Morton-Flory-Huggins equation

Morton-Flory-Huggins equation [21] being the most commonly applied. For a multimonomer system, the parameters of the Morton-Flory-Huggins are not usually available, and it has been sho vn [22] that for solids contents typical of commercial latexes (> 50 wt.%) the use of the Morton-Flory-Huggins equation does not provide significant advantages over the use of partition coefficients. In the latter case, the system of algebraic equations (5) and (6) needs to be solved, where K. is the partition coefficient of monomer i between phase j and the aqueous phase, (fij the volume fraction of monomer i in phase j, rf) the volume fraction of water in the aqueous phase, volume fraction of polymer in the polymer particles, Vy the volume of polymer particles, Vj the volume of monomer droplets, the volume of the aqueous phase, and V, and W are the volumes of monomer i, polymer, and water, respectively. 

The fourth factor determining polymerization rate is the monomer concentration in the particles. For some monomers the ratio of monomer to polymer in the particles is about constant during part of the polymerization. Smith (57) suggested that this results from a balance between the eflFect on the monomer activity of the dissolved polymer and the eflFect of interfacial tension of the very small particles. This equilibrium was put in a quantitative form by Morton, Kaizerman, and Altier (44), who derived the following equation by combining an expression for the interfacial free energy of the particle with the Flory-Huggins equation for the activity of the solvent (monomer) in the monomer-polymer particle. 

For a multimonomer system, the calculation of the concentrations of the monomers in the different phases involves the simultaneous resolution of the thermodynamic equilibrium equations and the material balance equations. Equilibrium equations based on the Morton-Flory-Huggins (MFH) equation" or on partition coeffidents" " can be used. For a multimonomer system, the interaaion parameters of the MFH equation are not usually available therefore, the use of the partition coefficients is easier and as accurate as the MFH equations at high solids content (>50wt.%). In the case partition coeffidents are used, the following system of algebraic equations must be solved (eqns [4] and (5]) ... 

The simplest description of swelling is based on equilibrium thermodynamics (Equation 25.21), and considers as the driving force the affinity of the monomer to the polymer via the Flory-Huggins theory of polymer solutions and as counteracting contribution the increase in the interfacial free energy due to the growth of swelling particles. Equation 25.21 was derived by Morton-Kaizerman-Altier (MKA equation) over 50 years ago [22, 23] ... 

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