PROCESS ECONOMICS PROGRAM

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1 PROCESS ECONOMICS PROGRAM Abstract SRI INTERNATIONAL Menlo Park, California Process Economics Program Report No. 13D POLYVINYL CHLORIDE (May 1982) This supplementary report reviews recent developments in the technology of vinyl chloride polymerization for manufacturing homopolymers, copolymers, and graft polymers. Also reviewed are vinyl chloride removal from the polymer at various stages of the polymerization process, and the prevention of polymer encrustation inside the polymerizer. We revised the designs of three major processes, i.e., suspension, liquid-phase bulk, and emulsion polymerization, to incorporate some of the recent developments. Notable revisions are as follows: the reactor walls and the inserted devices are coated with a suppressant material to minimize polymer encrustation, and a self-contained batch transfer system is used to prevent VCM from escaping to the atmosphere. Consequently, a high pressure water wash system replaces the solvent cleaning facilities, and the vent gas scrubbing system is no longer needed. These features are also considered in the design of the microsuspension process, a subject PEP has not covered before. We have evaluated the economics of all the above processes for making homopolymer, and the bulk and suspension processes for making VC-VA copolymer and VC graft polymer. Finally, various additives that are essential for PVC compounding are selectively reviewed. PEP '80 YRC

2 Report No. 130 POLYVINYL CHLORIDE SUPPLEMENT D by YU-REN CHIN May 1982 A private report by the PROCESS ECONOMICS PROGRAM Menlo Park, California 94025

3 For detailed marketing data and information, the reader is referred to one of the SRI programs specializing in marketing research. The CHEMICAL ECONOMICS HANDBOOK Program covers most major chemicals and chemical products produced in the United States and the WORLU PETROCHEMICALS Program covers major hydrocarbons and their derivatives on a worldwide basis. In addition, the SRI DIRECTORY OF CHEMICAL PRODUCERS services provide detailed lists of chemical producers by company, product, and plant for the United States and Western Europe. ii

4 CONTENTS 1 INTRODUCTION SUMMARY... 3 General Aspects... 3 Technical Aspects... 5 Suspension Polymerization Process... 5 Bulk Polymerization Process... 8 Emulsion Polymerization Process... 9 Microsuspension Polymerization Process... 9 Process for Copolymers and Graft Polymers Economics and Process Comparison Suspension Polymerization Processes Bulk Polymerization Processes Emulsion Polymerization Processes Microsuspension Polymerization Processes Comparison between the Bulk and the Suspension Processes.. 14 Comparison between the Emulsion and the Microsuspension Processes INDUSTRY STATUS ENCRUSTATION PREVENTION AND MONOMER REMOVAL Encrustation Prevention Surface Coating Encrustation Suppressing Additives Vinyl Chloride Stripping Polymerization Batch Transfer POLYVINYL CHLORIDE BY SUSPENSION PROCESS Review of Patents Process Description Raw Material Storage and Makeup Polymerization and Monomer Stripping Monomer Recovery and Purification Product Dewatering and Drying Bulk Handling Hydraulic Wash Process Discussion Cost Estimates Capital Investment Production Costs Economics of Other Cases iii

5 CONTENTS 6 POLYVINYL CHLORIDE BY BULK PROCESS Review of Patents Process Description Polymerization Monomer Recovery Product Finishing Bulk Handling Hydraulic Wash Process Discussion Cost Estimates Capital Investment Production Costs Economics of Other Cases POLYVINYL CHLORIDE BY EMULSION AND MICROSUSPENSION PROCESSES Review of Patents Economics Evaluation of Emulsion Process Process Description Raw Material Storage and Makeup Polymerization and Monomer Stripping Monomer Recovery and Dispersion Blending Product Drying Bulk Handling Hyl;L-aulic Wash Process Discussion Cost Estimates Capital Investment Production Costs Economics of Other Cases Economic Evaluation of Microsuspension Process Process Description Polymerization and Monomer Stripping Product Drying Cost Estimates Capital Investment Production Costs Economics of Case POLYVINYL CHLORIDE BY SOLUTION PROCESS iv

6 CONTENTS 9 VINYL CHLORIDE COPOLYMERS AND GRAFT POLYMERS Vinyl Chloride Copolymers Vinyl Chloride-Vinyl Acetate Copolymer Vinyl Chloride-(Meth)acrylate Copolymers Vinyl Chloride-Acrylonitrile Copolymer Vinyl Chloride-Vinylidone Chloride Copolymers Graft Copolymers Vinyl Chloride Graft Polymers Grafted Polyvinyl Chloride Polymers Economic Evaluation of Plants for Making Vinyl Chloride Copolymers and Graft Polymers VC-VA Copolymer by Bulk Process VC-VA Copolymer by Suspension Process VC Grafted onto EP Rubber by Bulk Process VC Grafted onto EPDM Rubber by Suspension Process Economics ADDITIVES FOR PVC COMPOUNDING Stabilizers MetalSoaps Lead Compounds Organotin Compounds Plasticizers Lubricants and Processing Aids Other Additives APPENDIX A DESIGN AND COST BASIS PATENT SUMMARY TABLES CITED REFERENCES PATENT REFERENCES BY COMPANY i V

7 ILLUSTRATIONS , Self-Contained Polymerization Batch Transfer System FlowSheet Effect of Operating Level and Plant Capacity on Production Cost Effect of Monomer Cost on the Product Value Polyvinyl Chloride by Liquid Phase Bulk Process FlowSheet Polyvinyl Chloride by Liquid Phase Bulk Process Effect of Operating Level and Plant Capacity on Production Cost Polyvinyl Chloride by Batch Emulsion Process FlowSheet Polyvinyl Chloride by Batch Emulsion Process Effect of Operating Level and Plant Capacity on Production Cost Polyvinyl Chloride by Seeded Microsuspension Process Effect of Operating Level and Plant Capacity on Production Cost Vii

8 TABLES Polyvinyl Chloride Processes Summary of Technical Aspects Vinyl Chloride Copolymers and Graft Polymers Summary of Technical Aspects Polyvinyl Chloride Processes Summary of Economics Vinyl Chloride Copolymers and Graft Polymers Summary of Economics World PVC Capacities by Principal Areas (Millions of Metric Tons/yr) Projected Polyvinyl Chloride Capacity Worldwide Free World Polyvinyl Chloride Consumption History and Forecast (Thousands of Metric Tons)., Forecasted Excess Capacity over Demand in 1986 (Thousands of Metric Tons) Surface Coating for Encrustation Prevention Patent Summary Scale Suppressing Additives for Encrustation Prevention Patent Summary... Vinyl Chloride Monomer Removal Patent Summary... Patent Summary Design Bases and Assumption Major Equipment Stream Flows Capital Investment Production Costs ix

9 TABLES 5.7 Economics of Other Cases Polyvinyl Chloride by Liquid Phase Eulk Process Patent Summary Polyvinyl Chloride by Vapor Phase Bulk Process Patent summary Polyvinyl Chloride by Liquid Phase Bulk Process Design Bases and Assumptions Polyvinyl Chloride by Liquid Phase Bulk Process Major Equipment Polyvinyl Chloride by Liquid Phase Bulk Process StreamFlows Polyvinyl Chloride by Liquid Phase Bulk Process Capital Investment Polyvinyl Chloride by Liquid Phase Bulk Process Production Costs Polyvinyl Chloride by Liquid Phase Bulk Process Economics of Other Cases Polyvinyl Chloride by Emulsion Process Patent Summary Polyvinyl Chloride by Microsuspension Process Patent Summary.., Polyvinyl Chloride by Batch Emulsion Process Design Bases and Assumptions Polyvinyl Chloride by Batch Emulsion Process MajorEquipment Polyvinyl Chloride by Batch Emulsion Process Stream Flows Polyvinyl Chloride by Batch Emulsion Process Capital Investment Polyvinyl Chloride by Batch Emulsion Process Production Costs Polyvinyl Chloride by Emulsion Process Economics of Other Cases X

10 TABLES Polyvinyl Chloride by Microsuspension Process Design Bases and Assumptions Polyvinyl Chloride by Seeded Microsuspension Process Major Equipment and Utilities Summary....., Polyvinyl Chloride by Seeded Microsuspension Process Capital Investment Polyvinyl Chloride by Seeded Microsuspension Process Production Costs Polyvinyl Chloride by Microsuspension Process Economic Comparison Between Case 1 and Case Polyvinyl Chloride by Solution Process Patent Summary... Vinyl Chloride Copolymers and Terpolymers Patent Summary Vinyl Chloride Grafted Polymers Patent Summary... Grafted Polyvinyl Chloride Polymers Patent Summary... Vinyl Chloride Copolymers and Graft Polymers Design Bases and Assumptions Vinyl Chloride Copolymers and Graft Polymers Process Economics Polyvinyl Chloride Compositions Patent Summary Thermal Stabilizers for PVC Compositions Patent Summary Lubricants for PVC Compositions Patent Summary Processing Aids for PVC Compositions Patent Summary... Flame and Smoke Suppressants for PCD Compositions Patentsummary... Cross-Linking Agents for PVC Compositions Patentsummary Xi