2018-Sustainable Industrial Processing Summit
SIPS2018
Volume 6. New and Advanced Materials and Technologies
| Editors: | F. Kongoli, F. Marquis, P. Chen, T. Prikhna, N. Chikhradze |
| Publisher: | Flogen Star OUTREACH |
| Publication Year: | 2018 |
| Pages: | 392 pages |
| ISBN: | 978-1-987820-92-8 |
| ISSN: | 2291-1227 (Metals and Materials Processing in a Clean Environment Series) |
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Climbing the Pyramid to Clean, Commercially Useful, Acid Induced Polymerizations
Stewart Lewis1;1PYRAMID POLYMERS LLC, New Kensington, United States;
Type of Paper: Regular
Id Paper: 19
Topic: 43
Abstract:
Acids are ubiquitous to many chemical processes, including polymerization. The first synthetic polymer was derived from the action of sulfuric acid on natural olefins (i.e., terpenes) in 1789. Fast forward to today and a large variety of commodity goods, essential to everyday life, are the sole products of this (i.e., cationic) technique. They include adhesives, synthetic oils, and certain rubbers. Although its industrial use is somewhat limited in scope (ca. 3.5x106 tons of polymers are derived from cationic polymerization of vinyl monomers every year), the route is capable of polymerizing > 2,000 olefins. Despite its long history and utility, such chemistry is plagued by environmental issues. Examples are the difficulty in recycling acid components, the toxicity of the acid components and the solvents employed, sensitivity to moisture, and the need for cryogenic T to reach high molecular weight. This talk covers advances (most, previously undisclosed) made by the speaker that overcome the above obstacles such a number of aqueous cationic polymerization systems for olefins, hydrocarbon soluble forms of AlCl3, heterogeneous initiators, and a highly recyclable Lewis acid in addition to detailing results from some pilot plant studies. Finally, a unique resource on the cationic methodology is provided to the audience that will be of value to both those skilled in this art as well as the newcomer.