Batch and Semicontinuous Styrene-Butadiene Emulsion Copolymerization Reactions

In this work an experimental and simulation study of batch and semicontinuous styrene/butadiene emulsion copolymerization process was developed. The mathematical model combines the classical emulsion copolymerization equations, with mass balances, partitioning of components among all liquid phases, micellar and homogenous nucleation mechanisms and mass transfer equations between liquid and gaseous phases. Simulation results show good agreement with experimental measurements of conversion, average particle diameter and pressure.