Typically, companies produce polymers for adhesive applications without directly monitoring what is happening inside the reactor. Due to a lack of real-time data, the QC lab checks polymer properties after the reaction is over or periodically during continuous production. Since it is not desirable to end up with an off-spec polymer batch, the reaction will run longer than necessary. The longer run time consumes additional energy, operator time and equipment availability. Utilizing a dynamic approach to monitoring reactions is desirable for many adhesives manufacturers.

ACOMP is a smart manufacturing system that provides real-time analytics on polymer properties during production via continuous sampling and measurement of the reactor. The automated monitoring system produces a highly conditioned sample stream on which multiple analytical measurements are continuously made. These measurements yield data on conversion, kinetics, residual monomers, molecular weight, viscosity and other critical parameters.

ACOMP is a completely automated monitoring system that allows for tighter process control, resulting in increased polymer yields, quality and consistency, increased worker safety, reduced cycle times, reduced VOCs, and reduced energy and raw material usage.

ACOMP has successfully monitored many polymer chemistries that are commonly used to produce adhesives. These include epoxy, polyurethane, acrylic acid, methacrylate, 2-ethylhexyl acrylate and others. Below is a link to an application note where ACOMP successfully monitored the free radical polymerization of the pressure-sensitive adhesive, 2-ethlyhexyl acrylate and 2-ethylhexyl acrylate/acrylic acid.