POLY 638 |
| General purpose poly(styrene) is a popular, cost-effective, attractive material for the production of containers for food items, in particular, pastries, cookies, muffins, etc. The containers are light-weight, transparent, and can be formed with simple closures. For application in food packaging, the poly(styrene) must be free of monomer. The presence of even very low levels of styrene monomer can impart objectionable taste and aroma characteristics to the food item contained in the package. Unacceptable levels of styrene monomer may be present as a consequence of polymer processing at an unacceptably high temperature. General purpose poly(styrene) prepared by conventional radical techniques contains a head-to-head unit as a consequence of polymerization termination by radical coupling. Thermal stress promotes homolysis of the bond linking the head-to-head components. The macroradicals thus generated depolymerize rapidly to liberate styrene monomer. |
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Polymer Design for Foods and Nutrition
9:00 AM-11:40 AM, Thursday, August 23, 2007 Westin Boston Waterfront -- Grand Ballroom B, Oral
Division of Polymer Chemistry |