Polymeric materials

An apparatus for undertaking a polymerisation reaction to produce a drag reducing polymer, the apparatus comprising:

• (a) an elongate housing;
• (b) an elongate receptacle within the housing, said receptacle being arranged to receive reagents for reaction in the apparatus to produce a drag reducing polymer;
• wherein said receptacle comprises a plastic film material which has a thickness of at least 50 μm and a thickness of less than 1000 μm;
• wherein said receptacle includes a first end and a second end which are spaced apart along the elongate extent of the receptacle, wherein said first end is a closed end;
• wherein the diameter of the receptacle is substantially constant for at least 80% of the length thereof;
• wherein the diameter of the receptacle is in the range at least 7 cm and less than 30 cm across its entire extent;
• wherein the length of the receptacle is in the range 3 m to 15 m and/or the volume of the receptacle is in the range 12 cm3 to 4 m3′ wherein said elongate housing is arranged to support the receptacle which is arranged within the housing;
• wherein said elongate housing includes cooling means for cooling reagents and polymer contained in the receptacle in use;
• wherein said elongate housing includes inerting means for introducing and/or maintaining an inert atmosphere in and/or around the receptacle;
• wherein the housing includes a first elongate tube and the housing and/or first elongate tube are arranged for the receptacle to slide out of the first elongate tube and thereby be removed and/or disengaged from the housing.
• wherein said apparatus includes a container (C1) for containing a coolant fluid, wherein the apparatus is arranged for delivery of coolant fluid from the container (C1) to a region outside said receptacle;
• wherein said apparatus includes a container (C2) containing a monomer, wherein the apparatus is arranged for delivery of monomer into the receptacle;
• wherein said apparatus includes a container (C3) for containing a catalyst, wherein the apparatus is arranged for delivery of catalyst into the receptacle;
• wherein said apparatus includes a container (C4) for containing an inert fluid, wherein the apparatus is arranged to deliver the inert fluid into the receptacle for inerting the receptacle;
• wherein container (C2) contains monomer and container (C3) contains catalyst wherein containers (C2) and (C3) are arranged to deliver monomer and catalyst respectively to a mixing region wherein they are arranged to be contacted and mixed, wherein the mixing region is upstream of said receptacle;
• wherein container (C2) contains monomer selected from the group comprising:
• 1-hexene, 1-heptene, 1-nonene, 1-octene, 1-decene, 1-dodecene, 1-tetradecene, isobutylene;
• alkyl acrylates;
• alkyl methacrylates;
• styrene and alkyl styrene.