Potentials and Limitations of Automated Parallel Emulsion Polymerization

Abstract The application of automated parallel synthesizer robots for the investigation of polymerization processes is of major interest at present. In this contribution we describe the application of the emulsion polymerization of styrene and vinyl acetate. The preparations of emulsions and latexes were investigated in detail and compared to “conventional” stirred tank reactors. In particular the influence of the vortex mixing as well as the limitations regarding solid content and reactor fouling are addressed. magnified image