Thermokinetics evaluation and simulations for the polymerization of styrene in the presence of various inhibitor concentrations

Styrene is an important commodity chemical that is globally applied in various polymerization processes. The aim of this study was to obtain integrated thermokinetics and safety parameters for polymerization of styrene. We mainly used differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), thermal activity monitor (TAM), and simulative methods to investigate thermal polymerization of styrene and styrene containing various levels of 4-tertiary-butylcatechol (TBC). The results obtained included the rate constant (k), reaction order (n), apparent activation energy (E-a), frequency factor (A), and so on, from various DSC curves and simulative methods. From DSC curves, the exothermic onset temperature (T-0) was about 105 and 132 degrees C for styrene and styrene containing 10 ppm TBC. On the other band, the test results from TAM indicated that styrene polymerization displays an autocatalytic phenomenon from 50-85 degrees C. By means of this study, the intrinsic safety of a system for styrene during transportation and storage could be established.