Mathematical Model of the Bulk Copolymerization of Styrene and acrylonitrile in the Presence of Poly(Styrene-b-Butadiene)

Abstract

The bulk copolymerization of styrene and acrylonitrile in the presence of SB using BPO as initiator was investigated. Reactions were carried out at 80 8C with different initial SB concentrations. Global variables, such as conversion and cumulative grafting efficiency of SAN, were determined during the prepolymerization. The isolated non-grafted SAN was also analyzed to determine its average molar masses and composition. A mathematical model was developed, and theoretical predictions were compared with experimental data. A good agreement between measurements and simulations was obtained from a heterogeneous model when BPO was evenly distributed between phases.