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Control of free‐radical emulsion polymerization of methyl methacrylate by oxygen injection. I. Modeling study
Author(s) -
Louie Brian M.,
Chiu Wen Yen,
Soong David S.
Publication year - 1985
Publication title -
journal of applied polymer science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.575
H-Index - 166
eISSN - 1097-4628
pISSN - 0021-8995
DOI - 10.1002/app.1985.070300806
Subject(s) - emulsion polymerization , oxygen , polymer , methyl methacrylate , polymerization , monomer , radical polymerization , polymer chemistry , emulsion , kinetic chain length , penetration (warfare) , chemistry , bulk polymerization , limiting , chemical engineering , materials science , organic chemistry , operations research , engineering , mechanical engineering
Oxygen injection has been proposed as an effective control measure for limiting the rate of heat release and altering the rate of polymerization in emulsion processes. A detailed mathematical model is developed to describe the system behavior with and without oxygen injection. Because of the rapid penetration of dissolved oxygen into the polymer particles, growing radical chains are terminated prematurely, lowering product molecular weights. Moderate oxygen flows and moderate set point temperatures are found to give the optimal response without significant lowering of the final molecular weight.