Free Radical Polymerization of Vinyl Toluene at High Temperature

An experimental investigation and a kinetic model of the bulk thermal polymerization of vinyl toluene are presented. The experiments were conducted through temperature range 160 – 200 °C and full conversion range. In this study, conversion/time curves were procured using stainless steel ampoule reactors and by gravimetrically and molecularweight average and molecular weight distribution were measured by gel permeation chromatography (GPC). Akinetic model with third order initiation gives a satisfactory fit of experimental data. The model allows the descriptionof the conversion, molecular weight averages and molecular weight distribution. Result shows, the model can be simulated of polyvinyl toluene reactors in high temperature and high conversions

Keywords:

Vinyl toluene , bulk thermal polymerization , kinetic investigation , high temperature , modeling , high conversions