A fundamental study of polymer melt devolatilization: III More experiments on foam-enhanced DV

A systematic, experimental study was conducted on the elementary process of devolatilization (DV) of volatile contaminants from polymer melts. Emphasis was placed on foam‐enhanced DV from rolling melt pools, which are present in rotating machinery. All experiments were conducted in a specially designed apparatus at room temperature using poly(dimethyl siloxane) to simulate the melt, and methyl chloride together with several chlorofluorocarbons as the contaminants. The special apparatus was devoid of the flow complexities present in industrial equipment and permitted independent control of all pertinent operating parameters. Physical properties and process parameters examined include feed composition and vapor pressure of contaminant, applied vacuum level, rotational speed of the pool, viscosity of the melt, and the effect of air entrainment.