Granular Polyvinylamine via Inverse Suspension Polymerization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for producing polyvinylamine (PVAM) and polyvinylformamide (PVFA) polymers face challenges such as high transportation and storage costs due to low solid content, limited molecular weight achievement, and viscosity issues that hinder efficient handling and increase carbon footprint.
Innovation Solution
The method involves inverse suspension polymerization to produce poly(N-vinyl formamide) or its co-polymers in granular, beaded, powdered, or particulate form, allowing for higher molecular weight polymers with 100% solids content, which can be transported and hydrolyzed on-site, enhancing shelf-life and reducing transportation costs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If conventional polymerization methods are used to achieve higher molecular weight, then polymer performance is improved, but viscosity of the aqueous reaction mixture increases rapidly making it difficult to handle
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the physical state parameter from aqueous solution to non-aqueous solvent system, allowing higher molecular weight polymers to be produced without the viscosity problems that occur in water-based systems. This parameter change enables better handling while maintaining polymer performance.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a non-aqueous solvent as an intermediary medium to facilitate polymerization. This intermediary allows the reaction to proceed at higher solids contents without the viscosity issues that would occur in conventional aqueous systems, thus improving both handling and polymer performance.
2Strength
If higher molecular weight polymers are produced at lower actives/solid content, then polymer performance is improved, but transportation cost increases due to shipping less concentrated products
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the concentration parameter by producing polymers at higher solids contents (up to 50% or more) in a non-aqueous system. This allows more active polymer material to be shipped per unit volume, reducing transportation costs while maintaining the high molecular weight performance benefits.
3Ease of manufacture
If conventional techniques are used to produce polymers, then production process is simple, but molecular weight is limited and reactant residuals are high
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a non-aqueous solvent as an intermediary that enables better control over polymerization parameters. This intermediary allows for higher molecular weights and lower reactant residuals while maintaining reasonable process simplicity through established polymerization techniques.
4Duration of action of stationary object
If PVFA polymers are transported and hydrolyzed on-site, then shelf-life is enhanced and transportation costs are reduced, but additional hydrolysis step is required
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs the polymerization action preliminarily to create stable PVFA polymers that can be stored and transported. The hydrolysis step is then performed on-site at the customer location. This preliminary action approach extends shelf-life and reduces transportation costs while the additional hydrolysis step is performed using simple on-site chemistry.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach results in polymers with excellent de-watering performance and strength properties for paper production, leading to energy savings and faster production rates, while minimizing transportation-related issues and environmental impact.
Implementation Method 1
polymerizing through inverse suspension polymerization, a formulation containing an N-vinylcarboxamide monomer
Implementation Method 2
Water is then removed, for example azeotropically, from the polymerized product
Implementation Method 3
The product can then be transported to a customer site for hydrolysis
Data Source
AI summary
Provided is a method for the production of vinylcarboxamide-containing polymers in a granular, beaded, powdered, or particulate form and subsequent hydrolysis thereof. The vinylcarboxamide-containing polymers and co-polymers, are precipitated in a granular, beaded, powdered, or particulate form employing an inverse suspension polymerization technique.