Vinyl Carboxamide Polymers via Photoinitiated Gel Polymerization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for producing polyvinylamine (PVAM) and polyvinylformamide (PVFA) polymers are limited by high transportation and storage costs due to low solid content, difficulty in achieving high molecular weights, and limitations in shelf-life and molecular weight stability.
Innovation Solution
A method employing photoinitiated gel polymerization to produce vinyl carboxamide containing polymers in a granular, beaded, powdered, or particulate form, allowing for higher molecular weights and 100% solid content, which can be transported and hydrolyzed on-site for enhanced efficiency and stability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If conventional polymerization methods are used to achieve higher molecular weights, then molecular weight increases, but viscosity of the aqueous reaction mixture increases rapidly making it difficult to handle
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the physical state parameter of the polymer product from dissolved aqueous solution to solid particulate form. This phase change eliminates the viscosity problem entirely, as solid particles do not exhibit the same flow resistance as concentrated aqueous solutions. The polymer is produced as solid particles directly through controlled polymerization and drying, allowing high molecular weight polymers to be handled easily without the viscosity constraints of conventional methods.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention utilizes phase transition from aqueous solution to solid particulate form. By controlling the polymerization process and subsequent drying, the polymer transitions from a liquid aqueous phase to a solid particulate phase. This phase transition resolves the viscosity issue, as the solid particles can be easily transported and handled regardless of their molecular weight, eliminating the trade-off between molecular weight and viscosity.
2Quantity of substance
If polymer products are produced at lower actives/solid content to achieve higher molecular weights, then molecular weight increases, but transportation cost increases due to shipping less concentrated products
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the concentration parameter from low actives/solid content to essentially 100% solid content in the form of dry particles. This eliminates the need to transport large volumes of water, reducing transportation costs to nearly zero for the polymer active material itself. The high molecular weight polymer is produced directly as dry particles, maximizing both molecular weight and transport efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention extracts and removes the aqueous medium from the polymer system, leaving only the solid polymer particles. By taking out the water phase through drying processes, the invention concentrates the polymer to essentially 100% solid content, eliminating the bulk of the transported material and significantly reducing transportation costs while maintaining high molecular weight.
3Stability of the object's composition
If PVFA polymers are produced with extended shelf-life stability, then stability improves, but on-site hydrolysis capability is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The invention performs preliminary stabilization of the PVFA polymer through controlled drying and storage as dry particles, which enhances shelf-life stability. The dry state prevents degradation reactions that would occur in aqueous solutions. Simultaneously, the invention maintains adaptability by providing the option to hydrolyze the PVFA at the customer site when needed, as the dry particles can be easily reconstituted and hydrolyzed on-demand without pre-degradation.
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
The method achieves higher molecular weights and 100% solid content, reducing transportation costs, improving shelf-life, and enhancing the strength and dewatering performance of the final paper products, while also allowing for on-demand hydrolysis and energy savings in the paper production process.
Implementation Method 1
polymerizing through photoinitiated gel polymerization of a formulation containing a N-vinylcarboxamide monomer
Implementation Method 2
water is removed from the produced polymer gel through any typical drying means
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 or co-polymers in granular, beaded, powdered, or particulate form and their subsequent hydrolysis. The vinylcarboxamide-containing polymers or co-polymers are produced via a polymerization process employing a photoinitiated gel polymerization technique.