Process for preparing polymers and reactor for performing the process

Abstract

The invention relates to a process for preparing polymers from monomers and/or oligomers by adding a liquid comprising the monomers and/or oligomers dropwise to a continuous liquid phase in a reactor, the continuous liquid phase being immiscible with the liquid comprising the monomers and/or oligomers, and the monomers and/or oligomers reacting in the continuous liquid phase to give the polymer. The liquid comprising the monomers and/or oligomers is shaped to droplets outside the continuous liquid phase, which are subsequently introduced into the continuous liquid phase. The invention further relates to a reactor for performing the process, comprising a tube through which a continuous liquid phase flows, and means of generating droplets, the means of generating droplets being arranged such that the droplets are generated outside the continuous liquid phase and then introduced into the continuous liquid phase.

1 . A reactor comprising a tube through which a continuous liquid phase flows, and means of generating droplets, the means of generating droplets being arranged such that the droplets are generated outside the continuous liquid phase and then introduced into the continuous liquid phase,
 wherein the reactor is used in a process for preparing polymers from monomers and/or oligomers comprising: adding a liquid comprising monomers and/or oligomers dropwise to a continuous liquid phase in a reactor, the continuous liquid phase being immiscible with the liquid comprising the monomers and/or oligomers, and the monomers and/or oligomers reacting in the continuous liquid phase to produce the polymer, which comprises shaping the liquid comprising the monomers and/or oligomers to droplets outside the continuous liquid phase and then introducing them into the continuous liquid phase.   
     
     
         2 . The reactor according to  claim 1 , wherein the means of generating droplets are arranged above the continuous liquid phase, such that the droplets fall from the means of generating the droplets into the continuous liquid phase. 
     
     
         3 . The reactor according to  claim 1 , wherein the polymers are selected from the group consisting of polyamides, polystyrene, polyvinylpyrrolidone, poly(meth)acrylates, polyacrylamide, polyvinyl alcohol, polyvinylpyrrolidone, polyacrylic acid, polyvinylamines, polymaleic acid, polybutyl acrylate, polycaprolactams and thermoplastic polyurethanes. 
     
     
         4 . A process for preparing polymers from monomers and/or oligomers comprising: adding a liquid comprising monomers and/or oligomers dropwise to a continuous liquid phase in a reactor, the continuous liquid phase being immiscible with the liquid comprising the monomers and/or oligomers, and the monomers and/or oligomers reacting in the continuous liquid phase to produce the polymer, which comprises shaping the liquid comprising the monomers and/or oligomers to droplets outside the continuous liquid phase and then introducing them into the continuous liquid phase, wherein the reactor is configured as a tubular reactor, wherein the polymers are selected from the group consisting of polyamides, polystyrene, polyvinylpyrrolidone, poly(meth)acrylates, polyacrylamide, polyvinyl alcohol, polyvinylpyrrolidone, polyacrylic acid, polyvinylamines, polymaleic acid, polybutyl acrylate, polycaprolactams and thermoplastic polyurethanes.