Continuous Photopolymerization of n-Butyl Acrylate Using a Narrow Channel Reactor

This study highlights the potential of using ultraviolet (UV) radiation for initiating polymerization of n-butyl acrylate (BA) in a narrow channel reactor made of borosilicate. A continuous flow system using a 90 cm long glass reactor with a circular cross section (1.5 mm internal diameter) was used in conjunction with a UV flood lamp having peak intensity at 365 nm. A series of experiments were performed in order to study the influence of UV intensity, initiator concentration, and space time on conversion and molecular weight distribution. A mathematical model incorporating the reactor geometry has been developed for predicting the conversions, and the results were compared with the experimental findings. Experimental results from this work have been benchmarked against continuous thermal polymerization studies.