Bulk Polymerization of Butyl Acrylate in Co-rotating Twin Screw Extruders. Part II: Simulation of Reaction Operations

In regard to the radical polymerization of butyl acrylate (BA) in a self-wiping co-rotating twin screw extruder, a model of the reaction kinetics and design of the reaction operations were studied. The rate constant of the reaction (kp2/kt) was determined by tracing isothermal polymerizations using a differential scanning calorimeter (DSC). Based on these kinetic parameters and the tubular reactor model, a simulator was developed. The profiles of reaction conversion, concentration of initiator, temperature, kinetic chain length in the extruder were calculated by using the simulator. Finally, the consistency of these calculations was studied by comparing with experimental data from our early work.