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Emulsion polymerization of vinylidene fluoride: Effects of mixing and reaction conditions on the initial rate of polymerization
Author(s) -
Ecoscia Ana Carolina M.,
SheibatOthman Nida,
McKenna Timothy F. L.
Publication year - 2022
Publication title -
the canadian journal of chemical engineering
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.404
H-Index - 67
eISSN - 1939-019X
pISSN - 0008-4034
DOI - 10.1002/cjce.24145
Subject(s) - polymerization , emulsion polymerization , nucleation , materials science , chain transfer , precipitation polymerization , coagulation , mixing (physics) , polymer chemistry , chemical engineering , bulk polymerization , reaction rate , chemistry , radical polymerization , polymer , organic chemistry , catalysis , composite material , psychology , physics , quantum mechanics , psychiatry , engineering
In order to contribute to a better understanding of the emulsion polymerization of vinylidene fluoride (VDF), an experimental study under conditions of temperature and pressure similar to those found in industrial processes was carried out. It is shown that the initial rate of polymerization is strongly influenced by the agitation of the reactor, with the rate of reaction increasing as the rate of agitation increases. In addition, using a more efficient impeller also increases the polymerization. It is proposed that this is due to mass transfer limitations. This idea is confirmed by a similar dependence of the average molecular weight on agitation. Experimental data also shows that particles are formed by homogeneous coagulative nucleation. It is proposed that particle nucleation occurs throughout the polymerization, and that a competition between controlled coagulation and particle generation governs the rate of reaction.