Based on nearly 20 years in the field of flow process design the team at Microinnova has executed more than 200 projects in flow chemistry. Different types of polymerization reactions have been executed including free-radical and ionic polymerizations, as well as polyester and oligomer synthesis. We address product quality and safety issues since these types of exothermic reactions benefit from a large heat transfer efficiency and excellent mixing.
Their large exothermicity is of significant safety concern. Uniform processing conditions have a huge impact on the quality of the material such as molecular mass distribution. Projects with polymers have been executed for end-capping, exchange of functional groups, and cross-linking, for example. Radical starting materials, as well as urethane and dicarboxylic monomers have been synthesized. The continuous reaction of back-bone structures used in formulations (e.g., gel structures) improves the level of product quality in addition to the interfacial area. Microinnova has experience in handling materials with viscosities of up to 100,000 mPas. Polymer processes benefit from a specific cooling surface of up to 200 m2/m3 with a high k-value and narrow residence time distribution.
