Heterogeneous Bulk Polymerization of Styrene in the presence of Polybutadiene. Calculation of the Macromolecular Structure

CASIS, N; ESTENOZ, D.A; GUGLIOTTA, L.M.; OLIVA, H; MEIRA, G.R.

JOURNAL OF APPLIED POLYMER SCIENCE

J. Wiley & Sons

Año: 2006 p. 3023 - 3039

0021-8995

A mathematical model is presented that simulates the polymerization of styrene in the presence of polybutadiene (PB) for producing high-impact polystyrene (HIPS) via the heterogeneous bulk process. The model follows the polymerization in two phases; and calculates in each phase the main reaction variables and the molecular structure of the 3 polymeric components: free polystyrene (PS), unreacted PB, and graft copolymer. Two polymerizations (at 90 °C and 120 °C) were carried out and simulated. The model was validated with measurements of the monomer conversion, the grafting efficiencies, and the average molecular weights.