Technology

The Dow Solution Polyethylene Loop Process is pertaining to an exothermic, non-adiabatic, substantially well-mixed, controlled flow solution polymerization process for making ethylene polymers including ethylene-propylene-diene monomer (EPDM) elastomers, ethylene-propylene (EP) elastomers, ethylene-styrene copolymers, ethylene/alpha-olefin interpolymers, and polyethylene.

The monomer is polymerized with a catalyst in a solvent in at least one reaction stream of at least one reactor. One especially suitable hydrocarbon solvent is Isopar™ E, a C₈-C₁₀ hydrocarbon which is commercially available from ExxonMobil Chemical & Specialties. The flow loop reactor is equipped with one or multiple mixers, typically static mixing elements, and one or more heat exchangers for polymerization heat removal.

Source: Che I. Kao et al., 1^st Apr 1997 (Priority Date), Publication Number EP0891381B1, Olefin solution polymerization, Assigned to Dow Chemical Co.