Experimental investigation of free polymerization using mono e functional initiators

Author(s)

Cilene Meinberg Franco

• Document type: Master's Dissertation
• Press: Campinas, SP.
• Institution: Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP). Faculdade de Engenharia Química
• Defense date: 2006-09-15

Examining board members

Liliane Maria Ferrareso Lona; Pedro Carlos de Oliveira; Aline Carvalho da Costa

• Advisor: Liliane Maria Ferrareso Lona

Abstract

Monofunctional initiators are extensively utilized in free radical polymerization. In order to increase productivity, higher temperature or higher initial initiator concentration are used, therefore polymers with lower molecular weights are obtained. Bifunctional initiators increase the polymerization rate without decreasing the average molecular weight and this can be desirable. They are an important issue to be investigated and are of great interest to industries. The objective of this work is to analyze the effect of the functionality of the initiator, by using mono and bifunctional, in free radical polymerization, for linear polymer (poly styrene) and branched polymer (poly(vinyl acetate)). Polymerizations were experimentally performed in glass ampoules (bulk polymerization) using both mono(Luperox TBEC) and bi- (Luperox 531) functional initiators. The effects of temperature and initiator concentration were also analyzed for various polymerization conditions. This work includes a statistical study using the factorial design to analyze the effect of temperature and initiator concentration in styrene polymerization with bifunctional initiator. It is observed in this study, that high conversions with no effect in the molecular weigh of the dead polymer can be achieved using bifunctional initiators in the polymerization of styrene and vinyl acetate. In many cases, it is possible to obtain higher molecular weights. Bifunctional initiator can also be used to provide reduction costs to initiators. They showed better results than the monofunctional initiator when lower concentration or temperature lower were utilized. (AU)