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Simultaneous Controllability of PSD and MWD in Emulsion Polymerisation
Author(s) -
Sweetman Stephen J.,
Immanuel Charles D.,
Malik Tahir I.,
Emmett Simon,
Williams Neal
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
macromolecular reaction engineering
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.37
H-Index - 32
eISSN - 1862-8338
pISSN - 1862-832X
DOI - 10.1002/mren.200800016
Subject(s) - controllability , emulsion polymerization , operability , emulsion , chain transfer , biological system , monomer , sensitivity (control systems) , particle size distribution , materials science , particle size , computer science , chemical engineering , chemistry , mathematics , radical polymerization , composite material , engineering , polymer , software engineering , electronic engineering , biology
A sensitivity study of particle size distribution (PSD) and molecular weight distribution (MWD) responses to perturbations in initiator, surfactant, monomer and chain transfer agent in a semi‐batch emulsion polymerisation is presented. The objective is to provide a systematic study on the ability to simultaneously control both PSD and MWD, towards inferential control of end‐use product properties. This would lead towards identification of the practical feasible regions of operability. All inputs appeared to have an intrinsic and simultaneous influence on end‐time PSD and MWD. Trends shown in experimental results have been explained in a mechanistic sense and also compared to simulation results from a combined PSD/MWD population balance model. The preliminary comparison between experiment and simulation highlights areas to be focussed on with respect to model improvement.