Modeling of a Buss-Kneader as a polymerization reactor for acrylates. Part II: Methyl methacrylate based resins

The Buss-Kneader has proven to be a suitable reactor for the polymerization of acrylates. In this second part, the polymerization of methyl methacrylate and the ter- polymerization of methyl methacrylate (MMA), hydroxyethyl methacrylate and n-butylmethacrylate is carried out in a pilot Buss-Kneader. The reactor had to be pressurized up to about 10 bars to avoid evaporation of MMA. Instabilities in output rate and temperature profiles were observed as a result of fluctuating the pressures. Because of good mixing there may be no diffusion limitation for radicals. As a result, even at high conversions, no gel effect was observed.