Pseudo-Steady-State Polymerization Behavior

Semibatch emulsion polymerization [7-14] is an important process for the manufacture of latex products such as coatings, adhesives and synthetic 

Principles and Applications of Emulsion Polymerization, by Chomg-Shyan Chern Copyright 2008 by John Wiley Sons, Inc. 

Initial reactor charge water, surfactant, monomer, initiator 

Monomer addition Monomer, surfactant, initiator, water 

Wessling [9] studied the reaction kinetics of semibatch emulsion polymerization of relatively hydrophobic monomers such as styrene and derived the following expression for the rate of polymerization at pseudo-steady state (Rp)  

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The transient behavior of n was investigated by a number of studies (e.g., see references 13-16). However, the pseudo-steady-state assumption is generally accepted for the mole balance of free radicals in the polymerization system due to the very high reactivity and low concentration of free radicals. This approach can simplify the analysis of the emulsion polymerization kinetics and save computation time significantly. 

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