Patent ID: 6264357
Filing Date: 2001-07-24
Classification: C08F

Abstract:
An apparatus for suspension polymerization of a monomeric composition of uniformly sized particles having a narrow distribution, the apparatus comprising:first retaining means for retaining a disperse phase component comprising a monomeric composition;second retaining means for retaining a continuous phase component comprising a medium;disperser means for forming a dispersion of the disperse phase component and the continuous phase component comprisinga stationary part having a first circular surface and a second annular surface surrounding and concentric with the first surface,a rotating part having a third circular surface confronting the first surface and a fourth annular surface surrounding and concentric with the third surface and confronting the second surface,the first surface and the third surface having substantially the same shape and defining a space therebetween having substantially a uniform thickness,a first uniform shear generating field being disposed in the space,the second surface and the fourth surface having substantially the same shape and defining a gap therebetween having a second substantially uniform thickness, the second substantially uniform thickness being less than the first substantially uniform thickness and not more than about 1.8 mm,a second uniform shear generating field being disposed in the gap, the first and second uniform shear generating fields being substantially concentric and coplanar, the second uniform shear generating field being greater than the first uniform shear generating field;first supplying means for supplying the disperse phase component from the first retaining means to the first shear force generating field at a constant rate;second supplying means for supplying the continuous phase component from the second retaining means to the first shear force generating field at a constant rate,the first and second means being independent whereby the disperse phase component and the continuous phase component contact one another for the first time in the first shear force generating field, the first shear force generating field being sufficient to disperse the disperse phase component in the continuous phase component,and substantially all of the dispersion must pass through the gap after being dispersed in the first shear force generating field;polymerization means for polymerizing the dispersion; andmeans for supplying the dispersion to the polymerization means.