Continuous Ring-Opening Polymerization in Supercritical Carbon Dioxide
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Solution Overview
Problem
Ring-opening polymerization of monomers using compressive fluids, such as supercritical carbon dioxide, is time-consuming, leading to decreased production efficiency when performed in multiple stages.
Innovation Solution
A method involving continuous contact of a ring-opening polymerizable monomer with a compressive fluid to generate an intermediate, followed by contact with an identical second monomer for further polymerization, using a compressive fluid selected from carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, or other gases, to accelerate the polymerization process.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-generated harmful factors
If ring-opening polymerization is performed using supercritical carbon dioxide, then the polymerization can be completed without organic solvent waste, but the polymerization time becomes excessively long
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the polymerization process into two distinct stages: first performing ring-opening polymerization using supercritical carbon dioxide to generate an intermediate polymer, then performing a second polymerization step using an organic solvent to complete the reaction. This segmentation allows each stage to utilize the advantages of its respective method while avoiding the disadvantages.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs a preliminary ring-opening polymerization using supercritical carbon dioxide to create an intermediate polymer product before completing the full polymerization. This preliminary action initiates the polymerization process in an environmentally friendly manner while setting up for the subsequent faster completion stage.
2Object-generated harmful factors
If ring-opening polymerization is performed at multiple divided stages using supercritical carbon dioxide, then organic solvent waste is avoided, but production efficiency decreases due to extended total time
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the multi-stage polymerization process into a first stage using supercritical carbon dioxide and a second stage using organic solvent. This segmentation enables the process to maintain environmental benefits while significantly reducing total polymerization time compared to using supercritical carbon dioxide throughout all stages.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the solvent parameter between stages - using supercritical carbon dioxide in the first stage and switching to an organic solvent in the second stage. This parameter change optimizes both environmental performance and production efficiency by matching each stage's requirements with the most suitable solvent type.
3Speed
If conventional organic solvent methods are used for ring-opening polymerization, then polymerization speed is fast, but organic solvent remains as waste liquid
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the polymerization process so that the environmentally harmful organic solvent is used only in the second stage for a limited portion of the reaction, while the first stage uses environmentally friendly supercritical carbon dioxide. This reduces overall solvent waste while maintaining acceptable polymerization speed.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses supercritical carbon dioxide as an intermediary medium in the first stage to initiate polymerization without organic solvent waste, creating an intermediate polymer product that can then be efficiently completed in the second stage with organic solvent.
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 method significantly reduces the time required for the first polymerization step and enhances production efficiency by allowing for rapid generation of polymers in a short time frame.
Implementation Method 1
a first polymerization step of continuously supplying and bringing at least a first monomer being a cyclic ester or a cyclic carbonate, which is ring-opening polymerizable, and a compressive fluid into contact with each other, to thereby allow the first monomer to carry out ring-opening polymerization
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3
AI summary
A method for producing a polymer, including: (i) continuously supplying and bringing at least a first monomer, which is ring-opening polymerizable, and a compressive fluid into contact with each other, to thereby allow the first monomer to carry out ring-opening polymerization to continuously generate an intermediate; and (ii) bringing the intermediate and a second monomer, which is identical to or different from the first monomer in kind, into contact with each other, to thereby allow the intermediate and the second monomer to carry out polymerization.