Solid-phase polymerization mechanism of poly(ethylene terephthalate) affected by gas flow velocity and particle size

Experimental studies on the solid-phase polymerization (SPP) of poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) for different particle sizes at temperatures of 190–220°C were carried out at different gas flow velocities. The SPP mechanism of PET changes under different operating conditions. At a given gas flow velocity, the SPP reaction mechanism for a large-sized sample changes from chemical reaction control to interior diffusion control with increasing temperature. At a given reaction temperature, the SPP reaction control mechanism for a small-sized sample changes from surface diffusion control to chemical reaction control with increasing gas flow velocity. At a given reaction temperature and gas flow velocity, the SPP reaction mechanism changes from interior diffusion control to surface diffusion control with decreasing particle size. The SPP reaction rate is not determined by a single control mechanism but by both diffusion and chemical reactions in the temperature range of 200–220°C. The primary control mechanism can be discerned based on the operating parameters.