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Polyester Resin Production Process

The document describes the process for producing polyester resin such as PET. It involves a series of esterification and polycondensation reactions between di-acid and diol components. In the first step, a paste of terephthalic acid and monoethylene glycol undergoes esterification in a reactor to form a prepolymer consisting of bis-hydroxyethyl terephthalate and short chain oligomers. This is followed by polycondensation where trans-esterification and further esterification occur through melt-phase polymerization to build molecular weight, removing condensate by-products under reduced pressure. The melt is then extruded and cut into essentially amorphous chips for further processing.

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Shujjat Abbas
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37 views4 pages

Polyester Resin Production Process

The document describes the process for producing polyester resin such as PET. It involves a series of esterification and polycondensation reactions between di-acid and diol components. In the first step, a paste of terephthalic acid and monoethylene glycol undergoes esterification in a reactor to form a prepolymer consisting of bis-hydroxyethyl terephthalate and short chain oligomers. This is followed by polycondensation where trans-esterification and further esterification occur through melt-phase polymerization to build molecular weight, removing condensate by-products under reduced pressure. The melt is then extruded and cut into essentially amorphous chips for further processing.

Uploaded by

Shujjat Abbas
Copyright
© Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

MOHAMMAD SHUJJAT ABBAS (Trainee Engineer M&U) Orientation Report

PROCESS DEPARTMENT

Polyester resin such as PET follows a series of steps involving intermolecular reactions between bifunctional and poly-functional compounds. In the first step a paste comprising: Di-acid component, typically a solid powder Terephthalic Acid (PTA) Diol component, typically a liquid, mono ethylene glycol (MEG) The paste is charged in a first esterification stirred tank reactor maintained at around 255 to 270 degrees Celsius and pressure in the range of 0.50 to 0.95 and for a period ranging between 5.0 and 3.5 hours, resulting in an esterification process leading to the formation of a prepolymer, consisting of bis-hydroxy ethyl terephthalate [BHET] and short chain oligomers. The esterification is not complete and some acid end groups remain in the prepolymer. Water, an esterification byproduct, is removed by a column system and [EG] is recycled. The esterification steps resulting in the prepolymer is typically followed by a polycondensation step in which a trans-esterification and an esterification reaction leads to step-growth polymerization in the melt phase. These reactions are reversible and require that the condensates [EG] and water are efficiently removed from the melt, typically by using reduced pressure. Initially, when the melt viscosity remains relatively low, the condensate products can be removed easily by evaporation. However, as the viscosity increases bubble formation is hindered and diffusion of EG is required. This may be also achieved by using a disk ring reactor to reduce the diffusion path, creating a thin renewable film thereby increasing the surface area and removing the condensates. In general it is difficult to obtain PET of number average molar mass Mn greater than 20,000 g/mole [intrinsic viscosity, IV .about.0.6 dL/g] needed for making bottles . Because of reduced mass transfer rates and chemical degradation at high temperatures and long residence time. However in the disc ring reactor it is possible to reach I.V of about 0.65 without degradation, and with more antimony catalyst even higher. The melt is extruded into strands which solidify on cooling and the strands are cut into essentially amorphous chips for the post polymerization process.

MOHAMMAD SHUJJAT ABBAS (Trainee Engineer M&U) Orientation Report

POLYCONDENSTAION
Paste Vessel 1414-VO1

Esterfication I 1425 RO1

Esterfication II 1425 RO2

Pre Polymerization I 1435 RO1

Pre Polymerization II 1445 RO1

Disk Ring Reactor 1465 RO1

Cutter

Dryer

MOHAMMAD SHUJJAT ABBAS (Trainee Engineer M&U) Orientation Report

SOLID STATE POLYMERIZATION

Surge Silo

Pre Crystallizer

Crystallizer I

Crystallizer II

Plug Flow Reactor

Fluidized Bed Cooler

Static Cooler

MOHAMMAD SHUJJAT ABBAS (Trainee Engineer M&U) Orientation Report

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