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HOMOGENEOUS HETEROGENEOUS
SYSTEM SYSTEM
BULK SUSPENSION POLYMERIZATION
POLYMERIZATION
EMULSION POLYMERIZATION
SOLUTION
POLYMERIZATION
PRECIPITATION
POLYMERIZATION
polymer
not very reactants are usually
exothermic of low activity
Step-growth
polymerization
Solution
the viscosity
In solution polymerization, the monomer,
initiator, and resulting polymer are all soluble in
the solvent.
Solution polymerization may involve a simple
process in which a monomer, catalyst, and
solvent are stirred together to form a solution
that reacts without the need for heating or
cooling or any special handling.
On the other hand, elaborate equipment may
be required.
For example, a synthetic rubber process using a
coordination catalyst requires rigorous
exclusion of air (to less than 10 ppm); moisture;
carbon dioxide; and other catalyst deactivators
from the monomer, solvent, and any other
ingredient with which the catalyst will come in
contact before the reaction.
In addition, exclusion of air prevents the
tendency to form dangerous peroxides.
To avoid product contamination and
discoloration, materials of construction also
need to be selected with the greatest care.
Polymerization is performed in solution either
batchwise or continuously.
The batch may be mixed and held at a constant
temperature while running for a given time, or
for a time dictated by tests made during the
progress of the run.
A continuous reaction train, consists of a
number of reactors, usually up to about ten,
with the earlier ones overflowing into the next
and the later ones on level control, with
transfer from one to the next by pump.
As the reaction progresses, solution polymerization
generally involves a pronounced increase in
viscosity and evolution of heat.
The viscosity increase demands higher power and
stronger design for pumps and agitators.
The reactor design depends largely on how the
heat evolved is dissipated.
Reactors in solution polymerization service use
jackets; internal or external coils; evaporative
cooling with or without compression of the vapor
or simple reflux-cooling facilities, a pumped
recirculation loop through external heat exchanger;
and combinations of these.
ADVANTAGES OF SOLUTION POLYMERIZATION
The catalyst is not coated by polymer so that its
efficiency is sustained and removal of catalyst
residues from the polymer, when required, is
simplified.
Solution polymerization is one way of reducing the
heat transfer problems encountered in bulk
polymerization.
The solvent acts as an inert diluent, increasing
overall heat capacity without contributing to heat
generation.
By conducting the polymerization at the reflux
temperature of the reaction mass, the heat of
polymerization can be conveniently and efficiently
removed.
Furthermore, relative to bulk polymerization,
mixing is facilitated because the presence of the
solvent reduces the rate of increase of reaction
medium viscosity as the reaction progresses.
DRAWBACKS OF SOLUTION POLYMERIZATION