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Experimental and modeling study of the solid state polymerization of poly(ethylene terephthalate) over a wide range of temperatures and particle sizes
Author(s) -
Zhang Jun,
Shen XiJun,
Zhang Jian,
Feng LianFang,
Wang JiaJun
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
journal of applied polymer science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.575
H-Index - 166
eISSN - 1097-4628
pISSN - 0021-8995
DOI - 10.1002/app.37660
Subject(s) - pellets , materials science , condensation polymer , diffusion , ethylene , polymer chemistry , particle size , pellet , polymerization , chemical engineering , particle (ecology) , poly ethylene , polymer , thermodynamics , organic chemistry , chemistry , composite material , catalysis , physics , oceanography , engineering , geology
The solid state polymerization (SSP) of poly(ethylene terephthalate) was studied experimentally over a wide range of pellet sizes and temperatures. A comprehensive model was developed. It considered polycondensation, degradation and polycondensation of vinyl end groups together with diffusion. The reaction rate constants, diffusivities and the corresponding activation energies were obtained through parameter identification using experimental data. The effects of the reaction temperature and pellet size on the SSP time were also investigated. A decrease in the particle size decreases the concentration of the vinyl end groups and narrows the concentration distribution of end groups inside poly(ethylene terephthalate) particles. A decrease in the size of pellets also favors diffusion. Nevertheless it is preferable that the size of pellets be between 1 and 2 mm because too small pellets bring about difficulties with preparation and handling. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci., 2013