Apparatus for producing styrenic/alkenylnitrile copolymers

An apparatus for the continuous mass polymerization of styrenic and alkenylnitrile monomers to produce a styrenic/alkenylnitrile copolymer, comprising:

• (a) a reaction vessel;
• (b) means for continuously introducing a feed comprising a predetermined ratio of styrenic and alkenylnitrile monomers into said reaction vessel to produce a reaction mixture;
• (c) means for subjecting the reaction mixture containing styrenic and alkenylnitrile monomers to conditions of temperature and pressure under which said monomers copolymerize to produce a styrenic/alkenylnitrile copolymer;
• (d) a rotational agitator comprising at least one stirring device in the reaction vessel for subjecting the reaction mixture to horizontal agitation;
• (e) means for subjecting the reaction mixture to vertical agitation, comprising means for withdrawing a portion of the reaction mixture from a position near the bottom of the reaction vessel, at least one closed loop external of the reaction vessel for circulating the withdrawn portion and means for reintroducing the withdrawn portion at a position near the top of the reaction vessel;
• (f) means for cooling the reaction mixture by withdrawing a vapor phase from the reaction vessel wherein said cooling means comprises a condenser for condensing the withdrawn vapor phase into a liquid and further wherein the amount of vapor phase withdrawn is controlled by including means in the condenser for selectively controlling the amount of cooled surface area available for contact with the withdrawn vapor phase;
• and
• (g) means for continuously withdrawing styrenic/alkenylnitrile copolymer from the reaction vessel.