Dispersion polymerization of styrene in alcohol media: Effect of initiator concentration, solvent polarity, and temperature on the rate of polymerization

Abstract

The effects of three different variables (initiator concentration, polarity of the solvent and reaction temperature) on the rate of dispersion polymerization of styrene in alcohols have been investigated. It was found that the rate of polymerization increases with the initiator (AIBN) concentration at the 0% conversion level and becomes independent of it at higher monomer conversions. More significant was the result that the rate was also found to increase with solvent polarity. This is consistent with thermodynamic equilibrium calculations which account for the partitioning behavior of monomer and solvent in both the solution and the particle phases. The results further suggest the existence of two different kinetic regions: one at low conversions, where the reaction takes place primarily in the solution phase, and one at high conversions, where the reaction takes place primarily in the particle phase.