Key words: supercritical state, high-purity polystyrene, thermal polymerization
The possibility and conditions of frontal (thermal) polymerization of styrene in the conditions of the transition of its mixture with carbon dioxide into supercritical state is studied. The experimental procedure is developed and parameters (temperature and pressure) of such transition at different styrene-to-СO2 ratios are determined. The numerical study of a mathematical model of thermal polymerization of styrene in a tubular reactor is performed. The distributions of temperatures and concentrations along the reactor corresponding to the transition of the styrene — carbon dioxide mixture to the supercritical state are calculated.
doi:10.1134/S1990793111070116