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Mathematical Modeling of Molecular Weight Distributions in Vinyl Chloride Suspension Polymerizations Performed with a Bifunctional Initiator through Probability Generating Functions
Author(s) -
Castor Carlos A.,
Sarmoria Claudia,
Asteasuain Mariano,
Brandolin Adriana,
Pinto José C.
Publication year - 2014
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.201400038
Subject(s) - bifunctional , monomer , vinyl chloride , molar mass distribution , polymer , polymer chemistry , suspension (topology) , molecular mass , radical polymerization , materials science , chemistry , mathematics , organic chemistry , copolymer , pure mathematics , homotopy , catalysis , enzyme
This paper presents a mathematical model to describe the evolution of the molecular weight distribution (MWD) in vinyl chloride (VCM) free‐radical suspension polymerizations performed with a bifunctional initiator, 1,3‐di(2‐neodecanoylperoxyisopropyl) (DIPND). The model yields, as a function of time, the mass balances for the distinct phases, the monomer conversion, the number‐ and mass‐average molecular weights and the complete MWD of both the growing and dead polymer chains. In order to describe the MWD, the model uses probability generating functions (pgf) to transform the mass balance equations into a reduced and finite set of model equations. As shown throughout many examples, the MWD's of the final polymer resin is little sensitive to the presence of the linear symmetrical bifunctional initiator.