EMULSION POLYMERIZATION - PARTICLE GROWTH-KINETICS

An attempt to develop a predictive and manageable mathematical model f or particle growth in emulsion homopolymerization was carried out by f itting the time evolution of the conversion in the chemically initiate d seeded emulsion polymerization of styrene carried out under a wide r ange of experimental conditions with models of different complexity. M odel discrimination based on the best fitting of the experimental data was carried out. No advantage was gained by increasing the complexity of the mathematical model. The dependence of the radical entry and ex it rate parameters on the particle size was used to elucidate between the different mechanisms proposed for these processes. Copyright (C) 1 996 Elsevier Science Ltd.