THE INVESTIGATION OF POLYMERIZATION REACTIONS IN-SITU USING FT-RAMAN SPECTROSCOPY

The specifications of a cell capable of operating inside the sample ar ea of a standard FT-Raman spectrometer and of holding large volumes of reactants, whilst maintaining them accurately at a constant high temp erature are discussed. Two polymerisation reactions, the emulsion poly merisation of vinyl acetate and the homopolymerisation of styrene in b enzene, are described. The results are analysed using a variety of che mometric packages. The results are compared to literature values to pr ovide an indication of the effectiveness of the novel cell. (C) 1997 E lsevier Science B.V.