Open AccessMathematical modeling of dispersion polymerizations study of the styrene polymerization in ethanol
Author(s) -
Pedro Henrique Hermes de Araújo,
José Carlos Pinto
Publication year - 2000
Publication title -
brazilian journal of chemical engineering/brazilian journal of chemical engineering
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.313
H-Index - 52
eISSN - 1678-4383
pISSN - 0104-6632
DOI - 10.1590/s0104-66322000000400003
Subject(s) - dispersity , polymerization , nucleation , polymer , materials science , dispersion (optics) , particle (ecology) , monomer , dispersion polymerization , styrene , population balance equation , kinetic chain length , polymer chemistry , bulk polymerization , chain growth polymerization , coagulation , chemical engineering , population , chemistry , radical polymerization , copolymer , organic chemistry , composite material , physics , optics , psychiatry , oceanography , sociology , engineering , psychology , demography , geology
A mathematical model for prediction of monomer conversion, of particle number and of the evolution of the particle size distribution (PSD) in dispersion polymerization is developed. Despite being completed very early during the polymerization process (monomer conversion <1%), nucleation of new particles is the most important factor affecting the PSD. In order to describe the particle nucleation phenomena, the mechanism of homogeneous coagulative nucleation is considered. According to this mechanism, polymer chain aggregates can either coagulate and grow, to give birth to new polymer particles (particle nucleation), or be captured by existing polymer particles. Two sets of population balance equations are used: one for the aggregates, and a second one for the stable polymer particles. It is shown that the model is able to describe the dispersion polymerization of styrene in ethanol and the formation of micron-size monodisperse polymer particles