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Monitoring of Vinyl Acetate–Ethylene Processes: An Industrial Perspective

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Polymer Reaction Engineering of Dispersed Systems

Part of the book series: Advances in Polymer Science ((POLYMER,volume 281))

Abstract

Monitoring of vinyl acetate–ethylene (VAE) processes plays a crucial role in achieving high process efficiency in industry while ensuring process safety and the needed product quality. Different methods are applied along the process chain, which includes production of the VAE polymer dispersion in high pressure reactors, degassing of the product back to atmospheric pressure, storage and shipping, and spray drying of the polymer to create a dispersible polymer powder. Properties of interest to monitor on a routine basis can be process related, such as heat output and conversion, or product related, such as total solids, viscosity, pH, particle size distribution, moisture content, and chemical composition. Other techniques can also be used to gain further knowledge of the process (e.g., mixing behavior) and of the product (e.g., polymer structure, volatile organic compounds, and biostability). Different monitoring techniques are discussed, focusing on their applicability in the industrial process under consideration.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. R&D Department, Wacker Chemie AG, Johannes-Hess-Str. 24, 84489, Burghausen, Germany

    Eric Frauendorfer, Muhammad Babar, Timo Melchin & Wolf-Dieter Hergeth

Authors
  1. Eric Frauendorfer
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  2. Muhammad Babar
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  3. Timo Melchin
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  4. Wolf-Dieter Hergeth
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Correspondence to Eric Frauendorfer .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Institute for Technical and Macromolecular Chemistry, University of Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany

    Werner Pauer

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Dedicated to Prof. Dr. H.-U. Moritz on the occasion of his 65th birthday.

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Frauendorfer, E., Babar, M., Melchin, T., Hergeth, WD. (2017). Monitoring of Vinyl Acetate–Ethylene Processes: An Industrial Perspective. In: Pauer, W. (eds) Polymer Reaction Engineering of Dispersed Systems. Advances in Polymer Science, vol 281. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/12_2017_22

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