SCALE-UP STUDIES ON STYRENE BUTYL METHACRYLATE COPOLYMERIZATION REACTION

The scale-up of the radical-initiated copolymerization of styrene with butyl methacrylate is studied here. The reaction is scaled up from 3 to 100 L scale, The problems encountered during the scale-up are agglo meration, foaming, and material loss. The techniques employed to overc ome these problems are discussed in detail. Kinetic studies indicate t hat the reaction exhibits autoacceleration behaviour, with induction t ime varying with reactor size. The effects of initiator concentration and reactor size on the molecular weight and melt flow index of the fi nal sample are also studied.