Reaction calorimeter a contribution to safe operation of exothermic polymerizations

Abstract Polymerizations are in general exothermic reactions. They are widely carried out in stirred tank reactors and tend to run away in case of cooling failure. For simulation of critical polymerization conditions and kinetic studies a laboratory scale polymerization calorimeter was developed. The calorimeter allows to measure heatflux of the reaction independently from heat transfer coefficient through reactor wall which often changes during the course of polymerization. Vinylacetate polymerizations in emulsion were carried out batch - and semibatch wise in the calorimeter. The results of isothermal runs as well as runs with temporary cooling failure were fitted with a complex model of the reactor dynamics.