Process for facilitating the handling of tacky polymers during their polymerization

摘要

The invention includes a process for facilitating the handling of tacky polymers (specifically amorphous polypropylene and amorphous ethylene propylene copolymers) during their polymerization comprising: a. preparing a mixture of a tacky polymeric material and a carrying phase for said polymeric material at a temperature and pressure sufficient to maintain said carrying phase as a liquid; b. flashing said mixture to a flash pressure low enough to effect vaporization of said carrying phase, as well as autorefrigeration of said polymeric material to its non-tacky, easy-handling temperature range; and c. separating the thus autorefrigerated polymeric product from its carrying phase wherein said carrying phase will dissolve sufficient polymer to form a liquid mixture. The invention also includes an apparatus for carrying out this process.