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The effect of flow regime on the continuous emulsion polymerization of styrene in a tubular reactor
Author(s) -
Rollin A. L.,
Patterson I.,
Bataille P.,
Huneault R.
Publication year - 1977
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.5450550514
Subject(s) - emulsion polymerization , styrene , laminar flow , emulsion , polymerization , agitator , materials science , isothermal process , volumetric flow rate , polymer chemistry , laminar flow reactor , chemical engineering , turbulence , chemistry , thermodynamics , polymer , copolymer , organic chemistry , composite material , open channel flow , viscosity , physics , engineering
Five isothermal emulsion polymerizations of styrene in a tubular reactor were studied experimentally using an emulsifier concentration in the vicinity of the critical micelle concentration (CMC). The flow regime was characterized by an emulsion Reynolds Number (N Re ) e calculated using the emulsion properties prior to any appreciable reaction. It was found that the rate of polymerization was a maximum at the laminar‐turbulent transition based on (N Re ) e . This behavior is similar to emulsion polymerizations carried out in batch reactors where a maximum rate of polymerization has been observed when the agitation level (agitator rotation rate) is varied. The controlling mechanisms appear to be similar at high agitation levels but differ when the emulsion is weakly agitated.