Abstract
In the ethylene glycol terephthalate polycondensation process, one of the main reactions that leads to the formation of poly (ethylene terephthalate) is
2(-_??_-COOC2H4OH)_??_K1K1'-_??_-COOC2H4OCO-_??_-+HOC2H4OH
and one of the side reactions that results in polymer degradation is
-_??_-COOC2H4OCO-_??_-→k3-_??_-COOCH=CH2+-_??_-COOH
The reaction product removal rate, which affects the progress of the main reaction, is
Di=f(N, P, μ, S, Pi0, Ci, KD)
In order to study these main and side reactions and this reaction product removal rate, experiments were carried out with a batch reactor and a 0.5t/day continuous polycondensation pilot plant. Antimony trioxide and triphenyl phosphate were used as the catalyst and the stabilizer, respectively. The number-average degree of polymerization obtained in the present experiment was found to be in good agreement with the calculated value. When the viscosity was 2, 000-3, 000 poise, the diffusion rate in the pilot plant reactor was about 20 times faster than that in the vessel type reactor.
