The advantages of flow chemistry are numerous, including increased kinetics, safer reactions, enhanced heat transfer, and scalability. Herein, we describe our attempts to polymerize methyl methacrylate and styrene in flow. A novel droplet generator is used to produce emulsions of the monomers or monomer solution which are then flowed into a reactor made of PFA tubing where they undergo polymerization, either thermally or photochemically, to afford the desired polymeric products. The reactor setup and experimental conditions are detailed in addition to characterization of the isolated products.

Emulsion polymerization in a flow reactor

ACS Spring 2022

The official archive and repository for all ACS Meetings & Expositions abstracts and select posters or presentations.