Evaluation of heterophase polymerizations by means of reaction calorimetry

Reaction calorimetry is a powerful tool for systematic investigations of he terophase polymerizations. The heat flow-time or heat flow-conversion profi les clearly reflect any changes of the recipe components. Results of batch heterophase polymerizations are presented proving the dependence of the rea ction rate profiles on the water solubility of the monomers, on the presenc e of a chain transfer agent, on the type and concentration of the stabilize r and the initiator, respectively, and on the polymerization temperature. A complete mechanistic interpretation of this data collection is nowadays st ill impossible. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.