Using multiplicity to improve reactor performance and product quality in emulsion polymerization in continuous loop reactors

The emulsion copolymerization of vinyl acetate and Veova 10 in a continuous loop reactor was investigated finding that the system presents steady stat e multiplicity. It is shown how to take advantage of the reactor dynamics t o conduct the process in such a way that a pseudo steady state is reached i n which high polymerization rates at low temperatures and/or low initiator concentrations are obtained. These conditions allow to achieve high product ion rate of a high molecular weight polymer which yields high wet scrub res istance. If these conditions were implemented from the beginning of the pro cess, low conversions, and in some cases coagulation, would be obtained.