Industrial Production of Poly Vinyl Acetate Dispersions: Relationship Between Latex Properties and Polymerization Start-Up Temperature

An industrial polymerization process for the production of polyvinyl alcohol stabilized polyvinylacetate dispersions has been examined to investigate the influence of the start-up temperature on production process and latex characteristics. The product investigated is a high solids, high viscosity latex, obtained by a semi-batch emulsion polymerization process, initiated with persulfate. The main finding shows that small variations of the start-up temperature affect the reaction kinetics in the first stage of polymerization and have a direct influence on physicochemical and rheological properties of the finished products.