Development of technology to industrialise the production of 80000 MTPY epoxy resins

Abstract

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to establish a technology that is suitable for the production of the 80,000 MTPY series of epoxy resins on an industrial scale. Design/methodology/approach – This paper introduces the synthesis and processing of epoxy resins, including liquid epoxy resins (DGEBA) (E-51 and E-44), brominated bisphenol A-based epoxy resins (EX-23-80A), semisolid epoxy resins based on DGEBA (E-39D) and solid epoxy resins based on DGEBA (E-21). The study analyses the theoretical raw materials of epoxy resins per tonne, and lists an example of a distributed control system (DCS) to explain that the production process of 80,000 MTPY epoxy resins can be automated. Findings – A two-step method was used to produce either E-51 or E-44 sequentially in the pre-reactor, the reactor, the recycling kettle, refining kettle (1), the refining kettle (2) and the desensitizing kettle or the falling-film evaporator. An advancement process was adopted to manufacture EX-23-80A, E-39D and E-21 using E-51 as a raw material in the predominating kettle and the mixing kettle, the adding kettle (1) and the adding kettle (2), separately. All the processes were controlled automatically by DCS to yield the products. Originality/value – The results support the assertion that the technology developed by the authors ' company to produce 80,000 MTPY epoxy resins results in fewer side reactions and higher yield production.