Diffusion‐controlled semibatch emulsion polymerization of styrene

Abstract

AbstractSemibatch emulsion polymerization of styrene under the monomer‐starved condition is strongly affected by the gel effect. A mechanistic model based on diffusion‐controlled reaction mechanisms is developed to predict the kinetics of semibatch emulsion polymerization. Experimental data available in the literature are employed to assess the proposed model. Reasonable agreement between the model predictions and experimental data is observed. The simulation results suggest that the reaction system approaches Smith–Ewart case II kinetics (n̄ = 0.5) when the concentration of monomer in the particles is close to the saturation value, whereas the reaction system under the monomer‐starved condition is characterized by diffusion‐limited reaction mechanisms (n̄≥0.5). © 1995 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.