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Keywords
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St/MMA copolymer, foaming dynamics, n-pentane, batch system, suspension polymerization
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Abstract
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In this work, styrene/methyl methacrylate (St/MMA) copolymer particles were synthesized
by suspension polymerization process with different copolymer compositions
to study the visual batch foaming dynamics. The visualization system consisted of the
self-sealing observation cell equipped to the pressure and temperature controller. The
synthesized copolymer particles were impregnated by n-pentane, followed by
recording of particle expansion. The cell structure of foams was studied by scanning
electron microscopy. The effect of different foaming conditions on the expansion
behavior of copolymers was examined. It was concluded that sorption pressure and
temperature have contradictory effects on the foaming ratio of the synthesized
copolymers at lower and higher sorption pressures, and the results were confirmed
with the foams’ cell structure. Furthermore, it was shown that, at different temperatures
and pressures, the expansion behavior change dramatically with increasing of
MMA content in the copolymer
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