The effect of different catalytic chain transfer agents on particle nucleation and the course of the polymerization in ab initio batch emulsion polymerization of methyl methacrylate |
| |
| Authors: | Niels M. B. Smeets Tom G. T. Jansen Timo J. J. Sciarone Johan P. A. Heuts Jan Meuldijk Alex M. Van Herk |
| |
| Affiliation: | 1. Process Development Group, Department of Chemical Engineering and Chemistry, Eindhoven University of Technology, P.O. Box 513, 5600 MB Eindhoven, The Netherlands;2. Laboratory of Polymer Chemistry, Department of Chemical Engineering and Chemistry, Eindhoven University of Technology, P.O. Box 513, 5600 MB Eindhoven, The Netherlands |
| |
| Abstract: | The effect a Co(II) based catalytic chain transfer agent (CCTA) has on the course of the polymerization and the product properties of an emulsion polymerization is governed by the intrinsic activity and the partitioning behavior of the catalyst. The effect on the conversion time history, the molecular weight distribution and the particle size distribution is evaluated in batch emulsion polymerization of methyl methacrylate for three different CCTAs, which cover a range of intrinsic activities and partitioning behaviors. It was demonstrated that radical desorption from the particle phase to the aqueous phase preceded by chain transfer is the main kinetic event controlling the course of the polymerization and the product properties in terms of the particle size distribution. The experimental results show that the aqueous phase solubility of the CCTA is the key parameter controlling the course of the polymerization and the particle size distribution. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 48: 1038–1048, 2010 |
| |
| Keywords: | catalytic chain transfer emulsion polymerization molecular weight distribution/molar mass distribution polymerization kinetics particle size distribution |
|
|
