Resumen

SANTOS, G. G. B. et al. Population balance equations for particle size distributions in semibatch emulsion polymerizations. Lat. Am. appl. res. [online]. 2006, vol.36, n.4, pp.269-275. ISSN 0327-0793.

In a previous work of this group, theoretical studies and stability measurements were performed in order to describe the particle coagulation provoked by electrolytes. The work of the current paper concerns the development of mathematical models based on the DLVO theory and on population balance equations (PBE), which involve highly complex integro-differential equations. This model includes particle coagulation, particle nucleation, the polymerization kinetics and monomer partitioning among the many phases of the system. The model ensured a proper description of butyl acrylate/methyl methacrylate emulsion copolymerizations reactions, and related phenomena such as coagulation and particle nucleation in the presence of large seed particles. These latter systems are very important to the multimodal latexes production. Finally, simulation studies were performed in order to test the model ability to follow the competitive growth of polymer particles during semibatch operations.

Palabras clave : Emulsion Polymerization; Particle Size Distribution; Population Balance Equations.

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