Mechanisms and Conditions that Affect Phase Inversion Processes. The Case of High‐Impact Polystyrene

The phase inversion (PI) during the bulk polymerization ofthe styrene?polybutadiene system (high impact polystyrenemanufacturing process) is empirically and theoreticallystudied in this article. In the experimental work, a series ofreactions were performed with benzoyl peroxide as initiatorand at temperatures considered of industrial interest (80Cand 90C), varying also the reactor stirring level. PI wasdetermined by offline viscosity measurements and verifiedby scanning transmission electron microscopy. The rheologicalbehavior of each reacting system was analyzed andan empirical correlation to predict its apparent viscosityfrom fundamental reaction parameters was derived. Thiswas achieved successfully for both before and after the PIpoint.Fil: Maffi, Juan Martín. Instituto Tecnológico de Buenos Aires; ArgentinaFil: Casis, Natalia. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Santa Fe. Instituto de Desarrollo Tecnológico para la Industria Química. Universidad Nacional del Litoral. Instituto de Desarrollo Tecnológico para la Industria Química; ArgentinaFil: Acuña, Pablo. Centro de Investigacion En Quimica Aplicada, Saltillo; MéxicoFil: Morales, Graciela. Centro de Investigacion En Quimica Aplicada, Saltillo; MéxicoFil: Estenoz, Diana Alejandra. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Santa Fe. Instituto de Desarrollo Tecnológico para la Industria Química. Universidad Nacional del Litoral. Instituto de Desarrollo Tecnológico para la Industria Química; Argentin