Experimental investigation of vinyl chloride polymerization at high conversion: semi-batch reactor modelling

A comprehensive semi-batch reactor model for suspension polymerization of vinyl chloride at high conversions has been developed. A series of kinetic experiments covering different pressure levels was carried out in a semi-batch process. The present model is in excellent agreement with the experimental data including monomer consumption, conversion history and accumulated number- and weight-average molecular weights and molecular weight distribution. The present model combined with our previous batch reactor model can be used to predict monomer feed rate, accumulated monomer consumption, polymerization rate, conversion history, reactor pressure, instantaneous and accumulated molecular weight averages and distribution and other kinetic features. The advantages of a semi-batch process operated at the vapour pressure of vinyl chloride include increased productivity, narrower molecular weight distributions and increased thermal stability of poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) compared with a batch process taken to high conversions.