Emulsion polymerization of styrene. I. Review of experimental data and digital simulation

Abstract

AbstractIsothermal emulsion polymerization at 60°C of styrene in a batch reactor were studied by using sodium lauryl sulfate as surfactant and potassium persulfate as initiator source. The concentrations of surfactant and initiator were varied during the runs. The polymerization evolution was followed as samples were taken at regular intervals. These emulsion samples were analyzed for monomer conversion, rate of polymerization, as well as for the size and the size distribution of the particles. The molecular weight and molecular weight distribution were obtained by gel permeation chromatography. Our study showed that fresh nucleation takes place even at high conversion, causing a continuous shifting toward broadening of particle size distribution. Contrary to the theory of Smith and Ewart, which assumes a constant number of particles during interval II of the polymerization reaction, our digital simulation of the reaction presents better experimental results with a variable number of particles, and indicates that the Hui–Hamielec model for termination constant kt as function of conversion is not applicable under our working conditions.