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February 01, 2008
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| LCPP-CNRS/ESCPE | |
Bât. F308, B.P. 2077
43 Bd du 11 Nov. 1918
69616 Villeurbanne cedex
FRANCE |
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| Laboratoire de Chimie et Procédés de Polymérisation | |
 | Polymer Reaction Engineering - PRE |
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Key to reaction engineering: understand what happens at each length scale, and the interaction between the different length scales. |
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General Objectives of the Polymer Reaction Engineering (PRE) Programme
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| | • | Provide tools allowing scientists and polymer producers to quantify the evolution of the different phenomena shown in the figure above, as well as their interactions |
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Ensure a deepened understanding of the process-property relationship that is so fundamental to polymer production.
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| | • | Develop new, innovative polymerisation processes and reactor configurations that add value to the production of polymeric materials.
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| | • | Optimise existing processes to reduce the consumption of raw materials, generation of waste and reaction times.
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| | • | Exploit our knowledge of the physical chemistry of polymerisation processes to design new sensors for the in-line monitoring of polymerisation processes.
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| | • | Improve upon existing models of polymerisation processes, and develop new ones to better interpret information obtained on the reactions, and to enhance process development. |
Our activities focus essentially (but not exclusively) on polymerisation in divided media, and are shared between two major areas of polymerisation: free radical polymerisation in emulsion, miniemulsion and suspension; olefin polymerisation on supported catalysts. There are very strong interactions between the PRE group and the activities in the area of Polymer Chemistry and of Colloids and Composites.
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Emulsion, Miniemulsion Polymerisation
Activities directed by Timothy McKenna with significant support from Christian Graillat, and interactions with Elodie Bourgeat-Lami
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| | • | Development of processes for the production of high solid content latexes with controlled viscosity. Unseeded processes now yield latices with solid contents over 76% in volume. Applications include model pressure sensitive adhesives, PVC and primers for metallic substrates.
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Advanced process modelling for the interpretation of reaction data, enhancement of the physical understanding of particle production, stabilisation and growth. Applications to understanding particle stabilisation in bimodal systems (PSA and PVC).
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| | • | Development of on-line sensors, including calorimetry and conductivity for the monitoring and control of polymerisation reactors (in collaboration with the LAGEP). Implementation on pilot plant reactors.
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| | • | Development of novel tubular reactors and emulsification systems for emulsion and miniemulsion polymerisations at useful solid contents.
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| | • | Study of the properties of miniemulsions, including droplet formation, stability and compartmentalisation.
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| | • | Extensions to hybrid and composite systems (with Dr. Elodie Bourgeat-Lami)
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| | • | Models for the à priori modelling of the viscosity of high solid content bimodal latices. (with Professor Philippe Cassagnau LMPB).
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| | • | Development of new methods for the experimental determination of partition coefficients during emulsion polymerisation. |
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Olefin Polymerisation on supported catalysts
Activities directed by Timothy McKenna with significant support from Jean-Pierre Broyer, and interactions with Christophe Boisson and Roger Spitz.
>> See also Polymer Chemistry
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The principle objective of this research activity is to reconcile theory and experimental evidence for all types of olefin polymerisation on supported catalysts. The ultimate goal is to understand the complex behaviour of how particles grow, the relationship between particle morphology, heat transfer, mass transfer, kinetics and polymer properties. On the one hand this will allow us to increase the predictive capabilities of existing models and to develop new ones, and on the other hand to improve reactor behaviour and polymer properties. In addition, fundamental knowledge on particle growth will help us to develop an emerging activity in the area of polyolefin composites (c.f. Professors J. Soare and L. Simon of the University of Waterloo).
| | • | Development of novel stopped flow reactors for both gas phase and slurry phase polymerisations. Residence times as short as 40 ms allow us to investigate the nascent morphology and development of active site chemistry as the reaction unfolds. An additional advantage is that the reactions are carried out under conditions of T and P close to those in industry.
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| | • | Studies on the morphology of high impact polypropylene show that it is possible to selectively poison the active sites on the surface of the particles and thereby improve rheological properties of the powders.
| | | • | Application of Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) to the study of heat transfer during gas phase polymerisation shows that particle interactions with other particles and reactor inserts is a crucial contribution to the evacuation of the heat of reaction.
| | | • | Development of an analytical approach using Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) to study the nanomechanical properties of hybrid copolymers of ethylene-propylene rubber and polypropylene reveal the internal structure of the two phase material.
| | | • | Advanced modelling of particle morphology using the Tension Model reveals the interaction between particle morphology, kinetics and polymer properties.
| | | • | Studies of catalyst preparation reveal a strong correlation between the observed activity and the original size of the catalyst support.
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