Copolymerization of 1,2 bis(2-methylpropenoyloxy)ethane and divinylbenzene in aqueous suspension. Part I: control of the diameters of the beads of 1,2 bis(2-methylpropenoyloxy)ethane–divinylbenzene copolymer

Abstract The aim of the current paper is to study the influence of the interfacial tension ( σ ) and viscosity on the droplets dispersion of 1,2 bis(2-methylpropenoyloxy)ethane (EGDMA) and divinylbenzene (DVB). This dispersion is characterized by the distribution of poly(EGDMAcoDVB) polymer spheres. We experimentally observed that this distribution is polymodal and that the experimental maximum diameter ( d max ) obs is proportional to ( σ / ρ c ) 0.59 ( ρ c is the continuous phase density). This relation is valid when ( d max ) obs ≫ η , the Kolmogoroff turbulence microscale (which is related to the dissipated power by mass unit and the kinematic viscosity ( ν c ) of the continuous phase). When ( d max ) obs ≪ η , the experimental maximum diameter is not proportional to ( ν c σ / ρ c ) 1/3 , but it verifies the theory of Taylor's viscous shear abrasion where the maximum diameter is proportional to σ /[ μ c (19 p +16)/(16 p +16)] ( p = μ d / μ c , μ d and μ c are the dynamic viscosity of the dispersed and continuous phase, respectively).