The high-pressure Lupotech T tubular reactor process is used to produce low-density polyethylene (LDPE) homopolymers and EVA copolymers. Single-train capacity of up to 450,000 tpy can be provided.
Ethylene, initiator and, if applicable, comonomers are fed to the process and compressed to pressures up to 3,100 bar before entering the tubular reactor.
The polymer properties (MI, density, MWD) are controlled by the initiator, pressure, temperature profile and comonomer content. After the reactor, excess ethylene is recovered and recycled to the reactor feed stream. The polymer melt is mixed with additives in an extruder to yield the final product.
A range of products can be obtained using the Lupotech T process, including standard LDPE grades to EVA copolymers or n-butyl-acrylate modified copolymer. The products can be applied in (shrink) film extrusion, injection molding, extrusion blow molding, pipe extrusion, pipe coating, tapes and monofilaments.
There is no limit to the number of reactor grades that can be produced. The product mix can be adjusted to match market demand and economical product ranges. Advantages for the tubular reactor design with low residence time are easy and quick transitions, startup and shutdown. Reactor grades from MI 0.15 to 50 and from density 0.917 to 0.934
g/cm3, with comonomer content up to 30% can be prepared.
Licensor: Basell Polyolefins and LyondellBasell
