Free radical polymerization engineering—II: Modeling of homogeneous polymerization of styrene in a batch reactor, influence of initiator

✍ Scribed by Louis Blavier; Jacques Villermaux

• Publisher: Elsevier Science
• Year: 1984
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 596 KB
• Volume: 39
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0009-2509
• DOI: 10.1016/0009-2509(84)80134-7

✦ Synopsis

A "tendency" model of free radical polymerization is used to re-investigate batch polymerization of styrene in solution in cyclohexane with slow and fast decomposing initiators. It is impossible to account for experimental data when a conventional mechanism involving only transfer to the monomer is assumed. In order to sucessfully represent monomer consumption and average molecular weights by number and by weight as a function of time for both initiators, two additional processes are required, i.e. transfer to and induced decomposition of the initiator (if transfer sites are available). The coresponding set of rate constants was determined. When a fast initiator is used, this polymerization is sensitive to mixing effects and could be utilized as a test reaction in polymer reactors. The elucidation of the role of the -initiator is a good example of the usefulness of the "tendency" model for studying complex polymerization mechanisms.