THE SIMULATION OF HYDROLYTIC POLYMERIZATION OF ?-CAPROLACTAM IN VARIOUS REACTORS

The concrete simulation models dealing with the kinetic behavior of the hydrolytic polymerization of ϵ-caprolactam (CL) in various polymerization reactors used in the industry were described, and the method for their numerical solutions was presented. The characteristic data of the polymerization such as the concentrations of CL, end group, water, ϵ-aminocaproic acid, cyclic dimer, and the hot-water-soluble component, conversion, number average, and weight average molecular weights, and solution and melt viscosities can be calculated at every stage of the polymerization reaction, at every part of the reactors, and/or at the outlet of the reactors. The calculated values based upon the models were found to be quite compatible with the observed values for the reactors. The applicability of the technique was well confirmed for the quality control, process control, modification of existing plants, and development of new chemical process plants.