Continuous Emulsion Polymerization—Steady State and Transient Experiments with Vinyl Acetate and Methyl Methacrylate

Abstract

Continuous reactor processes are used to produce a number of synthetic polymer latexes and ever increasing production demands provide incentives for a broader use of continuous syterns in the future. Research and development studies with continuous reactors are necessary for intelligent commercial application and also for a better fundamental understanding of emulsion polymerization kinetics. A continuous stirred-tank reactor (CSTR), operated at steady state, can provide a quite different perspective for viewing reaction mechanisms. When such a reactor is used without a particle seed stream, one must have a good quantitative understanding of particle formation and competitive growth in order to predict product characteristics. The major purpose of this paper is to present experimental results for the emulsion polymerization of vinyl acetate (VA) and methyl methacrylate (MMA) in a single CSTR. Both steady state and transient results will be presented and discussed. Possible causes for prolonged unsteady behavior will be outlined