Premium
A new PDMS macromonomer stabilizer for dispersion polymerization of styrene in supercritical carbon dioxide
Author(s) -
Wang Ruolei,
Cheung H. Michael
Publication year - 2004
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.20476
Subject(s) - dispersion polymerization , macromonomer , styrene , materials science , polymerization , polystyrene , polymer chemistry , supercritical fluid , supercritical carbon dioxide , radical polymerization , stabilizer (aeronautics) , chemical engineering , copolymer , chemistry , polymer , organic chemistry , composite material , engineering , mechanical engineering
Free radical polymerization of styrene in supercritical CO 2 requires addition of a surfactant to produce polystyrene (PS) in high conversion and molecular weight with well‐defined particle sizes. In this work, we examined a new stabilizer that can provide effective stabilization for the polymerization of styrene. A commercially available poly(dimethylsiloxane) macromonomer has been employed as a stabilizer for dispersion polymerization of PS in scCO 2 . The reactions were conducted in a 225‐mL stainless steel autoclave over the temperature range 60–80°C and under pressures of 1,500 to 3,000 psi. After 2–12 h of polymerization, the conversion determined by gravimetrical method was between 20 and 80%. These preliminary results suggest that this macromonomer offers satisfactory stabilization for the styrene system. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 93: 545–549, 2004