular polymer masses and pastes. Three-zone treatment of polymer material is proposed, the latter being high-molecular polymers such as polyisobutylene, butyl rubber, ethylene-propylene rubber, polyethylene, or their mixtures. Process is carried out under following conditions: rotor rotation speed 10 rps in the first zone; in the second zone separated into two units communicating through separation chamber, temperature 200-300 C, pressure 0.5-6.0 MPa, and rotor rotation speed 50-100 rps for the first unit and, respectively, 300-400 C, 0.01-1.0 MPa, and 100-300 rps for the second unit. Resulting product is homogenized, cooled to 100-170 C, and gas phase is withdrawn in thirst zone (separation chamber). Molecular weight of product is regulated by varying values of gap and area of working surface of conical destruction element in the 2nd-zone first unit from 4 to 12 mm and from 100 to 200 sq.cm, respectively, and in the 2nd-zone second unit from 0.5 to 5 mm and from 200 to 400 sq.cm, respectively, and also by varying direction of destroyed polymer material flow. Apparatus comprises three zones, each having cylindrical casing provided with cooling jacket, 1st-zone casing serving for charge and 2nd- and 3rd zone casings for discharge operations. Executive devices in zones are constructed in the form of rotors. Second zone contains conical destruction elements and consists of two units, each provided with locking device in the form of reverse-thread worm plug. Units are connected through separation chamber (third zone) provided with heat insulation and means for taking off gas phase and product. EFFECT: enhanced process efficiency and reliability and enabled simultaneous production of high-quality low-molecular polymer within a wide molecular weight range. 2 cl, 3 dwg, 2 tbl, 11 ex