Basf Aktiengesellschaft

Ulrich Hartig

Oskar Buechner

Hans Gropper

Friedrich Urban

Klaus Borho

Rolf Becker

The invention relates to a process for rapidly letting-down the pressure in continuous high pressure polymerization systems for the polymerization of ethylene. In this process, the let-down hot reaction mixture is passed into an expansion vessel in such a way that the jet of let-down hot reaction mixture issuing from the let-down line is led into the partially water-filled expansion vessel at an angle of from 0.degree. to 45.degree. to the water surface, so that the jet does not enter below the surface but must touch or strike it. The method described makes it possible to let the mixture down partially and thus to slow down the decomposition in the case of explosive decomposition reactions occurring in the polymerization system.

Process for letting down ethylene high pressure polymerization systems

Ethylene polymers are manufactured in a tubular reactor under high pressure and at high temperatures in the presence of polymerization initiators. The polymerization is carried out in two different zones of the reactor, a mixture of ethylene, oxygen and regulator being fed into the first zone and a co-initiator having a half-life temperature, measured in benzene, of above 140.degree. C being additionally fed into the second zone. The co-initiator may be a peroxide or a hydroperoxide. The melt index, or the haze and gloss of a film produced from the resulting ethylene polymer, can be varied advantageously through the choice of the co-initiator.

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Neckargemuend, Germany

Ulrich Hartig