Abstract
A frequency-dependent electrical monitoring technique was developed for characterizing emulsion polymerization online. High resolution electrical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) was conducted to study emulsion polymerization of styrene in terms of the key process parameters. Relationships between EIS data and process and product attributes such as monomer conversion and particle size were investigated. Electrical impedance values were measured at frequencies ranging from 1 Hz to 100 kHz. EIS parameters revealed changes in emulsion properties with time for both aqueous and organic phases during polymerization. At relatively higher frequencies (≥1 kHz) EIS data were found to be dominated by events in the continuous phase showing transitions in polymerization rates and intervals, while changes in monomer droplet and polymer particle sizes were dominant at lower frequencies (1 Hz). The EIS data were found to correlate well with polymerization rate, monomer conversion and particle size profiles at the appropriate frequencies in real time. © 2014 Society of Chemical Industry
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