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Feasibility of Tubular Microreactors for Emulsion Polymerization
Author(s) -
Yadav Arvind Kumar,
de la Cal José Carlos,
Barandiaran María Jesús
Publication year - 2011
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.201000030
Subject(s) - microreactor , emulsion , emulsion polymerization , polymerization , chemical engineering , polymer , continuous reactor , materials science , dispersion (optics) , diffusion , mixing (physics) , chemistry , organic chemistry , thermodynamics , catalysis , composite material , physics , optics , engineering , quantum mechanics
The viability of a tubular microreactor for the production of polymer dispersions by emulsion polymerization was investigated. The reactor setup and operational conditions necessary to reach a very stable reactor operation were determined. It was found that stability of pre‐emulsion plays a very important role in achieving steady‐state performance. Further, the flow pattern of the microreactor was characterized, observing that the dispersion model can be used because of the effect of the radial molecular diffusion. Finally, a comparative study of the styrene emulsion polymerization in microreactor and batch laboratory reactor was performed. Similar kinetics and properties were achieved, indicating enough mixing in the microreactor.