The effect of radical desorption on the particle size distribution in vinyl acetate emulsion polymerization

Abstract

The effect of free radical desorption is studied by using a mathematical model of particle size distribution in continuous emulsion polymerization. By comparing the theoretical prediction with experimental data, the value of Do for the vinyl acetate (VAc) system is best chosen as 0.19 × 10−7 cm2/h. The effect of radical desorption as well as mean residence time on the absolute particle size distribution, total concentration of polymer particles, conversion, and average number of radicals per polymer particle are analyzed by the model proposed.