Batch Emulsion Polymerization of Vinyl Chloride: Effect of Operating Variables on Reactor Performance

Abstract

We analyze experimentally the effect of several operating conditions on conversion and molecular weight distributions of PVC obtained in batch emulsion polymerization. The operating variables studied were reaction temperature, water/monomer weight ratio, and the concentrations of initiator, emulsifier, pH regulating agent and inhibitor. We found that conversion increases with temperature and initiator concentration. It also increases with emulsifier concentration, but there is an asymptotic limit to that increase. There is an optimal water/monomer weight ratio at which the reaction rate is highest, and an optimal pH regulating agent concentration that optimizes latex quality. Average molecular weights tend to decrease slightly with conversion.