EXPERIMENTAL INVESTIGATION OF VINYL-CHLORIDE DROP BEHAVIOR DURING SUSPENSION POLYMERIZATION

The effects of some polymerization conditions on poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) particles produced by the suspension polymerization process were studied on a laboratory scale. The different stages of vinyl chloride suspension polymerization were investigated experimentally by using a n on-line sample withdrawal technique during reaction. It was found th at the method of addition of initiator has a great effect on the PVC p article uniformity as well as the size distribution. Furthermore, when the initiator was predispersed in the continuous phase, some latex pa rticles were formed. The effect of the type of stabilizer was also stu died with two different types of PVA [partially hydrolyzed poly(vinyl acetate)]. It was found that by changing the stabilizer, the particle size, the porosity, and the morphology could change. When H80 (PVA wit h a degree of hydrolysis of 80% and a molecular weight of 259,000) sta bilizer was used, the rigidity of the PVC particles was weak. (C) 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.