Laboratory for Chemical Technology, Ghent University, Krijgslaan 281 (S5), B‐9000 Gent, Belgium
Abstract:
The importance of radical transfer between the reactive phases in precipitation polymerization processes is investigated with the vinyl chloride suspension polymerization as an example. A two‐film model that accounts for a mass transfer resistance in both the monomer‐rich and the polymer‐rich phase is constructed and applied. Equilibrium is assumed at the interphase boundary. Based on model calculations using intrinsic rate coefficients obtained by regression to experimental data the effect of accounting for radical transfer between the reactive phases on the simulated monomer conversion and total moments of the molar mass distribution is demonstrated. It is found that the effect of radical transfer between the reactive phases is most pronounced at low polymerization temperatures.