| US 7,501,482 B2 | ||
| Crystallizer temperature control via solid additive control | ||
| Bruce Roger DeBruin, Lexington, S.C. (US); and Richard Gill Bonner, Lexington, S.C. (US) | ||
| Assigned to Eastman Chemical Company, Kingsport, Tenn. (US) | ||
| Filed on May 24, 2006, as Appl. No. 11/439,777. | ||
| Prior Publication US 2007/0276118 A1, Nov. 29, 2007 | ||
| This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer. | ||
| Int. Cl. C08F 6/00 (2006.01); C08F 3/00 (2006.01) | ||
| U.S. Cl. 528—308.1 [264/176.1; 264/219; 528/480] | 46 Claims |
| 1. A method of crystallizing polymeric pellets in a crystallizer having an inlet, an outlet, and a contact region between
the inlet and outlet, the method comprising:
a) introducing a plurality of polymeric pellets into the crystallizer, the plurality of polymeric pellets comprising a crystallizable
polymer having a crystallization temperature and a melting temperature, and the plurality of polymeric pellets having an average
pellet temperature;
b) introducing a plurality of solid additives into the contact region of the crystallizer, the plurality of solid additives
having a temperature sufficient to allow at least partial crystallization of the plurality of polymeric pellets while maintaining
the average pellet temperature below the melting temperature while the plurality of polymeric pellets are within the crystallizer;
and
c) removing the plurality of polymeric pellets and the plurality of solid additives from the outlet of the crystallizer.
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