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Continuous ATRP Synthesis of Block‐Like Copolymers via Column Reactors: Design and Validation of a Kinetic Model
Author(s) -
Dervaux Bart,
Junkers Tanja,
BarnerKowollik Christopher,
Du Prez Filip E.
Publication year - 2009
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.200900046
Subject(s) - copolymer , dispersity , monomer , materials science , polymer chemistry , kinetic energy , molar mass distribution , continuous reactor , thermodynamics , continuous flow , flow (mathematics) , chemistry , chemical engineering , polymer , organic chemistry , catalysis , mechanics , physics , composite material , quantum mechanics , engineering
A model for the block‐like copolymerization via continuous supported ATRP was developed, enabling the calculation of the sequence distributions of the different monomers as a function of chain length in continuous flow reactors. Polydispersity indices, copolymer compositions, and complete molecular weight distributions could be predicted. The model was extensively tested under a wide range of reaction conditions and the outcome was compared with experimental data. An almost perfect match between the simulated and experimental kinetic data (first order kinetic plots, conversions, and PDI) was observed. A reasonable fit for the composition data of the copolymers was obtained. The influence of the flow rate in the column reactor on the copolymer composition was studied.