Experimental investigation of vinyl chloride polymerization at high conversion: molecular-weight development

A comprehensive model for molecular-weight development during the suspension polymerization of vinyl chloride has been developed. The poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) was characterized by low-angle laser light scattering (LALLS) and gel permeation chromatography calibrated using the results of LALLS measurements. Kinetic parameters were estimated using accumulated molecular weights measured at different conversions and polymerization temperatures. …