Influence of reaction operation conditions on the final properties of high impact polystyrene (hips)

The main objective of the present work is to analyze the influence of some important operational reaction parameters (agitation speed, polybutadiene - PB - content and initiator concentration) on the final properties of High Impact Polystyrene (HIPS) produced in bulk. Variable effects are analyzed both qualitatively and quantitatively with the help of a fractional factorial design. Physical, chemical and mechanical properties were evaluated through measurement of the weight-average molecular weight (Mw), polydispersity (PD), volume-average diameter of PB particles (D(4,3)) and impact strength (Izod). It was found that PD and D(4,3) depend strongly on the initiator concentration, rubber concentration and agitation speed; Mw depends on initiator and rubber concentrations; and Izod depends on the rubber concentration, PD and D(4,3) in the analyzed experimental range. As a consequence, it was shown that control of final polymer properties can be easily performed through proper manipulation of the analyzed operational variables.

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Cunha,F. R., Costa,J. M., Nele,M., Folly,R. O. M., Souza Jr.,M. B., Pinto,J. C.
Format: Digital revista
Language:English
Published: Brazilian Society of Chemical Engineering 2013
Online Access:http://old.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S0104-66322013000300015
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!