F. Lerner et S. Nemet, Effects of poly(vinyl acetate) suspending agents on suspension polymerisation of vinyl chloride monomer, PLAS RUB C, 28(3), 1999, pp. 100-104
When partially hydrolysed poly(vinyl acetate) (PVAc) is used as a suspendin
g agent in the suspension polymerisation of vinyl chloride monomer, it has
significant effects on the morphology of the resulting poly(vinyl chloride)
(PVC) particles. At the initial step of polymerisation, PVC molecules are
grafted onto the molecules of the suspending agent forming a PVC-PVAc membr
ane. The properties of this membrane depend on the type of suspending agent
, the polymerisation temperature, the mixing efficiency, and other factors.
The morphology of the growing PVC particles and the properties of the PVC
resin obtained depend in turn on the characteristics of the membrane. A mod
el has been developed relating to the connection between the polymerisation
conditions and the characteristics of the suspending agent on one hand, an
d on the PVC properties on the other hand. The model is based on an analysi
s of the characteristics of the PVC-PVAc membrane and their effect on PVC p
roperties. PRC/1559 (C) 1999 IoM Communications Ltd.