Control of the Molecular Weight Distribution in Continuous Emulsion Polymerization in a Pulsed Sieve Plate Column

Abstract

Control of the molecular weight distribution in continuous emulsion polymerization in a pulsed sieve plate column (PSPC) is experimentally studied. A global model, based on the Mayo equation, incoporating catalyst partitioning and deactivation was used to quantitatively illustrate the effect of the COBF addition on the instantaneous degree of polymerization in a batch reactor and the PSPC. Operating conditions have a strong influence on the cumulative molecular weight distribution of the latex product produced in the PSPC.