Optimization of the Molecular Weight Distribution Shape in Living Free Radical Polymerization Processes

ASTEASUAIN, MARIANO; SOARES, M; LENZI, MARCELO K; BRANDOLIN, ADRIANA; DASILVA PINTO, JOSÉ CARLOS; SARMORIA, C

Buenos Aires

Congreso; XXII Interamerican Chemical Engineering Congress/ V Argentine Chemical Engineering Congress; 2006

Comité Organizador

?Living? free radical polymerization is a relatively new polymerization process that can be used for preparing resins with controlled structure. In this work, a mathematical model of a nitroxide-mediated ?living? free radical polymerization in a tubular reactor is used for the optimization of the process in order to obtain tailor-made MWDs. Operating conditions and design variables are determined so as to produce polymers with optimal shape of its MWD. Bimodal and trimodal MWDs with specific location of the distribution peaks are obtained