FLUID DYNAMICS OF THE PHASE INVERSION PROCESS IN THE BULK POLYMERIZATION OF HIGH IMPACT POLYSTYRENE

MAFFI, J. M.; ESTENOZ, D.

Bahía Blanca

Congreso; XIV Simposio Argentino de Polímeros; 2021

The mechanism of the phase inversion (PI) process that occurs during the bulk polymerization of High Impact Polystyrene (HIPS) is studied in this work. Transmission electron micrographs (TEM) along the reaction were obtained for different operating conditions, varying initiator concentration, temperature, and stirring speed. Particle size distributions were retrieved from such micrographs and were compared to theoretical predictions, resulting from a population balance model, coupled with a heterogeneous polymerization module. The evolution of particle growth, break-up and coalescence is discussed to assess the breakage/coalescence imbalance that is thought to occur at the inversion point. Results indicate that a different criterion for PI seems to be needed in this system.