Modeling and Control of a Continuous Bulk Polymerization for the Production of High-Impact Polystyrene

MEIRA, G. R.; ESTENOZ, D. A.; LUCIANI, C. V.

Rio de Janeiro, Brasil

Congreso; IUPAC World Polymer Congress Macro 2006; 2006

This work presents the more recent developments in our group, in relation with the mathematical modeling and control of the bulk process for the production of high-impact polystyrene (HIPS). Most of the published mathematical models (2-5) assume the process as homogeneous, and calculate the global molecular structure of the 3 polymeric components of HIPS (free PS, graft copolymer, and unreacted polybutadiene). A recently published model (6) assumed the polymerization as heterogeneous, but is still unable to calculating the particle morphology. Two models are currently being developed that for the first time estimate the evolution of the average particle morphology along a batch (7) and a continuous (8) prepolymerization. A continuous HIPS plant was also simulated (4, 5). Reference (5) estimates the evolution of the global molecular structure and the melt flow index of the final product. It was used to minimize the offspecs that are produced during changes of grade.