Supercritical fluids in the polymer industry

A new report provides a comprehensive overview of current research into the use of supercritical fluids in the polymer industry.

The use of supercritical fluids (SCFs) in the polymer industry presents an opportunity to create unique products both now and in the future as demand and usage of the technology further develops.

"Polymer processing with supercritical fluids", a new Rapra Review Report, provides a comprehensive overview of the current research.

SCFs are currently the subjects of intense research and commercial interest.

Applications such as the RESS (rapid expansion of supercritical fluid solutions) process are part of standard industrial practice.

In view of their ever-growing importance in the polymer industry there is a need to fully comprehend how supercritical fluids interrelate with polymeric materials to realise the potential that can be gained from their use.

In "Polymer processing with supercritical fluids", the authors review the basic principles of SCFs and their application within the polymer industry: characteristics and properties, extraction of unwanted residual products, polymerisation solvents, and polymer impregnation.

Processing applications such as plasticisation, foaming and blending are also considered.

There is discussion of the potential within the polymer recycling industry for use of SCFs as cleaning agents or within supercritical oxidation processes.

This Rapra Review Report is written by Vannessa Goodship, a Senior Research Fellow at Warwick Manufacturing Group with 15 years experience in industry and expertise in injection moulding technology, and Erich Ogur currently studying for his PhD in engineering in the area of polymer processing after working for Royal Dutch Shell.

"Polymer processing with supercritical fluids" retails at GBP 85 (plus postage and packaging) and is available from Rapra Technology.

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