Incorporating additives into molten polymer via slurry injection upstream of a hopper

A polymer hopper system comprising:

• a hopper configured to contain a molten polymer pool;
• and
• an inlet device coupled to an inlet of the hopper, wherein the inlet device is configured to:
• i) receive a feed stream comprising a molten polymer, a liquid diluent, a polymer additive, and unreacted monomer, ii) provide one or more solid surfaces for incorporating the polymer additive into the molten polymer, and iii) direct the molten polymer and the polymer additive into the molten polymer pool.

A polymer hopper system comprising:

• a hopper configured to contain a molten polymer pool;
• and
• an inlet device coupled to an inlet of the hopper, wherein the inlet device comprises an inlet shroud comprising:
• a first portion having an end fluidly coupled with the inlet of the hopper;
• and
• a second portion having i) an end connected to an opposite end of the first portion, and ii) an opposite end that is open to an interior of the hopper,
• wherein the first portion has a top piece, a bottom piece, a side piece, and an opposite side piece, wherein the side piece of the first portion is a portion of an inner wall of the hopper,
• wherein the second portion has a top piece, a side piece, and an opposite side piece, wherein the side piece of the second portion is another portion of the inner wall of the hopper, and
• wherein a bottom of the second portion is open to the interior of the hopper.