Certain hydroquinones are used often as polymerization inhibitors or TBC. Temperature is important too as it can initiate polymerization. UV light
will probably start it off as well.
"Storage and handling of styrene:-
Styrene Monomer is stored in insolated carbon steel tanks. To prevent Styrene polymerization, the Styrene temperature must be controlled at around
10-11°C. Also, a polymerization inhibitor must be added. Normally, Tertiary Butylcatechol (TBC) is used with a concentration of 10-15 PPM. In hot
climates and during the transportation of Styrene, the initial TBC level should be increased to around 50 PPM to avoid autocatalytic polymerization
which becomes self-sustaining above 20°C. The exact TBC level will depend on the prevailing ambient temperature and the duration of the
transportation. As a general rule when transporting Styrene, you should avoid contact with copper, copper alloys, brass and PVC. Avoid contact of
Styrene (containing low level of TBC) with oxygen as it creates hazardous peroxides. Avoid contact with air. Avoid static electricity, sparks or any
open flame. Keep liquid temperature and vapor venting under rigged control. Avoid direct or prolonged exposure to the sunlight and ambient conditions.
Indoor storage should be in a standard flameproof storage room with temperature controlled lower than 25°C. Use safety goggles, rubber gloves and
chemical cartridge respirators."neversoninlaw - 28-2-2007 at 18:58
Thank Dr.P, any books or links for application of Styrene Monomer?
This is my problem :
S.M overflowed through drum closure, maybe it destroyed tite-seal gasket of drum closure. ==> What happened ?Ozone - 28-2-2007 at 19:52
Whew, that's a megashitload of SM!
IF that much SM has sit long enough, the inhibitor will be overrun. Keep the drums out of the sun, it can thermally polymerize and may decide to do so
rapidly (this can be explosively bad).
I would recommend sampling the material and precipitating it into MeOH (if it is still liquid) and looking for turbidity or polymer. If so, add more
inhibitor quickly! If not, the inhibtior is probably intact, but fading (there are colorimetric and titrimetric tests for inhibitor potency in SM).
The other possibility is that you have a really cool 180kg clear (possibly discolored) drum-shaped chunk of plastic.
SM is a good solvent by itself, similar to toluene/ethylbenzene, and as such, can soften many elastomers used for gasket material. lateral
infiltration would be much slower than if the material were wet prior to assembly of the drum.
The good side? O2 inhibits free radicals formed from thermal dimerization/cracking and standard initiation.
Is this for work, of have you managed to somehow obtain several drums of SM for experimentation?
If for experimenting, (besides PS and comonomers) you could try some thiol-ene polymerization with light or try making ethers with some cheap alcohol
by combining the two in the presence of an acid catalyst at moderate temperature and pressure.
