Journal of Polymer Science Part A: Polymer Chemistry, Vol.32, No.11, 2161-2168, 1994
Model Prediction of Batch Emulsion Copolymerization as a Function of Conversion - A Sensitivity Analysis
Recently a model has been developed capable of predicting absolute monomer concentrations and their ratios in the polymer, aqueous, and monomer droplet phases as a function of conversion in batch emulsion copolymerizations without using any adjustable parameters. In this article the sensitivity of model predictions of composition drift toward deviations of 10% in all model parameters (maximum swellabilities of monomer in the polymer phase, water solubilities, reactivity ratios, and monomer and polymer densities) was estimated using the monomer combination methyl methacrylate-styrene as an example. From the sensitivity analysis it can be concluded that the reactivity ratios are the most important parameters affecting composition drift. The effects of deviations in maximum swellabilities and monomer and polymer densities on composition drift can be neglected, while the water solubility is important only in those cases where the amount of monomer in the aqueous phase cannot be neglected as compared with the total monomer amount.
Keywords:FREE-RADICAL COPOLYMERIZATION;METHYL-METHACRYLATE;LATEX-PARTICLES;2 MONOMERS;PROPAGATION RATE;RATE CONSTANTS;STYRENE;KINETICS;THERMODYNAMICS