Inclusion of Gas in the Polymer Particles in Suspension Polymerization of Styrene

Abstract

Suspension polymerization of styrene was performed under such operating conditions that gas was vigorously entrained from the free liquid surface. After the completion of polymerization, the volume of gas included into the polymer particles was measured. The relationship between the included gas volume and the operating conditions was investigated. With increasing impeller speed, the volume of gas included decreased, became minimal at an impeller speed of 22 s^-1, and then increased. Moreover, it was found that the larger the polymer beads were, the more gas they included.