Thermal crystallization of a molten polyester polymer in a fluid

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EP 1 522 395 A8

(12)	CORRECTED EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION

(48)	Corrigendum issued on:
	15.06.2005 Bulletin 2005/24

(43)	Date of publication:
	13.04.2005 Bulletin 2005/15

(21)	Application number: 04023938.6

(22)	Date of filing: 07.10.2004

(51)	International Patent Classification (IPC)⁷: B29B 9/06, B29B 9/16, B29B 13/02, B29C 47/00

(84)	Designated Contracting States:
	AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB GR HU IE IT LI LU MC NL PL PT RO SE SI SK TR
	Designated Extension States:
	AL HR LT LV MK

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Priority:

10.10.2003 US 683522

(71)	Applicant: EASTMAN CHEMICAL COMPANY
	Kingsport, TN 37660 (US)

(72)	Inventors:
	Ekart, Michael Paul Kingsport, Tennessee 37660 (US) Jernigan, Mary Therese Kingsport, Tennessee 37663 (US) Wells, Cory Lee Gray, Tennessee 37615 (US) Windes, Larry Kingsport, Tennessee 37664 (US)

(74)	Representative: Jones Day
	Rechtsanwälte, Attorneys-at-Law, Patentanwälte Prinzregentenstrasse 11 80538 München 80538 München (DE)

(54)	Thermal crystallization of a molten polyester polymer in a fluid

(57) A process for crystallizing a polyester polymer by introducing a molten polyester polymer, such as a polyethylene terephthalate polymer, into a liquid medium at a liquid medium temperature greater than the T_g of the polyester polymer, such as at a temperature ranging from 100°C to 190°C, and allowing the molten polyester polymer to reside in the liquid medium for a time sufficient to crystallize the polymer under a pressure equal to or greater than the vapor pressure of the liquid medium: A process flow, underwater cutting process, crystallization in a pipe, and a separator are also described.