APPARATUS FOR THE CONTINUOUS PRODUCTION OF CHEMICAL REACTIONS, PARTICULARLY POLYMERIZATION

An apparatus for carrying out chemical reactions in a continuous manner particularly polymerizations, comprising a substantially axially symmetrical central reaction chamber containing a plurality of vertically spaced substantially axially symmetrical separators dividing said central reaction chamber into a plurality of compartments, a rotatable chart extending perpendicularly to said separators through each of said separators adopted to mount agitator blades thereon for each of said plurality of compartments, means to rotate said rotatable shaft, openings in said separators adopted to allow a restrictad flow of liquid between said plurality of compartments, .epsilon. plurality of ring-shaped conduits, each in communication with one of said plurality or compartments by two unrestricted openings therein, and openings in the topmost and bottommost of said plurality of compartments and in said ring-shaped conduits adapted to receive and dispense fluids; as well as a method of continuous suspension polymerization of vinyl monomers in the presence of water and an oil-soluble freeradical polymerization catalyst utilizing the said apparatus.