| abstract |
In one embodiment, a method of separating a polymer from a solvent comprises introducing a superheated polymer-solvent mixture into an extruder, and isolating a polymer product, said extruder being equipped with at least one vent operated at subatmospheric pressure and at least one vent operated at about atmospheric pressure, said extruder having a screw diameter D, said extruder being operated at a feed rate FR and at a screw speed RPM such that a devolatilization performance ratio (DPR) given by Equation (I) DPR = FR/RPM Equation (I) is selected from a predetermined set of devolatilization performance ratios which correlate with a target characteristic of the polymer product. |