Experimental investigation of vinyl chloride polymerization at high conversion: mechanism, kinetics and modelling

The mechanism of vinyl chloride (VCM) polymerization is discussed in detail from both a chemical and a physical point of view. A comprehensive kinetic model for VCM bulk/suspension polymerization is developed based on all of the important elementary reactions for two-phase polymerization. A series of kinetic experiments covering an extensive temperature range with different initiator systems was carried out in an agitated 51 batch reactor. …