Apparatus and method for producing polymer particles

Abstract

The present invention provides a polymer particle manufacturing apparatus and manufacturing method that can improve the stability of particle size control. [Solution] The polymer particle manufacturing apparatus according to the present disclosure is an apparatus for manufacturing polymer particles by a monomer polymerization reaction using an aqueous phase, a monomer phase, and an activator, which mixes an aqueous phase, a monomer phase, and an activator to produce an oil-in-water emulsion, and uses the produced emulsion to produce polymer particles, comprising: a supply section including a channel for supplying a first aqueous phase and a plurality of channels for supplying a monomer phase, an activator, and an initiator; a mixing section including a first mixer located downstream of the supply section which combines the first aqueous phase, the monomer phase, and the activator to produce an emulsion and transfers it downstream, and a second mixer which combines the emulsion and the initiator to generate a polymerization liquid and transfers it downstream; a reaction section located downstream of the mixing section which carries out a monomer polymerization reaction using the polymerization liquid; and a channel for supplying a second aqueous phase to the reaction section.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to an apparatus and a method for producing polymer particles, and more specifically, to an apparatus and a method for producing polymer particles by an emulsion polymerization method.

Background Art

[0002] Polymer particles are widely used in the automotive industry, electronic devices, and the like. For example, for polymer particles used in paints and the like, a small average particle diameter and a uniform particle diameter distribution are desired.

[0003] As a method for producing polymer particles, an emulsion polymerization method is known. In the emulsion polymerization method, a monomer is dispersed in an aqueous phase together with an activator to prepare an oil-in-water type emulsion, and polymer particles can be obtained by performing a monomer polymerization reaction using the obtained emulsion. Conventionally, the monomer polymerization reaction has been carried out in a batch system. In the batch system, it may be difficult to control the temperature uniformity in the reaction vessel and the uniform mixing of reactants, and there are also problems not suitable for mass production.

[0004] In recent years, an apparatus called a microreactor, which performs a reaction in a minute space, has been used for the production of polymer particles. A microreactor is a small reaction apparatus that flows raw materials through a fine tubular flow path and performs a flow chemical reaction in the flow path to synthesize a target substance, and has excellent performance in fluid mixing, temperature control, and residence time control. The production of polymer particles using a microreactor is disclosed, for example, in Patent Document 1.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0005]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0006] However, in the method for producing polymer particles using a microreactor disclosed in Patent Document 1, polymerization of radically polymerizable monomers proceeds within the microchannel, and as the material flows, nucleation and growth of fine particles proceed continuously. The rapid reaction heat generated by continuous nucleation and growth may cause changes in the particle size of the synthesized fine particles. In the production of polymer particles using a microreactor, there is still room for improvement in conventional manufacturing apparatus and methods in terms of stably synthesizing particles with the desired particle size.

[0007] Therefore, the present disclosure aims to provide a polymer particle manufacturing apparatus and manufacturing method that solve the above-mentioned conventional problems and can improve the stability of particle size control. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] To achieve the above objective, a polymer particle manufacturing apparatus according to one aspect of the present disclosure is an apparatus for manufacturing polymer particles by a monomer polymerization reaction using an aqueous phase, an activator, and a monomer phase, which mixes an aqueous phase, an activator, and a monomer phase to produce an oil-in-water emulsion, and using the produced emulsion, comprising: a supply section including a channel for supplying a first aqueous phase and a plurality of channels for supplying an activator, a monomer phase, and an initiator; a mixing section disposed downstream of the supply section and including a first mixer that combines the first aqueous phase, the activator, and the monomer phase to produce an emulsion and transfer it downstream, and a second mixer that combines the emulsion and the initiator to generate a polymerization solution and transfer it downstream; a reaction section disposed downstream of the mixing section and carrying out a monomer polymerization reaction using the polymerization solution; and a channel for supplying a second aqueous phase to the reaction section.

[0009] Furthermore, in order to achieve the above objective, a polymer particle manufacturing method according to one aspect of the present disclosure is a polymer particle manufacturing method comprising: an emulsification step of combining a first aqueous phase, an activator, and a monomer phase in a flow channel to produce an oil-in-water emulsion; and a polymerization step of combining the produced emulsion with an initiator to generate a polymerization solution, and using the generated polymerization solution to carry out a monomer polymerization reaction in a reaction section, wherein a second aqueous phase is supplied to the reaction section. [Effects of the Invention]

[0010] According to one aspect of the present disclosure, a polymer particle manufacturing apparatus or polymer particle manufacturing method can improve the stability of particle size control in the manufacturing of polymer particles. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0011] [Figure 1] Block diagram illustrating the polymer particle manufacturing process according to the embodiments of this disclosure. [Figure 2] A schematic diagram showing an example of the configuration of a polymer particle manufacturing apparatus according to an embodiment of this disclosure. [Figure 3] Figure 2 shows a schematic block diagram illustrating an example of the configuration of the control device for a polymer particle manufacturing apparatus. [Figure 4] Flowchart showing the aqueous phase supply adjustment process in polymer particle manufacturing according to Embodiment 1 of this disclosure [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0012] According to a first aspect of this disclosure, there is a polymer particle manufacturing apparatus that mixes an aqueous phase, an activator, and a monomer phase to produce an oil-in-water emulsion, and uses the produced emulsion to produce polymer particles by a monomer polymerization reaction, comprising: a supply section including a channel for supplying a first aqueous phase and a plurality of channels for supplying an activator, a monomer phase, and an initiator; a mixing section disposed downstream of the supply section and including a first mixer that combines the first aqueous phase, the activator, and the monomer phase to produce an emulsion and transfer it downstream, and a second mixer that combines the emulsion and the initiator to generate a polymerization solution and transfer it downstream; a reaction section disposed downstream of the mixing section and uses the polymerization solution to carry out a monomer polymerization reaction; and a channel for supplying a second aqueous phase to the reaction section.

[0013] According to this embodiment, the stability of particle size control can be improved in the manufacturing process of polymer particles.

[0014] According to a second aspect of this disclosure, the polymer particle manufacturing apparatus described in the first aspect is provided, further comprising: a detection device disposed downstream of the second mixer for detecting the characteristic amount of the polymerization liquid; and an adjustment device for adjusting the amount of aqueous phase introduced into the reaction section based on the detected characteristic amount.

[0015] According to a third aspect of this disclosure, the polymer particle manufacturing apparatus further comprises a control device, the control device comprising a processor and a memory device storing instructions executed by the processor, wherein the instructions calculate a correction amount for the flow rate of the aqueous phase supplied to the reaction section based on a characteristic quantity detected by a detection device, and the adjustment device adjusts the flow rate of the first aqueous phase or the second aqueous phase based on the calculated correction amount, thereby providing the polymer particle manufacturing apparatus according to the second aspect.

[0016] According to a fourth aspect of the present disclosure, the instruction further provides a polymer particle manufacturing apparatus according to the third aspect, wherein the instruction operates a control device to adjust the flow rate of supplying the first or second aqueous phase based on a calculated correction amount.

[0017] According to a fifth aspect of this disclosure, the instruction provides a polymer particle manufacturing apparatus according to the fourth aspect, wherein the instruction operates the adjustment device to adjust the flow rate of the first aqueous phase based on a calculated correction amount when the amount of change of the detected characteristic quantity with respect to a predetermined reference value is greater than or equal to a first reference value and less than a second reference value, and operates the adjustment device to adjust the flow rate of the second aqueous phase based on a calculated correction amount when the amount of change is greater than or equal to a second reference value, and the first reference value and the second reference value are preset adjustment reference values, the second reference value being greater than the first reference value.

[0018] According to the sixth aspect of this disclosure, a polymer particle manufacturing apparatus is provided according to any one of the second to fifth aspects, wherein the characteristic quantity is the absorbance or viscosity of the polymerization solution.

[0019] According to the seventh aspect of this disclosure, a polymer particle manufacturing apparatus is provided according to any one of the first to sixth aspects, wherein the first mixer and the second mixer are composed of tubular channels, and the inner diameter of the tubular channels is 0.1 mm or more and 10 mm or less.

[0020] According to the eighth aspect of the present disclosure, a reaction unit includes a reaction tank, and a polymer particle manufacturing apparatus according to any one of the first to seventh aspects, in which a monomer polymerization reaction proceeds in the reaction tank, is provided.

[0021] According to the ninth aspect of the present disclosure, a polymer particle manufacturing method includes an emulsifying step of merging a first aqueous phase, an activator, and a monomer phase in a flow path to produce an oil-in-water emulsion, and a polymerization step of merging the produced emulsion and an initiator to generate a polymerization solution, and performing a monomer polymerization reaction in a reaction unit using the generated polymerization solution, and includes supplying a second aqueous phase to the reaction unit.

[0022] According to the tenth aspect of the present disclosure, the polymer particle manufacturing method according to the ninth aspect further includes detecting a characteristic quantity of the polymerization solution, and adjusting an amount of the aqueous phase introduced into the reaction unit based on the detected characteristic quantity.

[0023] According to the eleventh aspect of the present disclosure, adjusting the amount of the aqueous phase introduced into the reaction unit based on the detected characteristic quantity includes calculating a correction amount for a flow rate of supplying the aqueous phase introduced into the reaction unit based on the detected characteristic quantity, and operating an adjustment device to adjust the flow rate of supplying the first aqueous phase or the second aqueous phase based on the calculated correction amount.

[0024] According to the twelfth aspect of the present disclosure, adjusting the amount of the aqueous phase introduced into the reaction unit based on the detected characteristic quantity further includes operating the adjustment device to adjust the flow rate of supplying the first aqueous phase based on the calculated correction amount when a change amount of the detected characteristic quantity with respect to a predetermined reference value is greater than or equal to a first reference value and less than a second reference value, and operating the adjustment device to adjust the flow rate of supplying the second aqueous phase based on the calculated correction amount when the change amount is greater than or equal to the second reference value, where the first reference value and the second reference value are preset adjustment reference values, and the second reference value is greater than the first reference value.

[0025] According to a thirteenth aspect of this disclosure, a program is provided that causes a processor to adjust the amount of aqueous phase introduced into the reaction section based on the detected characteristic quantity in the polymer particle manufacturing method described in the eleventh or twelfth aspect.

[0026] According to a fourteenth aspect of this disclosure, a non-temporary computer-readable storage medium for storing the program described in the thirteenth aspect is provided.

[0027] Furthermore, by appropriately combining any of the above various embodiments, the effects of each can be achieved.

[0028] The embodiments will be described in detail below, with reference to the drawings as appropriate. However, unnecessarily detailed explanations may be omitted. For example, detailed explanations of already well-known matters and redundant explanations of substantially identical configurations may be omitted. This is to avoid the following explanation becoming unnecessarily verbose and to facilitate understanding for those skilled in the art.

[0029] A polymer particle manufacturing method and polymer particle manufacturing apparatus according to embodiments of this disclosure will be described with reference to Figures 1 to 4. The accompanying drawings and the following description are provided to enable those skilled in the art to fully understand this disclosure and are not intended to limit the subject matter described in the claims. In addition, elements in each figure are exaggerated to facilitate explanation. Substantially identical components in the drawings are denoted by the same reference numerals.

[0030] (Embodiment) 《Polymer particle manufacturing process》 Referring to Figure 1, the flow of the polymer particle manufacturing process according to the embodiment of this disclosure will be explained. Figure 1 is a block diagram schematically showing the polymer particle manufacturing process 10 according to the embodiment of this disclosure.

[0031] The polymer particle production according to this embodiment is carried out based on an emulsion polymerization method. The polymer particle production process 10 by emulsion polymerization shown in Figure 1 synthesizes polymer particles P1 through an emulsification step S01 and a polymerization step S02.

[0032] In the emulsification step S01 according to this embodiment, an oil-in-water emulsion is produced by combining the monomers constituting the target polymer particles P1, the aqueous phase, and the activator within the flow channel. At this time, the solution containing each raw material is transported through the flow channel, and the produced emulsion is transported through the flow channel to the polymerization step S02.

[0033] Next, in polymerization step S02, the prepared oil-in-water emulsion is mixed with a water-soluble initiator to produce a polymerization solution, and the monomer polymerization reaction is carried out in the reaction section using the produced polymerization solution. At this time, the emulsion and the water-soluble initiator can be combined in the flow path. The monomer polymerization reaction starts upon decomposition of the water-soluble initiator, and particulate nuclei are formed. The reaction section may be equipped with a reaction vessel, and the monomer polymerization reaction can proceed in the reaction vessel under predetermined conditions. The synthesized polymer particles P1 flow in direction H and are introduced into the recovery section.

[0034] The polymer particle manufacturing process 10 according to this embodiment further includes an aqueous phase supply adjustment process S20. The aqueous phase supply adjustment process S20 adjusts the amount of aqueous phase introduced into the reaction section during the monomer polymerization reaction of the polymerization process S02. This makes it possible to stably synthesize polymer particles P1 having a desired particle size. The aqueous phase supply adjustment process S20 will be described in detail later.

[0035] Next, we will explain the raw materials used in the polymer particle manufacturing process 10.

[0036] There are no particular restrictions on the monomers used as raw materials for polymer particle production, and they can be appropriately selected according to the purpose. Examples of monomers applicable to the production of oil-in-water emulsions include styrene-based monomers including derivatives of styrene and methylstyrene, acrylic acid derivatives, acrylamide derivatives, methacrylic acid derivatives, methacrylic acid esters, and methacrylamide derivatives. In addition, other monomers suitable for emulsion polymerization, such as phenylene, thiophene, fluorene, alkyl, sulfone, ether, and fluoride, can also be used. The monomer phase may be one of these used alone or two or more used in combination.

[0037] The monomer may be diluted with an organic solvent or the like. In this specification, "monomer phase" refers to a solution containing the monomer and the organic solvent. The organic solvent used to dilute the monomer is not particularly limited as long as it dissolves the raw material monomer, and examples include aliphatic hydrocarbons such as n-hexane and n-octane, halogenated hydrocarbons such as carbon tetrachloride, and aromatic hydrocarbons such as toluene and xylene.

[0038] In this specification, "aqueous phase" refers to a solution containing water and water-soluble components. In this embodiment, for example, pure water or deionized water can be used as the aqueous phase.

[0039] The activator used in the emulsification process is not particularly limited and may be, for example, an ionic surfactant, a nonionic surfactant, or a polymerizable activator.

[0040] As for ionic surfactants, anionic surfactants such as sodium dodecylbenzenesulfonate, sodium lauryl sulfate, sodium alkyldiphenyl ether disulfonate, and sodium polyoxyethylene alkyl ether sulfate can be used. As for cationic surfactants, stearylbenzyldimethylammonium chloride and distearylbenzyldimethylammonium chloride can be used.

[0041] Examples of nonionic surfactants that can be used include polyoxyethylene alkyl ethers, polyoxyethylene alkylphenyl ethers, polyoxyalkylene polyols, and polypropylene glycol ethylene oxide adducts.

[0042] Examples of polymerizable surfactants that can be used include sodium alkylallyl sulfosuccinate and sodium (meth)acryloyl polyoxyalkylene sulfate.

[0043] These may be used individually or in combination of two or more types.

[0044] The water-soluble initiator used in the polymerization process is not particularly limited and can be appropriately selected from various water-soluble radical polymerization initiators conventionally used in monomer polymerization reactions, depending on the type of monomer used as the raw material. Examples of such water-soluble initiators include ammonium persulfate, potassium persulfate, and sodium persulfate. Water-soluble organic peroxides, water-soluble azo compounds, redox initiators, and persulfates can also be used. These water-soluble initiators may be used individually or in combination of two or more. The polymerization initiator may also be supplied, for example, as an aqueous solution.

[0045] The polymer particle manufacturing process 10 according to the embodiment of the present disclosure shown in Figure 1 is carried out using a polymer particle manufacturing apparatus. The configuration of the polymer particle manufacturing apparatus 100 according to the embodiment of the present disclosure will be described below with reference to Figure 2.

[0046] Configuration of a polymer particle manufacturing apparatus Figure 2 is a schematic diagram showing an example configuration of a polymer particle manufacturing apparatus 100 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. The polymer particle manufacturing apparatus 100 shown in Figure 2 comprises a supply unit 20, a mixing unit 30, a reaction unit 40, and a flow path 50. The polymer particle manufacturing apparatus 100 can be used to manufacture polymer particles by emulsion polymerization.

[0047] The supply unit 20 of the polymer particle manufacturing apparatus 100 shown in Figure 2 is used to supply raw materials for generating polymer particles by monomer polymerization reaction. The supply unit 20 may include a plurality of storage units 11, 12, 14 and a liquid delivery device (not shown) for storing solutions obtained by dissolving or dispersing the raw materials in a solvent, and flow paths 21, 22, 24 connected to each of the storage units 11, 12, 14. In this embodiment, for example, the aqueous phase 110 in storage unit 11 is delivered to flow path 21 by the liquid delivery device, the activator 120 and monomer phase 130 in storage unit 12 are delivered to flow path 22 by the liquid delivery device, and the initiator 140 in storage unit 14 is delivered to flow path 24 by the liquid delivery device. The liquid delivery device is not limited to these, but can be composed of, for example, a syringe pump, plunger pump, diaphragm pump, tube pump, mono pump, piezo pump, etc. (not shown).

[0048] The supply unit 20 is not limited to the configuration shown in Figure 2, and this disclosure is not limited to the type or number of fluids supplied by the supply unit 20. For example, the activator 120 and the monomer phase 130 may be stored in separate reservoirs and supplied to separate flow paths. Also, depending on the application, for example, other fluids may be supplied in addition to the raw materials, either together with or separately from the raw materials.

[0049] The aqueous phase 110, activator 120, monomer phase 130, and initiator 140 supplied from the supply unit 20 flow downstream in directions A1, B1, and C1, respectively, and are transferred to the mixing unit 30 via the flow paths 21, 22, and 24.

[0050] The mixing section 30 includes a first mixer 31 and a second mixer 32, where multiple raw materials transported by flow paths merge in the first mixer 31 and the second mixer 32. In this embodiment, the first mixer 31 and the second mixer 32 are composed of tubular flow paths with an inner diameter of 0.1 mm or more and 10 mm or less. This allows the first mixer 31 and the second mixer 32 to circulate fluid within minute tubular flow paths and promote the mixing of multiple raw materials.

[0051] The materials used for the first mixer 31 and the second mixer 32 are not particularly limited. For example, stainless steel such as SUS304, SUS316, and SUS316L, metal materials such as Hastelloy, and processed resin materials such as PP, PFA, PTFE, PEEK, and PPS can be used. The first mixer 31 and the second mixer 32 may have the same configuration or different configurations.

[0052] The aqueous phase 110 supplied by channels 21 and 22, the activator 120, and the monomer phase 130 are combined in the first mixer 31 to form a mixed solution of organic and aqueous phases, producing an oil-in-water emulsion 350. The resulting emulsion 350 is transferred downstream in direction D1 from the first mixer 31 via channel 51 and combines with the initiator 140 supplied by channel 24 in the second mixer 32 to generate a polymerization solution. The generated polymerization solution is transferred further downstream in direction E1 from the second mixer 32 and introduced into the reaction section 40.

[0053] The reaction section 40 is located downstream of the mixing section 30 and can, for example, include a flow path 52 and a reaction tank 45. The reaction section 40 can also be equipped with, for example, a stirring device, a gas introduction pipe, a heating device, etc. (not shown) to maintain conditions suitable for the progress of the monomer polymerization reaction in the reaction tank 45. The polymerization reaction may take several hours, and by allowing the monomer polymerization reaction to proceed in the reaction tank, sufficient reaction time can be ensured and the apparatus can be miniaturized. In this embodiment, as shown in Figure 2, in the reaction section 40, the polymerization liquid 450 is introduced from the mixing section 30 through the flow path 52 to the reaction tank 45, the monomer polymerization reaction proceeds in the reaction tank 45, and the synthesized polymer particles P1 flow from the reaction section 40 in direction H and are transferred to the recovery section downstream.

[0054] Furthermore, this disclosure is not limited to carrying out the monomer polymerization reaction using a reaction vessel. For example, the monomer polymerization reaction can also be carried out in a flow channel in the reaction section 40.

[0055] In this embodiment, the polymer particle manufacturing apparatus 100 further includes a flow channel 50, which is configured to supply an aqueous phase 150 to the reaction section 40 during the monomer polymerization reaction. The aqueous phase 150 may be the same as or different from the aqueous phase 110 supplied as a raw material. The aqueous phase 150 is supplied from the storage section 15 by a liquid delivery device (not shown), flows along the flow channel 50 in direction A2, and is delivered into the reaction tank 45 of the reaction section 40.

[0056] The polymer particle manufacturing apparatus 100 according to this embodiment uses flow channels to supply each raw material and the aqueous phase 150 and to transfer fluids. The diameter of each flow channel is not particularly limited and can be configured according to the purpose of the application to facilitate the transfer of fluids flowing through the flow channels. For example, the flow channel diameter can be 0.1 to 10 mm.

[0057] The material of each channel in the polymer particle manufacturing apparatus 100 is not particularly limited, and for example, inorganic materials such as glass, quartz, ceramics, and silicon, or resin materials such as thermoplastic resins and thermosetting resins can be used.

[0058] In the reaction vessel 45 of the reaction section 40, as the monomer polymerization reaction progresses, nucleation and growth of fine particles occur, causing an increase in the reaction temperature in the polymerization liquid 450 during the monomer polymerization reaction. This results in fluctuations in the particle size of the synthesized polymer particles. The polymer particle manufacturing apparatus 100 of this disclosure can stabilize the reaction temperature in the polymerization liquid 450 during the monomer polymerization reaction by introducing the aqueous phase 150 into the reaction section 40 through the flow path 50. As a result, the polymer particle manufacturing apparatus 100 of this embodiment can improve the stability of particle size control of the synthesized polymer particles.

[0059] (Detection device and adjustment device) The polymer particle manufacturing apparatus 100 of this embodiment may further include a detection device 60 and an adjustment device 70. The detection device 60 can detect characteristic quantities that indicate fluctuations in the reaction temperature of the polymerization liquid 450 in the reaction section 40, and can monitor fluctuations in the reaction temperature of the polymerization liquid during the monomer polymerization reaction. The adjustment device 70 can adjust the amount of aqueous phase introduced into the reaction section 40 based on the characteristic quantities detected by the detection device 60. The detection device 60 and the adjustment device 70 can adjust the amount of aqueous phase introduced into the reaction section 40 in accordance with fluctuations in the reaction temperature of the polymerization liquid 450 during the monomer polymerization reaction.

[0060] During a monomer polymerization reaction, fluctuations in the reaction temperature of the polymerization solution cause changes in the absorbance or viscosity of the polymerization solution. Therefore, in this embodiment, the detection device 60 can be configured to detect the absorbance or viscosity of the polymerization solution 450 as a characteristic quantity indicating fluctuations in the reaction temperature of the polymerization solution 450 during the monomer polymerization reaction.

[0061] For example, the detection device 60 may include an absorbance meter (not shown) in the reaction section 40 for detecting the absorbance of the polymerization liquid 450. The absorbance meter may include, for example, a light source and a light receiving section (not shown), wherein light emitted from the light source irradiates the polymerization liquid 450 during the monomer polymerization reaction, and the light receiving section detects the light before it enters the polymerization liquid 450 and the light after it has passed through the polymerization liquid 450, thereby detecting the absorbance of the polymerization liquid 450.

[0062] Furthermore, for example, the detection device 60 may be equipped with a viscometer (not shown) in the reaction section 40 for detecting the viscosity of the polymerization liquid 450. The viscometer may be, for example, a vibrating viscometer, and the viscosity of the polymerization liquid 450 can be detected by vibrating a vibrating piece in the polymerization liquid 450 and measuring the viscous resistance force of the polymerization liquid 450 that is subjected to it at that time.

[0063] The measurement mechanism of the absorbance meter or viscometer can employ a configuration of a conventional absorbance meter or viscometer, and further detailed explanation is omitted herein. This disclosure is not limited to the number of detection devices 60. There may be one detection device 60 or multiple detection devices 60.

[0064] Furthermore, this disclosure is not limited to the location where the detection device 60 is located. When the emulsion 350 and the initiator 140 combine in the second mixer 32 of the mixing section, a monomer polymerization reaction begins and particulate nuclei are formed. The detection device 60 may be located downstream of the second mixer 32. For example, the detection device 60 may be located in the reaction tank 45 of the reaction section 40, or in the flow path downstream of the second mixer 32.

[0065] The configuration of the absorbance meter or viscometer is merely one example of the configuration of the detection device 60, and this disclosure is not limited to these. The detection device 60 only needs to be able to detect characteristic quantities that indicate fluctuations in the reaction temperature in the polymerization liquid 450 during the monomer polymerization reaction, and is not limited to the configuration of the absorbance meter or viscometer described above.

[0066] The characteristic quantities of the polymerization solution 450 detected by the detection device 60 allow us to obtain the change in the characteristic quantities of the polymerization solution 450 during the monomer polymerization reaction relative to a reference value for the characteristic quantities of the polymerization solution corresponding to the target reaction temperature. Here, the target reaction temperature is the reaction temperature of the polymerization solution that can ensure the desired particle size of polymer particles.

[0067] Furthermore, the correlation between the characteristic quantities of the polymerization solution 450 and the amount of aqueous phase introduced into the reaction section 40 can be verified in advance. This allows for the calculation of a correction amount for the flow rate of the aqueous phase supplied to the reaction section 40 so that the polymerization solution reaches its target reaction temperature, based on the detected change in the characteristic quantities of the polymerization solution 450.

[0068] In this embodiment, the aqueous phase introduced into the reaction section 40 includes an aqueous phase 110 supplied as a raw material and an aqueous phase 150 supplied through the flow path 50. To ensure the desired particle size of polymer particles, the flow rates of the aqueous phase 110 and / or aqueous phase 150 can be adjusted based on a calculated correction amount. The flow rate of the aqueous phase 110 or aqueous phase 150 can be adjusted via the adjustment device 70.

[0069] The adjustment device 70 of the polymer particle manufacturing apparatus 100 is configured to adjust the amount of aqueous phase introduced into the reaction section 40 based on characteristic quantities detected by the detection device 60. Specifically, although not limited to these, the adjustment device 70 may include a flow regulator composed of a flow regulator, a proportional control supply valve, etc. (not shown). In this embodiment, the adjustment device 70 includes flow regulators 71 and 72, as conceptually shown in Figure 2. Based on the calculated correction amount, the flow rate of the aqueous phase 110 supplied via the flow regulator 71 can be adjusted, and the flow rate of the aqueous phase 150 supplied via the flow regulator 72 can be adjusted.

[0070] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the polymer particle manufacturing apparatus 100 may have a predetermined adjustment reference value set. When the change in characteristic quantity detected by the detection device 60 exceeds the set adjustment reference value, the flow rate supplied to the aqueous phase 110 or aqueous phase 150 can be adjusted. Here, "change in characteristic quantity" refers to the absolute value of the change in the detected characteristic quantity relative to a predetermined characteristic quantity reference value corresponding to the target reaction temperature of the polymerization solution.

[0071] Furthermore, the polymer particle manufacturing apparatus 100 of this embodiment can selectively adjust the flow rate of the aqueous phase by setting separate adjustment reference values ​​for the flow rate of the aqueous phase supplied by two flow paths. In this embodiment, for example, a first reference value and a second reference value that is larger than the first reference value are set in advance as adjustment reference values, and the flow rate of the aqueous phase 110 and the flow rate of the aqueous phase 150 can be selectively adjusted by comparing the amount of change in the detected characteristic quantity with the first reference value and the second reference value.

[0072] As shown in Figure 2, in the polymer particle manufacturing apparatus 100, the aqueous phase 150 is directly introduced into the reaction section 40. The aqueous phase 110 passes through the mixing section 30, merges with a fluid containing the activator 120, monomer phase 130, and initiator 140 in the flow path, and is then introduced into the reaction section 40. In the flow path of the mixing section, the adjustment of the flow rate supplied with fluid may be limited in order to uniformly mix the various fluids while maintaining a predetermined mixing ratio. Therefore, in this embodiment, for example, when the amount of change in the detected characteristic quantity is greater than or equal to the first reference value and less than the second reference value, the flow rate supplied with the aqueous phase 110 via the flow rate regulator 71 can be adjusted based on the calculated correction amount. When the amount of change in the detected characteristic quantity is greater than or equal to the second reference value, the flow rate supplied with the aqueous phase 150 via the flow rate regulator 72 can be adjusted based on the calculated correction amount.

[0073] Furthermore, the flow regulators 71 and 72 of the adjustment device 70 can be configured to have different accuracies or flow adjustment ranges. By selecting either the flow regulator 71 or the flow regulator 72 based on the change in characteristic quantities detected by the detection device 60, the amount of aqueous phase introduced into the reaction section 40 can be adjusted more precisely by selectively adjusting the flow rate of the aqueous phase 110 and the flow rate of the aqueous phase 150. This makes it possible to maintain a more stable reaction temperature in the polymerization liquid 450 during the monomer polymerization reaction, and further improve the stability of particle size control.

[0074] In this embodiment, the calculation of the correction amount and the operation of the adjustment device 70 can be performed manually. Furthermore, in the polymer particle manufacturing process, the detection device 60 can detect characteristic quantities multiple times for the polymerization liquid 450 during the polymerization reaction, and the adjustment device 70 can be operated based on each detected characteristic quantity to repeatedly adjust the flow rate of the aqueous phase 110 or aqueous phase 150. In this way, the polymer particle manufacturing apparatus 100 of this embodiment can maintain a stable reaction temperature in the polymerization liquid 450 during the monomer polymerization reaction, and can stably manufacture polymer particles having a desired particle size.

[0075] (Control device) The polymer particle manufacturing apparatus 100 of this disclosure may further include a control device 80. During the monomer polymerization reaction, the control device 80 can be used to calculate correction amounts and operate the adjustment device 70. At this time, as conceptually shown in Figure 2, during the monomer polymerization reaction, the detection device 60 can transmit an electrical signal S to the control device 80 corresponding to a characteristic quantity indicating the fluctuation of the reaction temperature in the polymerization liquid 450 during the monomer polymerization reaction. The control device 80 can control the adjustment of the supply of aqueous phases 110 and 150 according to the received electrical signal S. The configuration of the control device 80 will be described below with reference to Figure 3.

[0076] Figure 3 is a schematic block diagram showing an example configuration of the control device 80 of the polymer particle manufacturing apparatus 100 shown in Figure 2. The control device 80 comprises a processor 81 and a storage device 82. The control device 80 realizes predetermined functions by having the processor 81 execute instructions stored in the storage device 82. The functions of the control device 80 may be configured with hardware alone, or they may be realized by a combination of hardware and software. Furthermore, the control device 80 may comprise one or more processors 81.

[0077] The processor 81 can be composed of, for example, a microcontroller, CPU, MPU, GPU, DSU, FPGA, ASIC, etc. The processor 81 may also consist of dedicated electronic circuits designed to perform a predetermined function.

[0078] The storage device 82 is a storage medium that stores programs and data for realizing the functions of the control device 80. The storage device 82 can be implemented, for example, by a hard disk drive (HDD), SSD, RAM, DRAM, ferroelectric memory, flash memory, magnetic disk, or a combination thereof.

[0079] For example, the control device 80 converts the electrical signal S received from the detection device 60 into a digital signal by AD conversion and processes it as waveform data. The processed waveform data is stored in the storage device 82.

[0080] The storage device 82 can store one or more programs. In this embodiment, the storage device 82 stores a correction amount calculation program 83 and an adjustment device operation program 84. If the control device 80 is connected to a network, programs 83 and 84 may be downloaded from the network as needed. During the monomer polymerization reaction, programs 83 and 84 can be used to cause the processor 81 to calculate the correction amount and operate the adjustment device.

[0081] During the monomer polymerization reaction of the polymer particle manufacturing apparatus 100, the correction amount calculation program 83 and the adjustment device operation program 84 are read from the storage device 82, and the processor 81 is instructed to execute the aqueous phase supply adjustment process S20, thereby controlling the adjustment of the supply of aqueous phases 110 and 150. The aqueous phase supply adjustment process S20 will be described below with reference to Figure 4 in conjunction with Figure 1-3.

[0082] Water phase supply adjustment process Figure 4 is a flowchart showing the aqueous phase supply adjustment process S20 in polymer particle production according to Embodiment 1 of this disclosure. The aqueous phase supply adjustment process S20 allows for the adjustment of the amount of aqueous phase introduced into the reaction section 40 of the polymer particle production apparatus 100 shown in Figure 2 during the monomer polymerization reaction of the polymerization step S02 in the polymer particle production process 10 shown in Figure 1.

[0083] (1) First, in step S101, a characteristic quantity is acquired. At this time, the control device 80 can receive an electrical signal S transmitted from the detection device 60. The electrical signal S is an electrical signal corresponding to the detection data of a characteristic quantity that indicates the fluctuation of the reaction temperature in the polymerization liquid 450 during the monomer polymerization reaction. In this embodiment, the characteristic quantity may be the absorbance or viscosity of the polymerization liquid 450. Furthermore, the transmission and reception of the electrical signal S may be achieved by wired connection or by wireless transmission.

[0084] (2) Next, in step S102, the correction amount is calculated. At this time, the control device 80 reads the correction amount calculation program 83 from the storage device 82 and causes the processor 81 to perform the calculation of the correction amount. When performing the calculation of the correction amount, the electrical signal S received in S101 is used to obtain the change in the characteristic amount of the polymerization liquid 450 during the monomer polymerization reaction with respect to the reference value of the characteristic amount of the polymerization liquid corresponding to the target reaction temperature of the polymerization liquid that can ensure the desired particle size of polymer particles. Furthermore, based on the obtained change in characteristic amount, a correction amount for the flow rate supplied to the reaction section with the aqueous phase can be calculated so that the reaction temperature of the polymerization liquid becomes the target reaction temperature.

[0085] In step S102, in order to calculate the correction amount for the flow rate supplied to the reaction section, data on the target reaction temperature of the polymerization solution that can ensure the desired particle size of polymer particles, and verification data on the correlation between the characteristic quantities of the polymerization solution 450 and the amount of aqueous phase introduced into the reaction section can be used. This data can be acquired in advance and stored in the storage device 82. Alternatively, if the control device 80 is connected to a network, this data may be downloaded from the network and used.

[0086] (3) Next, in step S103, the adjustment device is activated. At this time, the control device 80 reads the adjustment device activation program 84 from the storage device 82 and causes the processor 81 to activate the adjustment device 70. Based on the correction amount calculated in step S102, the control device 80 can activate the adjustment device 70 to adjust the flow rate of the water phase 110 or water phase 150.

[0087] In this embodiment, the water phase supply adjustment process S20 may have one or more adjustment reference values ​​set in advance. The adjustment reference values ​​may be stored in the storage device 82, or the data may be downloaded from a network and used. The control device 80 compares the amount of change of the characteristic quantity detected by the detection device 60 with the adjustment reference value and can operate the adjustment device 70 to selectively adjust the flow rate of water phase 110 and the flow rate of water phase 150.

[0088] In this embodiment, for example, a first reference value and a second reference value greater than the first reference value can be set in advance as adjustment reference values. In this case, as shown in Figure 4, step S103 may optionally include substeps S113, S123, S133, and S143.

[0089] In substep S113, the detected change in characteristic quantity is compared with a first reference value. If the change in characteristic quantity is less than the first reference value, the adjustment device is not activated, and the process proceeds to step S104. If the change in characteristic quantity is greater than or equal to the first reference value, the process proceeds to substep S123, where the change in characteristic quantity is further compared with a second reference value. If the change in characteristic quantity is less than the second reference value, the process proceeds to substep S133, where the control device 80 activates the first adjustment device. For example, as shown in Figure 2, a command signal T1 is sent to the flow regulator 71, and the flow regulator 71 is operated to adjust the flow rate supplied with water phase 110 based on the calculated correction amount. On the other hand, if the change in characteristic quantity is greater than or equal to the second reference value, the process proceeds to substep S143, where the control device 80 activates the second adjustment device. For example, as shown in Figure 2, a command signal T2 is sent to the flow regulator 72, and the flow regulator 72 is operated to adjust the flow rate supplied with water phase 150 based on the calculated correction amount. The transmission and reception of command signals T1 and T2 may be achieved by wired connection or by wireless transmission.

[0090] In this way, by establishing two adjustment reference values ​​and comparing the amount of change in the detected characteristic quantity with the two adjustment reference values, the amount of aqueous phase 110 and the amount of aqueous phase 150 can be selectively adjusted, thereby allowing for more precise control of the amount of aqueous phase introduced into the reaction section. This makes it possible to maintain a more stable reaction temperature in the polymerization solution during the monomer polymerization reaction, and further improve the stability of particle size control.

[0091] (4) After step S103 is performed, the process proceeds to step S104. In step S104, it is determined whether the polymerization reaction has finished or not, and the aqueous phase supply adjustment process S20 is repeatedly performed from step S101 to step S103 until the polymerization reaction is finished.

[0092] The above aqueous phase supply adjustment process S20 allows for the adjustment of the amount of aqueous phase introduced into the reaction section 40 of the polymer particle manufacturing apparatus 100 during the monomer polymerization reaction. It should be noted that the method of adjusting the amount of aqueous phase introduced into the reaction section via S101 to S104 is merely one example, and the adjustment of the amount of aqueous phase introduced into the reaction section during the monomer polymerization reaction is not limited to the process shown in Figure 4.

[0093] For example, without performing step S103 shown in Figure 4, the flow rate of water phase 110 or water phase 150 can be adjusted by manually operating the adjustment device based on the correction amount calculated in step S102. Alternatively, only one adjustment reference value can be used in step S103. In this case, the control device 80 can operate the flow regulator 71 or flow regulator 72 to adjust the flow rate of water phase 110 or water phase 150 when the amount of change in the detected characteristic quantity exceeds the set adjustment reference value.

[0094] The aqueous phase supply adjustment process S20 adjusts the amount of aqueous phase introduced into the reaction chamber during the monomer polymerization reaction in the polymer particle manufacturing process, thereby stabilizing the reaction temperature in the polymerization solution and improving the stability of particle size control. This makes it possible to stably manufacture polymer particles with the desired particle size.

[0095] (Examples and Comparative Examples) In Examples 1-3 and Comparative Example 1, in which polystyrene polymer particles were produced, the effects of the polymer particle production apparatus and polymer particle production method of this disclosure were verified. Examples 1-3 and Comparative Example 1 are described below. However, this disclosure is not limited in any way to these examples or comparative examples.

[0096] <Ingredients> Examples 1-3 and Comparative Example 1 both used the following raw materials to produce polystyrene polymer particles. The raw materials used in Examples 1-3 and Comparative Example 1 will be explained with reference to the polymer particle manufacturing apparatus 100 shown in Figure 2.

[0097] Ultrapure water was used as the aqueous phase 110 in storage section 11 and the aqueous phase 150 in storage section 15. The activator 120 and monomer phase 130 in storage section 12 were a mixed solution of a 40% by weight aqueous solution of the activator (polyoxyalkylene alkyl ether) and the monomer (styrene monomer). As the initiator 140 in storage section 14, an initiator aqueous solution prepared by diluting ammonium persulfate with ultrapure water to a concentration of 5.1% by weight was used.

[0098] <Manufacturing of polystyrene particles> Examples 1-3 involved the production of polystyrene particles using the polymer particle manufacturing apparatus 100 shown in Figure 2. The aqueous phase 110, the activator 120, and the monomer phase 130 were each delivered to channel 21 and channel 22 at a 1:1 flow rate using plunger pumps, and then combined in the first mixer 31 to form a mixed solution, thereby producing an oil-in-water emulsion 350. The activator concentration in the mixed solution was 6.4% by weight. The mixed solution containing the emulsion 350 was delivered to channel 51 at a flow rate of 30 mL / min.

[0099] The initiator 140 was delivered to the channel 24 using a plunger pump and combined with the mixed solution containing emulsion 350 in the second mixer 32 to produce a polymerization solution. In the polymerization solution, the weight ratio of initiator 140 to the mixed solution containing emulsion 350 was 0.023 / 1. The generated polymerization solution was delivered to the channel 52 at a flow rate of 31 mL / min.

[0100] A PTFE tube with a channel diameter of 1 mm was used as the flow path for the polymer particle manufacturing apparatus 100. The first mixer 31 and the second mixer 32 used T-shaped mixers made of SUS316. The inner diameter of the T-shaped mixers was 0.5 mm.

[0101] The polymerization solution was introduced into the reaction vessel 45 of the reaction unit 40. The reaction vessel 45 consisted of a 50 mL screw tube and was temperature-controlled to maintain a constant temperature of 70°C inside. The polymerization solution in the reaction vessel 45 was stirred at a rotation speed of 400 rpm using a hot stirrer and held for 2 hours, after which the manufactured polystyrene particles were recovered.

[0102] (Example 1) As a detection device 60, a vibrating viscometer was installed in the reaction vessel. When the detected viscosity of the polymerization solution fluctuated by 10% or more compared to a predetermined viscosity reference value, the flow rate of the aqueous phase 110 was adjusted using external control of a plunger pump (not shown) based on the calculated correction amount. At this time, the flow rates of the activator 120 and monomer phase 130 were maintained at 15 mL / min.

[0103] (Example 2) As a detection device 60, a vibrating viscometer was installed in the reaction vessel. When the detected viscosity of the polymerization solution fluctuated by 10% or more from a predetermined viscosity reference value, the flow rate of the aqueous phase 150 was adjusted using external control of a plunger pump (not shown) based on the calculated correction amount. Other operations were the same as in Example 1.

[0104] (Example 3) As a detection device 60, a vibrating viscometer was installed in the reaction vessel. When the detected viscosity of the polymerization solution fluctuated by 10% to 20% relative to a predetermined viscosity reference value, the flow rate of the aqueous phase 110 was adjusted based on the calculated correction amount. Furthermore, when the fluctuation exceeded 20% relative to the predetermined viscosity reference value, the flow rate of the aqueous phase 150 was adjusted based on the calculated correction amount. The adjustment device for adjusting the flow rate of the aqueous phase 110 had a flow rate adjustment accuracy of ±1%, and the adjustment device for adjusting the flow rate of the aqueous phase 150 also had a flow rate adjustment accuracy of ±1%. At this time, the flow rates of the activator 120 and monomer phase 130 were maintained at 15 mL / min.

[0105] (Comparative Example 1) Comparative Example 1 utilized the polymer particle manufacturing apparatus 100 shown in Figure 2, but without supplying the aqueous phase 150 and without adjusting the flow rate of the aqueous phase 110. The other operations were the same as in Example 1.

[0106] <Evaluation of particle size stability and particle yield> To evaluate the particle size stability of the manufactured polystyrene particles, the particle size distribution was measured using a dynamic light scattering particle size analyzer. The coefficient of variation (CV) of the particle size distribution is defined by the following formula, where d is the average particle size of the measured particles and SD is the standard deviation of the particle size distribution, and is obtained by measurement using the particle size analyzer. CV (%) = 100 × SD / d

[0107] In Examples 1-3 and Comparative Example 1, the particle size stability of the manufactured polystyrene particles was evaluated. If the CV value of the manufactured polystyrene particles was less than 20%, it was evaluated as "high particle size stability," and if the CV value of the polystyrene particles was 20% or more, it was evaluated as "low particle size stability."

[0108] Furthermore, in Examples 1-3 and Comparative Example 1, the particle yield of the manufactured polystyrene particles was evaluated. The polystyrene particles were classified by particle size, and the particle yield was calculated as the percentage of manufactured polystyrene particles that fell within the specification range of 200 ± 100 nm in particle size. A particle yield of 90% or more was evaluated as "very high particle yield," a particle yield of 80% or more but less than 90% was evaluated as "high particle yield," and a particle yield of less than 80% was evaluated as "low particle yield."

[0109] Table 1 shows the evaluation results for particle size stability and particle yield of the manufactured polystyrene particles in Examples 1-3 and Comparative Example 1. In Table 1, a circle (○) indicates a "high particle size stability" evaluation, and a cross (×) indicates a "low particle size stability" evaluation. Additionally, a double circle (◎) indicates a "very high particle yield" evaluation, a circle (○) indicates a "high particle yield" evaluation, and a cross (×) indicates a "low particle yield" evaluation.

[0110] [Table 1]

[0111] In the particle size stability evaluation, as shown in Table 1, polystyrene particles with a stable particle size distribution were obtained in all three Examples 1-3. On the other hand, comparative example 1 did not yield polystyrene particles with a stable particle size distribution. It was found that during the manufacturing process of comparative example 1, blockage occurred in part of the second mixer 32 and the flow path 52 (see Figure 2) due to solid content in the polymerization solution. It is presumed that this caused an abnormal exothermic reaction, resulting in the manufactured polystyrene particles having a broad particle size distribution outside the specified range.

[0112] Furthermore, in the particle yield evaluation, as shown in Table 1, all three Examples 1-3 achieved high particle yields. On the other hand, Comparative Example 1 had a low yield of polystyrene particles. Moreover, Example 3 achieved a significantly higher particle yield than Examples 1-2. In the manufacturing process of Example 3, the flow rates of the aqueous phase 110 and aqueous phase 150 were selectively adjusted based on the viscosity fluctuations of the polymerization solution 450 detected by the detection device 60. The manufactured polystyrene particles achieved a stable particle size distribution and a very high particle yield.

[0113] The production of polymer particles of polystyrene using Examples 1-3 and Comparative Example 1 demonstrated the advantageous effects of the polymer particle production apparatus and polymer particle production method of this disclosure in that they enable the stable synthesis of particles of a desired particle size.

[0114] As described above, the attached drawings and detailed description are provided to illustrate the embodiments of the technology described herein. Therefore, the components described in the attached drawings and detailed description may include not only components essential for solving the problem, but also components that are not essential for solving the problem, in order to illustrate the technology described above. Therefore, the mere presence of such non-essential components in the attached drawings and detailed description should not be immediately assumed to mean that those non-essential components are essential. [Industrial applicability]

[0115] This disclosure is applicable to the production of polymer particles, and is applicable to the production of polymer particles by emulsion polymerization. Furthermore, this disclosure is applicable to the production of polymer particles using a microreactor. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0116] 10 Polymer particle manufacturing process 11, 12, 14, 15 Storage section 20 Supply section 21, 22, 24 Channels 30 Mixing section 31,32 mixer 40 Reaction section 45 Reaction vessels 50, 51, 52 channel 60 detection devices 70 Adjustment device 71,72 Flow regulator 80 Control device 81 processors 82 Storage device 83 Correction Amount Calculation Program 84 Adjustment device operation program 100 Polymer particle manufacturing equipment 110,150 aqueous phase 120 Activators 130 Monomer phase 140 Initiator 350 Emulsion 450 Polymerization solution S01 Emulsification process S02 Polymerization process S20 Water Phase Supply Adjustment Process

Claims

1. An apparatus for producing an oil-in-water emulsion by mixing an aqueous phase, an activator, and a monomer phase, and for producing polymer particles by a monomer polymerization reaction using the produced emulsion, A supply unit including a channel for supplying the first aqueous phase and a plurality of channels for supplying the activator, monomer phase, and initiator, A mixing unit comprising: a first mixer located downstream of the supply unit, which combines the first aqueous phase, the activator, and the monomer phase to produce an emulsion and transfers it downstream; and a second mixer which combines the emulsion and the initiator to produce a polymerization solution and transfers it downstream. A reaction section is located downstream of the mixing section and uses the polymerization liquid to carry out a monomer polymerization reaction, A channel for supplying the second aqueous phase to the reaction section, Equipped with, Polymer particle manufacturing equipment.

2. A detection device is located downstream of the second mixer and detects the characteristic amount of the polymerization liquid, An adjustment device that adjusts the amount of aqueous phase introduced into the reaction section based on the detected characteristic quantity, It also has, The apparatus for producing polymer particles according to claim 1.

3. Further equipped with a control device, The control device is Processor and A memory device storing instructions to be executed by the aforementioned processor, Equipped with, The command calculates a correction amount for the flow rate of the aqueous phase supplied to the reaction section based on the characteristic quantity detected by the detection device. The adjustment device adjusts the flow rate of the first water phase or the second water phase based on the calculated correction amount. The apparatus for producing polymer particles according to claim 2.

4. The aforementioned instruction further states, Based on the calculated correction amount, the adjustment device is operated to adjust the flow rate supplied to the first or second water phase. The polymer particle manufacturing apparatus according to claim 3.

5. The aforementioned instruction is, When the detected characteristic quantity changes from a predetermined reference value by a first reference value or more and less than a second reference value, the adjustment device is operated to adjust the flow rate supplied to the first aqueous phase based on the calculated correction amount. When the amount of change is greater than or equal to the second reference value, the adjustment device is operated to adjust the flow rate of the second water phase based on the calculated correction amount. The first reference value and the second reference value are preset adjustment reference values, wherein the second reference value is greater than the first reference value. The apparatus for producing polymer particles according to claim 4.

6. The characteristic quantity is the absorbance or viscosity of the polymerization solution. The polymer particle manufacturing apparatus according to claim 2 or 3.

7. The first mixer and the second mixer are composed of tubular flow channels. The inner diameter of the tubular channel is 0.1 mm or more and 10 mm or less. The apparatus for producing polymer particles according to claim 1 or 2.

8. The reaction section comprises a reaction tank, The monomer polymerization reaction is carried out in the reaction vessel. The apparatus for producing polymer particles according to claim 1 or 2.

9. An emulsification step is performed in which the first aqueous phase, the activator, and the monomer phase are combined in a flow channel to produce an oil-in-water emulsion. A polymerization step is to combine the prepared emulsion and the initiator to produce a polymerization solution, and then use the produced polymerization solution to carry out a monomer polymerization reaction in the reaction section. A method for producing polymer particles having the following characteristics: This includes supplying a second aqueous phase to the reaction section. Polymer particle manufacturing method.

10. To detect the characteristic quantities of the polymerization solution, The amount of aqueous phase introduced into the reaction section is adjusted based on the detected characteristic quantity, This also includes, The method for producing polymer particles according to claim 9.

11. Adjusting the amount of aqueous phase introduced into the reaction section based on the detected characteristic quantity is, Based on the detected characteristic quantity, a correction amount is calculated for the flow rate of the aqueous phase supplied to the reaction section, Based on the calculated correction amount, the adjustment device is operated to adjust the flow rate of the first or second water phase. including, The method for producing polymer particles according to claim 10.

12. Adjusting the amount of aqueous phase introduced into the reaction section based on the detected characteristic quantity is, When the detected characteristic quantity changes from a predetermined reference value by a first reference value or more and less than a second reference value, the adjustment device is operated to adjust the flow rate supplied to the first aqueous phase based on the calculated correction amount. When the amount of change is greater than or equal to the second reference value, the adjustment device is operated to adjust the flow rate of the second water phase based on the calculated correction amount. This further includes, The first reference value and the second reference value are preset adjustment reference values, wherein the second reference value is greater than the first reference value. The method for producing polymer particles according to claim 11.

13. A program that causes a processor to adjust the amount of aqueous phase introduced into the reaction section based on the detected characteristic quantity in the polymer particle manufacturing method according to claim 11 or 12.

14. A non-temporary, computer-readable storage medium for storing the program described in claim 13.

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