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Continuous Atom Transfer Radical Polymerization in a Tubular Reactor
Author(s) -
Müller Matthias,
Cunningham Michael F.,
Hutchinson Robin A.
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
macromolecular reaction engineering
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.37
H-Index - 32
eISSN - 1862-8338
pISSN - 1862-832X
DOI - 10.1002/mren.200700029
Subject(s) - dispersity , polymerization , atom transfer radical polymerization , radical polymerization , polymer chemistry , plug flow reactor model , molar mass distribution , continuous reactor , chain transfer , chemistry , living free radical polymerization , reversible addition−fragmentation chain transfer polymerization , batch reactor , living polymerization , styrene , chemical engineering , materials science , bulk polymerization , copolymer , continuous stirred tank reactor , polymer , organic chemistry , catalysis , engineering
The use of a tubular reactor for conducting living radical polymerizations by atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) was investigated. Solution polymerization experiments were performed with styrene and butyl acrylate to elucidate the influence of a continuous reaction process on conversion, molecular weight, and polydispersity compared to batch polymerization experiments. The continuous polymerizations were well controlled. Initial conversion was found to be slightly higher in the tubular reactor than in a batch polymerization run at similar conditions, while number average molecular weight and polydispersity are comparable between the continuous and batch processes. Residence time distribution studies showed the reactor exhibits nearly plug flow behavior.