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Control of molecular weight distribution and tensile strength in a free radical styrene polymerization process
Author(s) -
Crowley Timothy J.,
Choi Kyu Yong
Publication year - 1998
Publication title -
journal of applied polymer science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.575
H-Index - 166
eISSN - 1097-4628
pISSN - 0021-8995
DOI - 10.1002/(sici)1097-4628(19981031)70:5<1017::aid-app23>3.0.co;2-3
Subject(s) - molar mass distribution , ultimate tensile strength , polystyrene , materials science , polymer , styrene , suspension polymerization , radical polymerization , suspension (topology) , composite material , polymerization , polymer chemistry , mass fraction , chemical engineering , copolymer , mathematics , homotopy , pure mathematics , engineering
Abstract A new method is presented for modeling and controlling polymer molecular weight distribution (MWD) and tensile strength in a batch suspension polymerization of styrene. The molecular weight distribution is modeled by computing the weight fraction of the polymer in different chain length intervals. Tensile strength is then related to the modeled molecular weight distribution using a correlation available in the literature and based on the concept of a threshold molecular weight. This method enables the design of operating conditions for a batch suspension polymerization reactor, which will theoretically yield amorphous polystyrene with a desired tensile strength. Two numerical examples are presented to illustrate the feasibility of the proposed method. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 70: 1017–1026, 1998