| abstract |
In a process for producing a stabilized oxymethylene copolymer by heat-melting, at a temperature ranging between the melting point of the copolymer and a temperature 100 DEG C. higher than the melting point in a degassing apparatus in the presence of a heat stabilizer, a crude oxymethylene copolymer of trioxane with a cyclic acetal or cyclic ether, to decompose and eliminate the instable portions of the copolymer, the improvement which comprises using as the degassing apparatus in heat stabilizing the crude oxymethylene copolymer a combination of (A) an extruder and (B) a surface renewing-type mixer, and carrying out the operation by first feeding a crude oxymethylene copolymer to said extruder (A) to heat-melt and decompose 30-90% by weight of the instable portions of the crude copolymer, removing the decomposed gas via a vent provided in said extruder, and thereafter introducing the molten resin continuously to said surface renewing-type mixer (B) where substantially all of the remaining instable portions of the oxymethylene copolymer are heat-decomposed until the content of the instable portions falls below about 2 wt. %, thereby heat stabilizing the copolymer; said extruder (A) having a single or a plurality of shafts, said surface renewing-type mixer functioning to mix and knead the resin thereby constantly renewing the surface of the resin to volatize the volatiles contained therein. |