Fouling Pathways in Emulsion Polymerization Differentiated with a Quartz Crystal Microbalance (QCM) Integrated into the Reactor Wall

Emulsion polymerization fouling at hot interfaces is studied in situ, making use of a quartz crystal microbalance with dissipation monitoring (QCM-D). The resonator heated ring-shaped thermal pad from the back, turning it into plate elevated temperature. Configured to be one walls small reactor for emulsion polymerization, this prone heat-transfer fouling, similar regular parts process equipment. kinetics readily quantified QCM. During constant temperature (80 °C), some deposition always observed. However, film thickness less than 1 μm (determined gravimetrically QCM) sometimes found, which stabilizes surface against much thicker layers. When reaction proceeds directly thick deposits, increase resonance bandwidth often occurs few minutes prior main transition, presumably caused by coagulum formed bulk first contact surface. Furthermore, particle ramps on nonreactive dispersions. Fouling, if present,