Schlieren Imaging of Chemically-Induced Flow Instabilities During Step-Growth Polymerization

ORAL

Abstract

Schlieren imaging was used to observe the dependence on degree of reactivity on flow instabilities during step-growth polymerization. For example a solution of a 2,2'-(ethylenedioxy)- diethanethiol containing varying concentrations of Octylamine as initiator was used to displace a trimethylolpropane triacrylate monomer. The concentration of initiator was used to control the degree of reactivity of the solutions and therefore the Damkohler Number which is the ratio of the chemical to the hydrodynamic timescale. By varying the concentration of initiator and/or the functionality of the monomers, one can tune the reaction product from a viscous liquid, to gel, or even a solid. Resulting flow patterns were found to depend on degree of reactivity and effects were observed regardless of the direction of flow. Also observed was evidence of three-dimensional effects on the resultant flow patterns.

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Authors

  • Patrick Bunton

    Department of Physics, William Jewell College, Department of Physics, William Jewell College, Liberty, MO

  • Michael Rawat

    Department of Physics, William Jewell College, Department of Physics, William Jewell College, Liberty, MO

  • Simone Stewart

    Department of Physics, William Jewell College, Department of Physics, William Jewell College, Liberty, MO

  • Anne De Wit

    Universit\'e Libre de Bruxelles, Belgium, Nonlinear Physical Chemistry Unit, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Bruxelles, Belgium, Non Linear Physical Chemistry Unit, Universit\'e Libre de Bruxelles (ULB), Universit\'e Libre de Bruxelles, Nonlinear Physical Chemistry Unit, Universit\'e Libre de Bruxelles, Bruxelles, Belgium, Non Linear Physical Chemistry Unit, Universit\'e Libre de Bruxelles, Non Linear Physical Chemistry Unit, Universite Libre de Bruxelles (ULB)

  • John Pojman

    Department of Chemistry, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA, USA, Department of Chemistry, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA