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Production of polystyrene particles via aerosolization
Author(s) -
Norasetthekul Somchintana,
Gadalla Ahmed M.,
Ploehn Harry J.
Publication year - 1995
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.1995.070581122
Subject(s) - polystyrene , coalescence (physics) , materials science , chemical engineering , scanning electron microscope , polymer , particle size , amorphous solid , particle (ecology) , solvent , analytical chemistry (journal) , polymer chemistry , chemistry , composite material , chromatography , organic chemistry , physics , oceanography , astrobiology , engineering , geology
Abstract Aerosolization of polystyrene solutions followed by drying in a tubular furnace produced submicron‐sized polystyrene particles. Characterization using x‐ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and infrared spectroscopy (FT‐IR) revealed that the particles were amorphous, spherical, and free of residual solvent. The average particle size and size distribution varied with furnace temperature, the initial polystyrene solution concentration, and solvent type. The particles' BET‐based specific surface area depended upon these parameters as well as the carrier gas flow rate. Analysis of the competing rates of convection, solvent evaporation, droplet collisions, and polymer diffusion help to rationalize the results. The dependence of the solvent evaporation rate on temperature controls the particle diameter, but droplet coalescence cannot be ignored. Long residence times and high furnace temperatures softened the particles; after filtration, polymer diffusion between solid particles produced visual evidence of partial coalescence. © 1995 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.