The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jul. 05, 2005
Filed:
Nov. 09, 2000
Paul A. Charpentier, London, CA;
Joseph M. Desimone, Chapel Hill, NC (US);
George W. Roberts, Raleigh, NC (US);
Paul A. Charpentier, London, CA;
Joseph M. DeSimone, Chapel Hill, NC (US);
George W. Roberts, Raleigh, NC (US);
North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC (US);
The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC (US);
Abstract
A method for carrying out the continuous polymerization of a monomer in a carbon dioxide reaction medium comprises the steps of: (a) providing an apparatus including a continuous reaction vessel and a separator; (b) carrying out a polymerization reaction in the reaction vessel by combining a monomer and a carbon dioxide reaction medium therein (and preferably by also combining an initiator therein), wherein the reaction medium is a liquid or supercritical fluid, and wherein the reaction produces a solid polymer product in the reaction vessel; then (c) withdrawing a continuous effluent stream from the reaction vessel during the polymerization reaction, wherein the effluent stream is maintained as a liquid or supercritical fluid; then (d) passing the continuous effluent stream through the separator and separating the solid polymer therefrom while maintaining at least a portion of the effluent stream as a liquid or supercritical fluid; and then (e) returning at least a portion of the continuous effluent stream to the reaction vessel while maintaining the effluent stream as a liquid or supercritical fluid. The need for significant recompression of the continuous effluent stream prior to return to the reaction vessel is thereby minimized. Apparatus for carrying out such methods is also disclosed.