Polymerisation
Precise control
For optimum polymer quality
Polymerization is a highly complex process in which monomers react under defined conditions to form polymers. Depending on the process - be it radical, cationic, anionic, emulsion, condensation or suspension polymerization - precise control of temperature, pressure, mixing ratios and kinetics is crucial for the properties of the final product. Challenges such as exothermic reactions, changes in viscosity during the process, or targeted control of molecular weights and polymer architectures can be overcome by precise automation.
Range of services
- Flexibility for all polymerization types:emulsion, suspension, precipitation, condensation and radical polymerization
- Precise process control:automatic control of temperature, pressure, stirring speed and dosing
- Continuous monitoring:sensors for viscosity, monomer conversion and molecular weight distribution in real time
- Dynamic recipe management:control and adjustment of the initiator, catalyst and reactant supply depending on the progress of the reaction
- Security management:emergency shutdowns, automatic cooling strategies to control exothermic reactions
- Expandability:integration with distillation, filtration or extraction systems for downstream processing steps
Advantages of automation
- Maximum process stability:precise control of critical parameters minimizes fluctuations in the end product
- Optimum product quality:real-time monitoring and adjustment of process conditions for targeted control of the polymer structure
- Safe working:warning messages and automatic intervention mechanisms in the event of temperature fluctuations or pressure deviations
- Increased efficiency:optimization of raw material use and energy consumption for economical processes
- Complete documentation:automatic logging of process parameters for quality assurance and scaling
- Higher reproducibility:consistent production through precise automation of reaction conditions
HITEC ZANG's custom polymerization solutions give you maximum control over your reactions for efficient, safe and precise production of custom polymers in lab, pilot or production scale.
From Research
HITEC ZANG reactor systems are used internationally in scientific research. In a study by the Free University of Berlin published in 2021 in *Macromolecular Materials and Engineering* (Wiley), a reactor system featuring a 0.5-liter glass reactor from HITEC ZANG was used for the automated, solvent-free synthesis of hyperbranched polyglycerol (hPG)—a process relevant to biomedical applications as an alternative to PEG (polyethylene glycol).
The LabManager controlled all reactor components (thermostat, vacuum pump, dosing system, stirrer), while the LabVision Software translated the process commands, recorded all measurement data in real time, and enabled wireless remote control via an app.
Automated Solvent-Free Polymerization of Hyperbranched Polyglycerol with Tailored Molecular Weight by Online Torque Detection
Matthias Wallert et al. · Macromolecular Materials and Engineering · 2021
