Bulk Continuous Process for the Production of High Impact Polystyrene. New Developments on Mathematical Modeling and Optimization

CECILIA SPIES; EMILIO BERKENWALD; GREGORIO MEIRA; DIANA ESTENOZ

Florianópolis

Congreso; 12° Congresso Brasileiro de Polímeros, CBPol 2013; 2013

Univ. Fed. de Santa Catarina

A mathematical model for the industrial continuous production of high impact polystyrene (HIPS) is presented. The model is an extension of our previous publication [1] and allows the prediction of the different variables along the reactor train (molecular structure, conversion, grafting efficiency), and the melt flow index and swelling index of the final product. The simulations were used to study the performance of different initiators and mixtures, to evaluate the effect of process variables on the material properties, and to optimize the steady state operation.