This comprehensive reference offers a hands-on approach to polymer devolatilization. It introduces the necessary fundamental background material, elucidates the actual mechanisms by which the devolatilization of polymers progresses, and discusses virtually every type of devolatilizing equipment available.

From the Preface: “Devolatilization is an industrial process in which low-molecular-weight components such as unreacted monomer, solvents, water, and various polymerization by-products are separated from a polymeric system. These substances, which are often collectively refered to as ‘volatiles,’ may be removed to comply with various regulations, or to improve the polymer’s properties, or for a variety of other reasons...”

Target Audience: Polymer, plastics, materials, chemical, and process engineers; polymer and materials scientists; polymer chemists; and graduate students in these disciplines.

Table of Contents:

An Introduction to Devolatilization

Thermodynamic Aspects of Devolatilization of Polymers

Solvent Diffusion in Polymeric Systems

Bubble Nucleation in Polymer Mixtures

Fundamentals of Bubble Growth

A Fundamental Study of Foam Devolatilization

The Study of Devolatilization by Scanning Electron Microscopy

An Overview of Devolatilizers

Falling-Strand Devolatilization

Slit Devolatilization

Devolatilization in Co-Rotating Twin-Screw Extruders

Devolatilization in Counter-Rotating Nonintermeshing Twin-Screw Extruders

Devolatilization of Polymers in Industrial Applications

Single-Rotor Wiped-Film Devolatilization of Styrenic Polymers

Devolatilization of Polyvinyl Chloride

Devolatilization of Fibers, Latices, and Particles

The Future of Solvents in the Manufacture of Polymers

The Analysis of Volatiles in Polymers

Appendices

Index