Emulsion polymerization of isoprene: mathematical model for long-chain branching

RODRÍGUEZ, VIRGINIA I; MINARI, ROQUE J.; ESTENOZ, DIANA A; GUGLIOTTA, LUIS M.; MEIRA, GREGORIO R.

JOURNAL OF APPLIED POLYMER SCIENCE

JOHN WILEY & SONS INC

Lugar: New York; Año: 2013 vol. 127 p. 1038 - 1046

0021-8995

A published mathematical model [Minari et al., J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2010, 116, 590] was extended for predicting the molecular weight distribution (MWD) and the distribution of long-chain branches of a polyisoprene obtained in a batch emulsion polymerization at 10 °C in the presence of a chain transfer agent. The model calculates the MWD of all the branched topologies; with each topology characterized by the number of tri- and tetra-functional branches per molecule. At the reaction end, and according to the new predictions, the linear topology remains as the most abundant (with 50% of the total mass), followed by the single trifunctionally-branched topology (with 20% of the total mass).