Dynamic modeling of unsaturated polyester production from maleic anhydride and propylene glycol

Abstract

To predict the effect of reaction temperature and the inert gas feed rate on condensation polymerization of unsaturated polyester between maleic anhydride and propylene glycol. The developed dynamic model consisted of three parts, the reactor model, the kinetic model and the mass transfer model. The simulated result was verified by comparing to the process identification from the experimental data. The comparison of the simulation and experiment gave a satisfaction and the developed model was valid. The simulation illustrated that the effect of reaction temperature and the inert gas flow were more complicate to the process parameters because of the changing in the bulk liquid properties during polymerization. Both of reaction temperature and the inert gas flow rate were influence to the process parameters via the exact and diverting paths. Increasing of reaction temperature would increase the rate of condensation polymerization by enhancement of rate constant. Increasing of inert gas flow rate would increase the polymerization rate by increasing of specific interfacial area for mass transfer. In both two cases, the reaction time should decrease.