Reduced Order Methodologies for the Control of Particle Size Distribution in Emulsion Polymerization
Author: Mustafa Tekin Dokucu
Publisher: ProQuest
Published: 2007
Total Pages: 354
ISBN-13: 9780549362760
DOWNLOAD EBOOKEmulsion polymerization has significant advantages over bulk and solution polymerization processes. These advantages result mostly from the multiphase and compartmentalized nature of the emulsion polymerization, delivering a high versatility to product qualities but adding to the complexity of the process. The control of the full particle-size distribution (PSD) in emulsion polymerization is vital for industrial applications where the target distributions are usually complex and/or multimodal. Despite the strong need, control of the full PSD presents a challenging task mainly due to the complexity of emulsion polymerization and the lack of adequate on-line measurement instrumentation. In this work, in-batch and batch-to-batch control strategies are developed for the regulation of the full PSD in semibatch emulsion copolymerization of Vinyl Acetate/Butyl Acrylate with nonionic surfactants and a redox initiator pair. These strategies are also applicable for regulation of distributions in other particulate systems governed by population balances.