Blue Cube IP LLC

The Dow Chemical Company

Stephen B Wallace

Travis Hope Larsen

Dennis Wade Jewell

William W Fan

Marvin L Dettloff

Lee E Walko

Roy M Cook

Norman Swanson

Dennis W Jewell

A continuous process comprising a) separating an epoxy novolac resin comprising oligomers having an average functionality of greater than 2.5 and a hydrolyzable chlorine content of less than 450 ppm with a continuous evaporator apparatus to form i) a first distillate vapor fraction comprising epoxy novolac resin having more than 75 weight percent of 2 functional components and wherein the mass of the first distillate vapor fraction is in the range of from 15 to 40 weight percent of the starting epoxy novolac resin; and ii) a first bottom fraction comprising epoxy novolac resin having less than 5 weight percent of 2 functional components and having a glass transition temperature of at least 15 C higher compared to the starting epoxy novolac resin when cured; b) recovering the first bottom fraction product; and c) condensing the first distillate vapor fraction to form a first condensed distillate vapor fraction; d) separating the first condensed distillate vapor fraction with a second continuous evaporator apparatus to form i) a second distillate vapor fraction wherein the mass of the second distillate vapor fraction is in the range of from 40 to 70 weight percent of the first condensed distillate vapor fraction; and ii) a second bottom fraction; e) recovering the second bottom fraction product; and f) condensing the second distillate vapor fraction to form a second condensed distillate vapor fraction product comprising at least 98 weight percent of 2 functional components with a total chlorine content less than 900 ppm, is disclosed.

Distilled epoxy novolac resins

A continuous process comprising: a) separating a starting epoxy novolac resin comprising oligomers having an average functionality of greater than 2.5 and a hydrolyzable chlorine content of less than 450 ppm with a first continuous evaporator apparatus under a vaporization temperature in the range of from 150&#xb0; C. to 250&#xb0; C. and an absolute pressure of from 0.05 to 1 mmHg absolute to form a first vapor fraction comprising epoxy novolac resin having more than 95 weight percent of 2-functional components and wherein the mass of the first vapor fraction is in the range of from 5 to 20 weight percent of the starting epoxy novolac resin; and a first bottom fraction comprising epoxy novolac resin having a lower weight percent of 2-functional components in comparison with the weight percent of 2-functional components of the starting epoxy novolac resin; b) recovering the first bottom fraction; and c) condensing from 95 weight percent to 99.95 weight percent of the first vapor fraction at a temperature in the range of from 50&#xb0; C. to 200&#xb0; C. to form a first partially condensed vapor fraction product having at least 95 weight percent of 2-functional components and having a total chlorine content of less than 900 ppm and an uncondensed vapor product comprising halogenated impurities, is disclosed.

Thermoplastic polymer solutions in organic solvents are converted to granules of relatively uniform sizes and a narrow distribution range by passing the polymer solution through a jet nozzle to form a high velocity stream, injecting super heated steam into the high velocity stream to form a suspension of fine polymer particulates in a gas stream, passing the particulates into a heated agglomeration tube having a series of adjoining circular turns of at least 180.degree. wherein the particulates are substantially completely agglomerated into granules and the granules are recovered from the gas stream.

Process for converting polymer solutions into granules

Growing community of inventors

Lake Jackson, TX, United States of America

Stephen B Wallace