Hydrodynamic Activation of the Batch-Polymerization of Methyl methacrylate in a Taylor-Couette Reactor |
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Authors: | Zhen Liu Roland Kádár Matthias Kind |
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Institution: | 1. Institut für Thermische Verfahrenstechnik, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), Kaiserstr. 12, 76131 Karlsruhe, Germany;2. REOROM Laboratory, Hydraulics Department, Politehnica University of Bucharest, Splaiul Independentei 313, 060042 Bucharest, Romania |
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Abstract: | Summary: In this work, the free radical batch polymerization of methyl methacrylate (MMA) premixed with xylene as a solvent, in the presence of an initiator, 2,2-azoisobutyronitrile (AIBN), in the Taylor-Couette reactor was studied. We observed an unexpected influence of hydrodynamic process parameters, i.e. angular velocity ω, on the polymer conversion, molecular weight and viscosity of the produced polymer. The polymerization process seems to be activated by hydrodynamic process parameters. Hydrodynamic activation is a promoting effect of process parameters on polymer product properties. The hydrodynamic activation is found to depend on the reaction time and the angular velocity of the inner cylinder. In addition, our results highlight both the reaction kinetics and the hydrodynamics during the polymerization. The conversion exhibits a significant difference between tests with and without the angular velocity of the inner cylinder. The conversion and the molecular weight strongly increase with the increase of the angular velocity of the inner cylinder, whereas the viscosity is less strongly dependent. There is more increase with decreasing solvent concentration. The radial Reynolds number decreases with increasing conversion. The polymerization is faster with a low solvent concentration, and the molecular weight is higher compared to the case of high solvent concentration. |
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Keywords: | batch polymerization hydrodynamic activation methyl methacrylate (MMA) solution polymerization Taylor-Couette reactor |
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