| Abstract: | Anionic polymerizations were carried out in the laboratory using a CSTR reactor design and conditions typical of current commercial mass polystyrene plants. Polystyrene having excellent color and polydispersity was produced. Polymer quality, styrene conversion, and molecular weight control were all linked to use of polymerization feed of consistently high purity and polymerization in the 90–110°C temperature range. The results of this study clearly show that high quality polystyrene can be made utilizing anionic polymerization chemistry in existing well mixed mass polystyrene reactors of the CSTR design. The key to the successful practice of this technology is the ability to produce consistently high purity polymerization feed. |
