Definition Green chemistry, also known as environmentally benign chemistry, is the design of chemical products and processes that reduce or eliminate the use and generation of hazardous substances throughout the entire chemical lifecycle. Its objective is to maximize resource utilization…
Definition Suspension polymerization, also known as bead polymerization, is a polymer manufacturing process in which water-insoluble monomers are mechanically dispersed as droplets in a continuous medium, typically water, with the aid of dispersing agents. Polymerization occurs within these suspended droplets,…
Definition Emulsion polymerization is a polymer manufacturing process in which water-insoluble monomers are dispersed in water with the aid of surfactants (emulsifiers) and polymerized under mechanical agitation. Polymerization occurs within finely dispersed droplets or micelles, producing a stable polymer latex.…
Definition Ring-opening polymerization (ROP) is a polymerization process in which cyclic monomers undergo ring opening in the presence of an initiator or catalyst to form linear polymer chains. Unlike conventional addition polymerization, ring-opening polymerization converts the ring structure of the…
Definition Polymerization is a chemical reaction in which one or more monomers combine to form high-molecular-weight polymers without producing low-molecular-weight by-products. Depending on the monomers involved, polymerization may produce either homopolymers (from a single monomer) or copolymers (from two or…
Definition A non-Newtonian fluid is any fluid whose viscosity varies with applied shear stress or shear rate, rather than remaining constant as described by Newton’s law of viscosity. Unlike Newtonian fluids such as water or air, non-Newtonian fluids exhibit changes…
Definition Definition A plate heat exchanger (PHE) is a type of heat transfer equipment that uses a series of thin metal plates to transfer heat between two fluids. The plates are arranged to form alternating flow channels, allowing hot and…
Eliminating Thermal Runaway and Scale-Up Challenges How Tubular Reactors Are Reshaping Continuous Chemical Manufacturing In the fine chemical and specialty chemical industries, process engineers face two persistent challenges: thermal runaway and scale-up failure. The former threatens plant safety, while the…
Definition A heat exchanger is a device used to transfer thermal energy between two fluids in order to achieve heating, cooling, condensation, or vaporization. In most heat exchangers, the fluids are separated by a solid wall or heat-transfer surface, allowing…
Definition A tubular reactor, also known as a tube reactor, is a continuous-flow reactor characterized by its tubular shape and high length-to-diameter ratio. Depending on process requirements, a tubular reactor may consist of a single tube or multiple tubes arranged…