Kinetics of Mass Transfer in the Melt Polycondensation of Poly(Ethylene Terephthalate)

For a four-parameter reaction-mass transport model of melt polycondensation, the constants of polycondensation, thermolysis, and diffusion were determined by means of experiments in thin-layer polycondensation. Based on these constants, the convectional mass transport and efficient melt thickness in polycondensation systems under conditions of compelled mixing can be estimated. However, for stirred polycondensation systems a reaction-mass transfer model proves more suitable. The constants of polycondensation and thermolysis obtained by the diffusion model can be transferred to the reaction-mass transfer model. Thus, only the mass transfer coefficient has to be determined.