Modeling and simulation of equal density seeded emulsion polymerization of styrene

Equal density polymerization concept was proposed to simulate a micro-gravity environment based on a semi-continuous monomer addition process. A general model for this particular process was derived to calculate the specific monomer addition rate. Dynamic monomer feeding rates for an equal density condition were obtained with different reaction temperatures, initial sizes of seed particles, and initiator concentrations. The average number of radicals per particle was calculated by pseudo-bulk kinetics equation proposed by R. G. Gilbert et al. (1995) in both batch and semi-continuous conditions. A generalized dynamic feeding equation was derived to maintain an equal density condition by using a simple relationship concerning the volume fraction of monomer in growing polymer particles.