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US 12,540,212 B2Granted
Synthesis of polyurethane polymers in flow reactors
AssigneeInternational Business Machines Corporation
InventorsTim Erdmann, Nathaniel H. Park, James L. Hedrick, Pedro Arrechea
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Abstract
Techniques regarding the polymerization of polyurethanes are provided. For example, one or more embodiments described herein can comprise synthesizing, via a polymerization reaction performed within a flow reactor, a polyurethane. The polymerization reaction can polymerize a diol with a diisocyanate.
Claims14
A method, comprising:
- synthesizing, via a polymerization reaction performed within a flow reactor comprising a plurality of reactor loops, a polyurethane,
- wherein the polymerization reaction polymerizes a diol with a diisocyanate monomer;
- wherein the synthesizing further comprises supplying the diol to the flow reactor through a first inlet, supplying the diisocyanate monomer to the flow reactor through a second inlet, and supplying an organic catalyst to the flow reactor through a third inlet;
- introducing anhydrous tetrahydrofuran (THF) into the flow reactor at a point downstream of one or more reactor loops of the plurality of reactor loops via a fourth inlet.
1 more element
A computer-implemented method, comprising:
- controlling, by a system operatively coupled to a processor, a set of proportional-integral derivative (PID) controllers to supply diol to a flow reactor, comprising a plurality of reactor loops, through a first inlet, the diisocyanate monomer to the flow reactor through a second inlet, and the organic catalyst to the flow reactor through a third inlet;
- measuring, by the system, a reactant conversion of a polyurethane polymerization reaction within the flow reactor;
- wherein the polymerization reaction polymerizes the diol with the diisocyanate monomer;
- and
- adjusting, by the system, a flow rate of a chemical reactant within the flow reactor based on the measuring to achieve a target polyurethane structure,
- wherein the adjusting the flow rate comprises introducing anhydrous tetrahydrofuran (THF) into the flow reactor at a point downstream of one or more reactor loops of the plurality of reactor loops via a fourth inlet.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.