Continuous emulsion polymerization of styrene in a single Couette-Taylor vortex flow reactor

Wei, X Takahashi, H Sato, S Nomura, M

X. Wei et al., Continuous emulsion polymerization of styrene in a single Couette-Taylor vortex flow reactor, J APPL POLY, 80(11), 2001, pp. 1931-1942

25

INGLESE

Article

Organic Chemistry/Polymer Science","Material Science & Engineering

JOURNAL OF APPLIED POLYMER SCIENCE

0021-8995 → ACNP

80

11

2001

1931 - 1942

ISI

0021-8995(20010613)80:11<1931:CEPOSI>2.0.ZU;2-A

The effect of the geometrical and operational parameters on the mixing char acteristics of a Couette-Tayior vortex flow reactor (CTVFR) were investigat ed and were correlated with the same parameters by using the tank-in-series model. Continuous emulsion polymerization of styrene was conducted at 50 d egreesC in a CTVFR to clarify the effects on kinetic behavior and reactor p erformance of operational parameters such as rotational speed of inner cyli nder (Taylor number), reactor mean residence time, and emulsifier and initi ator concentrations in the feed streams. It was found that steady-state mon omer conversion and particle number could be freely varied only by varying the Taylor number. In order to explain the observed kinetic behavior of thi s polymerization system, a mathematical model was developed by combining th e empirical correlation of the mixing characteristics of a CTVFR and a prev iously proposed kinetic model for the continuous emulsion polymerization of styrene in continuous stirred tank reactors connected in series (CSTRs). O n the basis of these experimental results, it was concluded that a CTVFR is suitable for the first reactor (prereactor) of a continuous emulsion polym erization reactor system. (C) 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.