Open AccessSimulation and Optimization of Polystyrene Free Radical Polymerization Process
Author(s) -
Wangbin Chen,
Pengfei Zhao,
Xiaorong Wang
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
iop conference series. earth and environmental science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.179
H-Index - 26
eISSN - 1755-1307
pISSN - 1755-1315
DOI - 10.1088/1755-1315/358/3/032042
Subject(s) - polystyrene , chain transfer , dispersity , polymerization , styrene , polymer chemistry , kinetic chain length , radical polymerization , ethylbenzene , monomer , living polymerization , molar mass distribution , bulk polymerization , polymer , materials science , degree of polymerization , chemical engineering , chemistry , copolymer , organic chemistry , toluene , composite material , engineering
A model for bulk polymerization of styrene was established by using the POLYMER module of ASPEN PLUS. The effects of the chain initiator (TBP), solvent (ethylbenzene) and the chain transfer agent (DDM) on the yield, number average degree of polymerization(DPN), weight average degree of polymerization(DPW), number average molecular weight(Mn), weight average molecular weight(Mw) and the polydispersity index(PDI) of polystyrene were investigated. Through the analysis, we can first consider the amount of styrene to obtain roughly the parameters of the polystyrene process. As the use of initiator in polymerization has the optimal value, we must strictly control the amount of TBP according to the amount of monomer styrene, and adjust the amount of chain transfer agent to control the product quality accurately.