To produce low-density polyethylene (LDPE) homopolymers and ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA) copolymers using the high-pressure free radical process. Large-scale tubular reactors with a capacity in the range of 130,000 tpy–425,000 tpy, as well as stirred autoclave reactors with capacity around 125,000 tpy can be used.
Description: A variety of LDPE homopolymers and copolymers can be produced on these large reactors for various applications including films, molding and extrusion coating. The melt index, polymer density and molecular weight distribution (MWD) are controlled with temperature profile, pressure, initiator and comonomer concentration. Autoclave reactors can give narrow or broad MWD, depending on the selected reactor conditions, whereas tubular reactors are typically used to produce narrow MWD polymers.
Gaseous ethylene is supplied to the battery limits and boosted to 300 bar by the primary compressor. This makeup gas, together with the recycle gas stream, is compressed to reactor pressure in the secondary compressor. The tubular reactors operate at pressures up to 3,000 bar, whereas autoclaves normally operate below 2,000 bar. The polymer is separated in a high- and low-pressure separator; nonreacted gas is recycled from both separators. Molten polymer from the low-pressure separator is fed into the extruder; polymer pellets are then transferred to storage silos.
The main advantages for the high-pressure process compared to other PE processes are short residence times and the ability to switch from homopolymers to copolymers incorporating polar comonomers in the same reactor. The high-pressure process produces long-chain, branched products from ethylene without expensive comonomers that are required by other processes to reduce product density. Also, the high-pressure process allows fast and efficient transition for a broad range of polymers.
Products: Polymer density in the range 0.912 up to 0.935 for homopolymers; the melt index may be varied from 0.2 to greater than 150. Vinyl acetate content up to 30 wt%.
Licensor: ExxonMobil Chemical Technology Licensing LLC
