bulk polymerization
Quick Summary
Bulk polymerization is a method of industrial polymerization carried out without solvents or dispersants. It is the simplest formulation method and is used for many step-growth and chain-growth polymers.1
For chain-growth reactions, which are typically exothermic, the heat generated can make the reaction difficult to control. Efficient cooling coils are necessary in the reactor to manage this heat and prevent autoacceleration, where the reaction rate increases explosively. Bulk polymerization can also be challenging to stir due to the high viscosity of high-molecular-weight polymers.1
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