PROCESS FOR THE VAPOR-PHASE THERMAL CRACKING OF DICYCLOPENTADIENE AND A PROCESS FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF HIGH PURITY DICYCLOPENTADIENE

Recently, as a process for manufacturing cyclopentadiene resin-shaped articles, an attention has been given to reaction injection molding (RIM). To conduct RIM, it is necessary to use high purity dicyclopentadiene (DCPD) as the raw material. Vapor-phase thermal cracking of DCPD is usually used as a step of process for manufacturing high purity DCPD. Hithertofore, when coducting thermal cracking of DCPD, coke formation within cracking tubes is the most serious and troublesome problem. A vapor-phase thermal cracking process for resolving the problem by a very simple procedure is described herein. Further, a process for manufacturing high purity DCPD suitable as a raw material for use in RIM utilizing the vapor-phase thermal cracking process just mentioned above is also described.