Mathematical modeling of emulsion copolymerization regarding particle size distribution and average molecular weights

A mathematical model for the emulsion copolymerization of styrene and butyl acrylate in batch and semi-batch reactor was developed. The model included population balance for both average number of radicals per particle and particle size distribution and the method of moments was applied to obtain the weight-average and number-average molecular weight of the copolymer. The population balance equations were solved using the method of fixed pivots. Several experimental results available in the lit-erature were compared with model outputs presenting good agreement for monomer overall conversion, average particle diameter, number of particles per liter of latex, particle size distribution, number and weight-average molecular weight. (c) 2022 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Automated summary

A mathematical model for the emulsion copolymerization of styrene and butyl acrylate in batch and semi-batch reactor was developed, and the experimental results were compared with the model outputs.