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Estimating Kinetic Parameters for the Spontaneous Polymerization of Glycidol at Elevated Temperatures
Author(s) -
Weiss Maximilian E. R.,
Paulus Florian,
Steinhilber Dirk,
Nikitin Anatoly N.,
Haag Rainer,
Schütte Christof
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
macromolecular theory and simulations
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.37
H-Index - 56
eISSN - 1521-3919
pISSN - 1022-1344
DOI - 10.1002/mats.201200003
Subject(s) - glycidol , polymerization , monomer , chemistry , polymer chemistry , bulk polymerization , kinetic energy , radical polymerization , chemical engineering , organic chemistry , polymer , catalysis , physics , quantum mechanics , engineering
The ring‐opening polymerization of glycidol at elevated temperatures is investigated. To improve the synthesis of dendritic polyether polyols, experiments are carried out without initiator to identify the influence of thermal side reactions. This results in a step‐growth polymerization caused by the spontaneous combination of monomers. Kinetic parameters of the side reactions are estimated by fitting simulated number‐ and weight‐average molecular weights to the experimental values measured at different reaction times during the polymerization. The reactions are conducted at three different temperatures of 90, 105, and 120 °C. It is shown that thermal side reactions lead to high dispersities of the final product and are highly sensitive to the reactor operating temperature.