Enhancing Resin Properties Through MSA-Catalyzed Suspension Polymerization of Vinyl Chloride
This study investigates the use of methanesulfonic acid (MSA) as a catalyst in the suspension polymerization of vinyl chloride monomer (VCM) to enhance the morphological and molecular properties of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) resins. The molecular weight (MW) of PVC produced with the catalyst (cokPVC)...
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| Main Authors: | , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Wiley
2025-01-01
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| Series: | International Journal of Polymer Science |
| Online Access: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/ijps/2293084 |
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| Summary: | This study investigates the use of methanesulfonic acid (MSA) as a catalyst in the suspension polymerization of vinyl chloride monomer (VCM) to enhance the morphological and molecular properties of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) resins. The molecular weight (MW) of PVC produced with the catalyst (cokPVC) was measured at 245,000 g/mol, nearly identical to that of PVC obtained without a catalyst (tPVC, MW=247,000 g/mol), with both resins exhibiting a polydispersity index (PDI) of 2.4. However, significant morphological differences were observed. The cokPVC resin exhibited a cold plasticizer absorption (CPA) of 21.6%, compared to 29.4% for tPVC, indicating increased porosity. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) revealed that cokPVC particles possess a more uniform shape, smoother surface, and greater porosity, with a specific surface area (SSA) of 72.7 m2/g, compared to 43.1 m2/g for tPVC. The application of the MSA catalyst led to a 28% reduction in polymerization time, demonstrating its effectiveness in accelerating the reaction. Additionally, cokPVC grains showed increased skin porosity, a thicker external layer (as confirmed by SEM), and a slightly broader particle size distribution (PSD). Despite the higher porosity, the bulk density of cokPVC particles was marginally higher (3.98 g/cm3) than that of tPVC (3.71 g/cm3), highlighting the catalyst’s ability to improve resin properties without compromising density. These findings underscore the potential of MSA-catalyzed polymerization to enhance PVC production efficiency and resin quality, offering significant implications for industrial applications. |
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| ISSN: | 1687-9430 |