Emulsion polymerization fouling at hot interfaces is studied in situ, making use of a quartz crystal microbalance with dissipation monitoring (QCM-D). The resonator crystal is heated with a ring-shaped thermal pad from the back, turning it into a plate with elevated temperature. Configured to be one of the walls of a small reactor for emulsion polymerization, this resonator is prone to heat-transfer fouling, similar to regular heated parts of process equipment. The fouling kinetics is readily quantified with this QCM. During polymerization at constant temperature (80 °C), some deposition is always observed. However, a film with a thickness of less than 1 μm (determined gravimetrically with the QCM) is sometimes found, which stabilizes the surface against the deposition of much thicker layers. When reaction fouling proceeds directly to thick deposits, a small increase in resonance bandwidth often occurs a few minutes prior to the main transition, presumably caused by coagulum formed in the bulk making first contact with the surface. Furthermore, particle fouling is studied with temperature ramps on nonreactive dispersions. Fouling, if present, is readily observed.

中文翻译：

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用集成到反应器壁中的石英晶体微量天平 (QCM) 区分乳液聚合中的污垢途径

利用带耗散监测的石英晶体微量天平 (QCM-D) 对热界面处的乳液聚合结垢进行了原位研究。谐振器晶体从背面用环形导热垫加热，将其变成高温板。配置为用于乳液聚合的小型反应器的壁之一，该谐振器易于传热结垢，类似于工艺设备的常规加热部件。使用该 QCM 可以很容易地量化结垢动力学。在恒温 (80 °C) 聚合期间，总是观察到一些沉积。然而，有时会发现厚度小于 1 μm（使用 QCM 重量法测定）的薄膜，它可以稳定表面，防止沉积更厚的层。当反应结垢直接进入厚沉积物时，共振带宽的小幅增加通常会在主要转变前几分钟发生，这可能是由于在本体中形成的凝结物首先与表面接触造成的。此外，在非反应性分散体上随温度变化研究了颗粒结垢。如果存在污垢，很容易观察到。