Experiments on the Thermal Degradation of Ethylene Low polymer

Abstract

A series of experiments has been carried out on the thermal degradation of ethylene low polymer using a continuous flow stirred tank reactor, and the temperature for the thermal degradation, the degradation rate, the composition of products and the carbon formation on the heated surface have been studied . For example the degradation rate of 7.0g/cm3hr at 440°C, and the activation energy of 48 .6kcal/mol for the low polymer were found. The degradation product was separated into two parts, one volatile gas and the other non-volatile oily product, in the ratio of about 1: 24. The volatile gas was composed of CH4, C2H4, C2H6, C3H6, C3H8, C4H8 and C4H10. The non-volatile was composed of C5-C30 hydrocarbons, which contained n-paraffins, 1-olefins and isomers, in the ratio of about 6: 3: 1. It was found that the heated surface was prevented from carbon deposition by powerfull agitation and that the reactor was prevented from carbon accumulation by discharging a part of content intermittently . Thus the reactor has been kept clean and continuous long runs have been made.