Patent ID: 8222355

Claim:
A polymerization process, comprising: (a) providing a mixing kneader having a backmixing stirrer shaft, wherein the mixing kneader has a length/diameter ratio of between 0.5-3.5; (b) continuously feeding to the mixing kneader monomers, catalysts and initiators to form a mixed product; and (c) heating the mixed product in the mixing kneader to its boiling temperature, wherein portions of the product are vaporized and an exotherm of the product is absorbed by evaporative cooling, including vaporizing the product by providing energy input consisting of mechanical kneading energy and heat transfer via contact with kneader heat-exchange surfaces, up to just above the point of collapse of the vaporization rate, and the thus pre-evaporated viscous bed of product is continuously admixed with new low-viscous product solution such that the vaporization rate remains above the point of collapse.