Molecular weight emulsion

Emulsion Process. The emulsion polymerization process utilizes water as a continuous phase with the reactants suspended as microscopic particles. This low viscosity system allows facile mixing and heat transfer for control purposes. An emulsifier is generally employed to stabilize the water insoluble monomers and other reactants, and to prevent reactor fouling. With SAN the system is composed of water, monomers, chain-transfer agents for molecular weight control, emulsifiers, and initiators. Both batch and semibatch processes are employed. Copolymerization is normally carried out at 60 to 100°C to conversions of - 97%. Lower temperature polymerization can be achieved with redox-initiator systems (51). 

Aqueous emulsion polymerization is carried out using a fluorinated emulsifier, a chain-transfer agent to control molecular weight, and dispersion stabilizers such as manganic acid salts and ammonium oxalate (13,14). 

The synthesis of the high molecular weight polymer from chlorotrifluoroethylene [79-38-9] has been carried out in bulk (2 >—21 solution (28—30), suspension (31—36), and emulsion (37—41) polymerisation systems using free-radical initiators, uv, and gamma radiation. Emulsion and suspension polymers are more thermally stable than bulk-produced polymers. Polymerisations can be carried out in glass or stainless steel agitated reactors under conditions (pressure 0.34—1.03 MPa (50—150 psi) and temperature 21—53°C) that require no unique equipment. 

Kinetics and Mechanisms. Early researchers misunderstood the fast reaction rates and high molecular weights of emulsion polymerization (11). In 1945 the first recognized quaHtative theory of emulsion polymerization was presented (12). This mechanism for classic emulsion preparation was quantified (13) and the polymerization separated into three stages. 

Cha.in-Tra.nsferAgents. The most commonly employed chain-transfer agents ia emulsion polymerisation are mercaptans, disulfides, carbon tetrabromide, and carbon tetrachloride. They are added to control the molecular weight of a polymer, by transferring a propagating radical to the chain transfer agent AX (63) ... 

The vast majority of commercial apphcations of methacryhc acid and its esters stem from their facile free-radical polymerizabiUty (see Initiators, FREE-RADICAl). Solution, suspension, emulsion, and bulk polymerizations have been used to advantage. Although of much less commercial importance, anionic polymerizations of methacrylates have also been extensively studied. Strictiy anhydrous reaction conditions at low temperatures are required to yield high molecular weight polymers in anionic polymerization. Side reactions of the propagating anion at the ester carbonyl are difficult to avoid and lead to polymer branching and inactivation (38—44). 

Emulsion polymeriza tion of ABS (241) gives a mbber-phase particle morphology which is mostly deterrnined by the mbbet-seed latex. Since the mbber particle size, polydispersity, and cross-linking ate estabhshed before the preparation, the main variables relate to grafting, molecular weight... 

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