Thesis (MScIng)--University of Stellenbosch, 2003. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Titanium dioxide (TiO2) is extensively used as pigment in paint formulations, but due
to the high cost associated with it, along with its’ depleting natural resources, paint
manufacturers are seeking substitutes that can at least partially replace this pigment.
Vesiculated beads have been successfully used in the past as a replacement for the
TiO2-pigment. These beads are spherical polymer particles that contain a multitude of
aerated micro voids within the polymer shell. The aerated voids cause effective
scattering of light inside the particles, presenting the beads with a white appearance.
It was found that low levels of TiO2 could be encapsulated in the particles as a means
of increasing the whiteness and hiding power of the beads in the wet- and dry state.
Because the beads are about two-thirds air by volume and contain only small amounts
of TiO2, it also presents a method of reducing the formula cost.
The beads are produced with an emulsification process where by an organic phase
containing unsaturated polyester resin and styrene monomer is emulsified within an
aqueous phase. This phase consists mainly of de-ionised water and stabilisers that
assist in forming a stable emulsion of organic droplets in the continuous aqueous
phase. A polyamine is also added to the system to achieve the uptake of water
droplets inside the organic phase. It is this water that is replaced with air when it
evaporates from the beads upon drying, and leaves the particles with air-filled
vesicles.
Emulsification is currently achieved locally with the use of a Cowles disperser system
or an emulsion reactor set-up with the application of a specified stirring speed for a
specific period of time. These stirring specifications are manipulated so that the
organic globules are subjected to a specific shear rate and consequently are broken
down to the required particle size. The polymeric reaction is initiated with the
addition of a free-radical initiator and redox activator and the product is left overnight
to allow completion of the reaction and subsequent formation of slurry containing
solid polymer particles. In this study, homogenisation was investigated as a means of emulsifying and
producing vesiculated beads in a continuous process. Homogenisation is defined as
the act of breaking down globules into smaller particles under pressure and produces a
product with evenly dispersed (homogeneous) fine particles. This process could
therefore also be used to produce particles with a smaller average particle size than
those obtained by the existing Cowles- and emulsion reactor manufacturing processes.
These batch processes produce vesiculated beads with an average particle size
between 3 and 10 micron on industrial scale. With the incorporation of the
homogeniser in a continuous process it would be possible, not only to produce
particles in the order of 1 micron required for the addition to gloss paint, but it would
also have the added advantages of easy cleaning, higher production rates and the use
of smaller equipment.
The most important operating parameters when using a homogenisation system were
determined using a laboratory scale homogeniser set-up. These parameters included
the geometry of the internals of the homogeniser, the number of passes and the flow
rate. From the information and results obtained from the batch experiments a semicontinuous
bench-scale homogeniser set-up was designed. This experimental set-up
consisted of a homogeniser, high-pressure pump, continuous feed section for the
initiator and a loop-reactor equipped with a heating mantle to facilitate continuous
curing of the product. Vesiculated beads with properties similar to those obtained by
the existing batch processes, but with an average particle size in the order of 1 micron,
were produced successfully with this semi-continuous set-up. Although the beads
were not entirely cured after leaving the loop-reactor it is believed that with increased
heating and an increase in the length of the reactor, this problem can be addressed.
The results obtained with the semi-continuous process could be used in future in the
design and construction of a continuous pilot plant for the production of vesiculated
beads. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Titaandioksied (TiO2) word in groot hoeveelhede as pigment in verf gebruik, maar as
gevolg van die hoë koste van hierdie pigment en die uitputting van die natuurlike
bronne, is verfvervaardigers op soek na alternatiewe.
Polimeerpartikels met lugholtes daarin vasgevang, is in die verlede suksesvol as
plaasvervanger vir die pigment gebruik. Hierdie partikels is sferiese
polimeerpartikels met ‘n menigte klein lugholtes wat effektiewe verstrooiing van lig
binne die partikels veroorsaak. Dit verskaf aan die partikels ‘n wit voorkoms en daar
is gevind dat klein hoeveelhede TiO2 binne die partikels vasgevang kan word om die
witheid in die nat- en droë fase te verhoog. Omdat die partikels uit ongeveer twee
derdes lug bestaan en slegs klein hoeveelhede TiO2 bevat, word ‘n vermindering in
produksiekoste verkry as dit in verf gebruik word.
Die polimeerpartikels word geproduseer met ‘n emulsifiseringsproses waarby ‘n
organiese fase, bestaande uit onversadigde poliëster en stireen monomeer, in ‘n
waterfase geëmulsifiseer word. Laasgenoemde bestaan hoofsaaklik uit
gedeïoniseerde water en stabiliseerders wat die vorming van ‘n stabiele emulsie van
organiese druppels in die kontinue waterfase bewerkstellig. ‘n Poli-amien word ook
by die sisteem gevoeg om die organiese fase in staat te stel om water op te neem. As
hierdie water dan van die partikels verdamp wanneer dit droog word, word dit deur
lug verplaas en laat dit die partikels met ‘n menigte lugholtes agter.
In Suid-Afrika, word emulsifisering tans bewerkstellig deur die gebruik van ‘n
“Cowles” menger of ‘n emulsiereaktorsisteem waar ‘n spesifieke roerspoed vir ‘n
vasgestelde tydperk aangewend word. Hierdie roerspesifikasies word so gekies dat ‘n
bepaalde skuifkrag op die organiese druppels uitgeoefen word en dit dus tot die
verlangde partikelgrootte opgebreek word. As die bepaalde partikelgrootte bereik is,
word die reaksie geïnisieer deur die byvoeging van ‘n vry-radikaal inisieerder en ‘n
redoksaktiveerder. Die produk word dan oornag gelaat sodat die reaksie voltooi kan
word en die soliede polimeerpartikels binne die kontinue waterfase gevorm kan word. Tydens hierdie studie is homogenisering ondersoek as ‘n moontlike metode om
emulisifisering te bewerkstellig en sodoende die polimeerpartikels te produseer.
Homogenisering word gedefinieer as ‘n proses waartydens partikels afgebreek word
onder hoë druk en gevolglik lei dit tot die vorming van ‘n produk bestaande uit klein
partikels uniform versprei deur die produk. Die moontlikheid bestaan dus dat
homogenisering in ‘n proses gebruik kan word om kleiner partikels te produseer as
wat moontlik is met die bestaande Cowles- of emulsiereaktor prosesse. Hierdie
enkelladingsprosesse word gebruik om polimeerpartikels met ‘n gemiddelde
partikelgrootte tussen 3 en 10 mikron op industriële skaal te produseer. Deur die
homogeniseerder in ‘n kontinue proses te gebruik sal so ‘n proses gebruik kan word
nie net om partikels met ‘n grootte van ongeveer 1 mikron (noodsaaklik vir glansverf)
te produseer nie, maar hou dit ook verdere voordele in soos hoër produksie, kleiner
toerusting en die gemak waarmee so ‘n sisteem skoongemaak kan word.
‘n Laboratorium-skaal enkelladings homogeniseerder is gebruik om die belangrikste
bedryfsparameters van ‘n homogeniseringsisteem te bepaal. Hierdie parameters sluit
in die geometrie van die interne dele van die homogeniseerder, asook die vloeitempo
en die aantal deurgange deur die homogeniseeder. Die resultate van die enkelladings
eksperimente is gebruik om ‘n semi-kontinue loodsaanleg skaal opstelling met ‘n hoë
druk pomp, homogeniseerder, kontinue toevoer seksie vir die inisieërder en ‘n
kontinue buisreaktor om die volledige verloop van die reaksie te verseker, te
ontwikkel.
Polimeerpartikels gevul met lugholtes is geproduseer met bogenoemde proses en
produkeienskappe vergelykbaar met die van die bestaande enkelladingsprosesse is
verkry. Die enigste verskil tussen die produkeienskappe van die verskillende
prosesses was die gemiddelde partikelgrootte met die partikels geproduseer met die
homogeniseerderproses in die order van 1 mikron en die van die ander prosesse veel
groter.
Die resultate verkry met die semi-kontinueproses sal in die toekoms gebruik word vir
die ontwerp en bou van ‘n ten volle kontinue loodsaanleg.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:netd.ac.za/oai:union.ndltd.org:sun/oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/16332 |
| Date | 04 1900 |
| Creators | Gous, Karen |
| Contributors | Knoetze, J. H., University of Stellenbosch. Faculty of Engineering. Dept. of Process Engineering. |
| Publisher | Stellenbosch : University of Stellenbosch |
| Source Sets | South African National ETD Portal |
| Language | en_ZA |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis |
| Format | xxi, 171 leaves : ill. |
| Rights | University of Stellenbosch |
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