Mathematical Model for the Bulk Polymerization of Styrene Using Symmetrical Cyclic Multifunctional Initiator

EMILIO BERKENWALD; CECILIA SPIES; GRACIELA MORALES; DIANA ESTENOZ

Bogotá

Simposio; XIII Simposio Latinoamericano de Polímeros; 2012

Universidad Nacional de Colombia

This work experimentally and theoretically investigates the use of the symmetrical cyclic multifuncional initiators in the bulk polymerization of styrene (St). A mathematical model was developed in order to predict the evolution of the reacting chemical species and the produced molecular weights distributions (MWDs). The kinetic model includes chemical and thermal initiation, propagation, transfer to the monomer, termination by combination and re-initiation reactions. The experimental work consisted of a series of isothermal batch polymerizations at different temperatures, 120 and 130°C using the trifuncional cyclic initiator di-ethyl ketone triperoxide (DEKTP) with different concentrations: 0.005, 0.01 and 0.02 mol/L. The mathematical model was adjusted and validated using the experimental data. Theoretical predictions are in very good agreement with the experimental results. Also, an optimum DEKTP concentration was observed to achieve high polymerization rates and high molecular weights simultaneously. For polymerization temperatures of 120 -130°C the optimum DEKTP concentration was 0.01 mol/L.