Polymerization reaction by charge injection

Claim 1

A process for the free radical polymerization of liquid monomers into thermoplastic polymers, which comprises: (a) introducing at least one monomer into a chamber of a cell of an electrostatic atomizing device, said electrostatic having a discharge spray means; (b) means for injecting an electrical charge through said liquid monomer in said chamber, said electrical charge being sufficient to generate free excess charge in said liquid monomer to initiate polymerization of said monomer into a polymer within said chamber, said means including at least a first electrode and a second electrode disposed in said chamber, said first and second electrodes being in liquid contact with said monomer within said chamber, said first and said second electrodes being of different voltages; (c) ejecting said charged thermoplastic polymer through said discharge spray means in the form of a stream or charged droplets; and (d) directing said formed stream or charged droplets towards a third electrode at a different potential and disposed externally to said housing for producing a high electric field in said thermoplastic polymer at said discharge spray means, said field being produced by a voltage differential between said thermoplastic polymer and said external electrode.