Bulk high-impact polystyrene process, 1 partitions of tert-butyl peroctoate and styrene in blends containing polystyrene and a rubber

• Published in: Macromolecular theory and simulations Vol. 16; no. 7; pp. 703 - 710
• Main Authors: LUCIANI, Carla V, ESTENOZ, Diana A, MEIRA, Gregorio R, GARCIA, Nancy L, OLIVA, Haydée M
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Weinheim Wiley 25.09.2007
• Subjects: Applied sciences; Exact sciences and technology; Organic polymers; Physicochemistry of polymers; Polymerization; Preparation, kinetics, thermodynamics, mechanism and catalysts; partition coefficients; Partition coefficient; Experimental study; Modeling; high-impact polystyrène; Radical catalyst; Free radical polymerization; phase separation; High impact styrene polymer; Butadiene polymer; heterogeneous polymers; Perester; Styrene; tert-butyl peroctoate; Phase partition; Monomer
• DOI: 10.1002/mats.200700036
• ISSN: 1022-1344

In relation to the bulk high‐impact polystyrene process, this work investigates the partition between phases of styrene and an initiator: tert‐ butyl peroctoate. A Flory‐Huggins model was applied for predicting the phase separation point and the partitions of styrene and tert‐ butyl peroctoate. For blends of styrene, polystyrene, and a styrene‐butadiene diblock copolymer, the model provides reasonable predictions of a ternary equilibrium diagram. For blends of styrene, polystyrene, polybutadiene, and tert‐ butyl peroctoate, the partition of tert‐ butyl peroctoate was measured at 25 °C. At emulated conversions of 13% or lower, equilibrium was reached after 1 h of mixing time. For the higher molar masses and conversion of 16%, equilibrium was not reached after 24 h of mixing time. To fit the equilibrium measurements, the solubility parameter of tert‐ butyl peroctoate was adjusted. magnified image