Abstract: A device and process for the removal of volatile constituents from polymers is disclosed. The device entails a container having an inlet for a polymer solution, an outlet for the volatile components, an outflow for the polymer from which the volatile components have been removed and a heat exchanger. The heat exchanger is characterized in that it contains a plurality of specially structured channels.

Abstract: The present invention provides a polycarbonate having a low particle content, a process for producing high-purity polycarbonate and polycarbonate of maximum purity and molded products made from such polycarbonate.

Abstract: A process for the production of polycarbonate is disclosed. The process, representing an improvement over the known interfacial polycondensation process entails introducing into the loop of a circulating reactor that additionally contains, a residence tank, an optional mixer, a pump, and a heat exchanger (i) an organic phase that contains a solvent for polycarbonate and phosgene and (ii) an aqueous phase that contains an aqueous lye solution, a dihydroxy compound and an optional monophenol to form an emulsion. Maintaining specified temperature and process conditions results in polycarbonate resin having good properties and in waste water that are characterized by their purity.

Abstract: A process for preparing a vacuole-free polymer is disclosed. Extruded polymer resin is cooled at a rate of less than 50° C./sec. to a temperature that is 1 to 20° C. above the glass transition temperature of the polymer resin and the resin is then cut.

Abstract: Described is a multi-stage, continuous process for evaporating and concentrating feed polymer solutions. In a first stage (a) of the process, the feed polymer solution is concentrated by passing it through one of (i) a combination of a tubular heat exchanger with one of a thin-film evaporator and a coiled tube evaporator, and (ii) a tubular heat exchanger. Each evaporator of (i) having a downstream separator. In a further stage (b), the intermediate polymer solution of the first stage is further concentrated and degassed to form a product polymer in a tubular heat exchanger having a downstream separator. The tubular heat exchanger of the further stage has an inside diameter of from 5 to 30 mm, and a length of from 0.5 to 4 m, and the throughput per heat exchanger tube being from 5 to 30 kg/h, based on the polymer. An entrainer is introduced into a delivery device located downstream from the separator of further stage (b).

Abstract: This invention relates to a multistep process for evaporating polymer solutions of thermoplastic polymers and for removing volatile constituents from thermoplastic polymers by indirect heat exchange. The invention relates in particular to a process for evaporating volatile constituents out of polymer solutions using shell-and-tube heat exchangers having a special geometry, coiled-tube evaporators and extrusion evaporators.

Abstract: A process of evaporating a viscous polymer solution is described. The process includes: (a) providing a viscous polymer solution including at least 30 wt. % of solvents and monomers; (b) introducing the viscous polymer solution into a heated helix (5), the heated helix having a vapor exit velocity of 200 to 300 m/s, (a film flow including a two-phase mixture of polymer melt, and solvent vapors and monomer vapors being formed within the helix); (c) forwarding the film flow from helix (5) into a heated vapor separator (6); (d) expanding the two-phase mixture of polymer melt, and solvent vapors and monomer vapors of the film flow within vapor separator (6) at an absolute pressure of 10 mbar to 800 mbar, (a bottom product including a concentrated melt of the polymer is formed within the vapor separator); and (e) withdrawing the bottom product from vapor separator (6).

Abstract: A method for removing volatile components from polymer solutions is disclosed. The method, yielding products having low content of residual volatile components and causing no thermal damage to the polymer, entails using apparatuses in which surfaces which come into contact with the product are made from materials which are low in iron content.

Abstract: A process for the production of polycarbonate is disclosed. The process, representing an improvement over the known interfacial polycondensation process entails introducing into the loop of a circulating reactor that additionally contains, a residence tank, an optional mixer, a pump, and a heat exchanger (i) an organic phase that contains a solvent for polycarbonate and phosgene and (ii) an aqueous phase that contains an aqueous lye solution, a dihydroxy compound and an optional monophenol to form an emulsion. Maintaining specified temperature and process conditions results in polycarbonate resin having good properties and in waste water that are characterized by their purity.

Abstract: The production of polycarbonate by the phase boundary method is disclosed. In accordance with the inventive process, a solution that contains polycarbonate is repeatedly washed with a washing liquid and the washing liquid is separated from the solution that contains the polycarbonate by separating elements and the solvent is then evaporated. The process is characterized in that the organic solution that contains the polycarbonate and the washing liquid are separated from each other after the first washing stage in a coalescer that contains hydrophilic packing.

Abstract: A process for making a shaped product from thermoplastic polycarbonate is disclosed. The process comprises producing polycarbonate melt by a method selected from the group consisting of phase interface and melt transesterification and introducing the melt directly into a forming apparatus to form a shaped product. The forming apparatus is selected from the group consisting of an injection molding machine and an extruder. The process is characterized in the absence therefrom of polycarbonate in granular form.

Abstract: A process for the preparation of polycarbonate resins having a low yellowness index is described. The process involves converting phosgene with a sodium bisphenolate solution by means of a phase interface process performed with the exclusion of oxygen. The sodium bisphenolate solution used in the process has a dissolved oxygen content of <150 ppb. Also described are optical data storage media prepared from the polycarbonate of the present invention.

Abstract: A process for the purification and isolation of cellulose or starch ethers wherein directly after the etherification step the suspension agent and the extraction of the ether product with the purifying agent is carried out on the same continuously working filter.

Abstract: A process for purification and working-up of cellulose or starch ethers using a solid-jacket sieve centrifuge for removing the suspension agent extraction with purifying agent and isolation of the purified ether product.