Effect of solvents on de-cross-linking of cross-linked polyethylene under subcritical and supercritical conditions

Hong Shik Lee, Ju Hyeong Jeong, Giyoung Hong, Hang Kyu Cho, Bum Ki Baek, Chong Min Koo, Soon Man Hong, Jaehoon Kim, Youn Woo Lee

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23 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

The effect of various solvents on the de-cross-linking reaction of cross-linked polyethylene under subcritical and supercritical conditions was studied. The gel content of the de-cross-linked polyethylene decreased from 60 to 0.8-2.5% at 380 °C within 5 min in all of the solvents tested in this study. When water, ethanol, and 2-propanol were used, the Mw of the de-cross-linked polyethylenes decreased from 349,000 to 200,000-227,000 g/mol, and much lower Mw values of 70,000-90,000 g/mol were observed when acetone and diisopropyl ether were used. The de-cross-linked polyethylenes treated in the different solvents had a very similar chemical structure to raw polyethylene. According to a kinetic study using a first-order reaction model, the de-cross-linking rate in each solvent increased in the order 2-propanol < ethanol < n-hexane < water < methanol ≪ diisopropyl ether ≪ acetone at 350 °C.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)6633-6638
Number of pages6
JournalIndustrial and Engineering Chemistry Research
Volume52
Issue number20
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2013 May 22
Externally publishedYes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Chemistry
  • General Chemical Engineering
  • Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering

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