1. Introduction

Polyphenylene ether (PPE) resin is one of the top five engineering plastics and one of the most consumed engineering plastic alloys.

PPE has excellent resistance to high and low temperature, electrical insulation, steam resistance, dimensional stability and creep resistance.

The long-term use temperature range of PPE is from minus 127 to 121 °C, and it has excellent dimensional stability and outstanding electrical insulation under long-term load, therefore it is widely used in the electronics and electrical industry, automotive industry, industrial machinery and other industries.

 Whitefan Chemical’s PPE technology is producing PPE through oxidative coupling polycondensation by monomer 2,6-DMP.

 In the past, the technology mainly evaluated from solvent free melting method, organic solvent method to full water medium method.

 At present, Whitefan Chemical's mature technique is using organic solvent method.

 2. Introduction

 Whitefan Chemical's PPE production process includes the synthesis of 2,6-DMP and synthesis of PPE.

 First, the raw material of phenol, methanol and recycling cresol are mixed and vaporized and then subjected to alkylation reaction in the catalyst bed to form 2,6-DMP.

 The reaction gas is then condensed and cooled, and enters into a refining section. In the 2,6-DMP refining section, the reaction gas is absorbed by washing, and the non-condensed CO and dimethyl ether, H2 and other gases are sent to the waste heat boiler for waste heat recovery.

Then, the washing liquid is sent to the rectification unit, in which 2,6-DMP with a purity of >99.5% is obtained for PPE polymerization after de-lighting, solvent removal, dephenolization, and refining process.

(1) Synthesis of 2,6-DMP

In the PPE polymerization unit, 2,6-DMP and pure oxygen are polymerized in an organic solvent solution with catalyst.

After the reaction is completed, PPE products are obtained by precipitation, filtration, washing, and drying process.

The solvent is recycled for further application.

The by-product oligomer can be used as modifier for asphalt.

 (2) Synthesis of PPE

3. Raw material product indicators

3.1 Product Polyphenylene Ether

                 Table 3-1 Quality indicators of polyphenylene ether products

3.2 Raw material phenol

                                        Table 3-2 Phenol indicator table

3.3 Raw material methanol

                                        Table 3-3 Methanol indicator table

 1.   Consumption indicators

              Table 4-1 Main raw and auxiliary materials consumption index table

                              Table 4-2 Public utility consumption indicator table