On line Control of Emulsion Polymerization Reactors

ASUA, J.M.; SAENZ DE BURUAGA, I; AROTCARENA, M.; URRETABIZKAIA, A.; ARMITAGE, P.D.; GUGLIOTTA, L.M.; LEIZA, J.R.

Polymer Reaction Engineering

VCH

Lugar: Berlin; Año: 1995; p. 655 - 671

Two experimental setups and control strategies for on-line control of emulsion polymerization reactors are presented. The first uses an on-line gas chromatograph (GC). This installation is capable of handling latexes of high solids content (55%). Homogeneous VAc/MMA/BuA terpolymers were successfully obtained in this setup. However, on-line GC provides only infrequent and delayed measurements, and is an invasive measurement. Calorimetry can overcome these drawbacks, needing only temperature measurements on-line to calculate polymer conversion and composition, based on the heat evolved during the polymerization. For this purpose, a modified commercial reactor calorimeter was used. Based on the same control strategy developed for use with on-line GC based control, homogeneous copolymer of vinyl acetate-butyl acrylate of different compositions were produced.