Journal of Polymer Science Part A: Polymer Chemistry, Vol.36, No.12, 2081-2094, 1998
Kinetic model-based experimental design of the polymerization conditions in suspension copolymerization of styrene/divinylbenzene
The use of a mechanistic model-based experimental design technique to determine the polymerization conditions and polymer properties in suspension copolymerization of styrene and divinylbenzene is reported. The technique consists of using a mathematical model to design the polymerization conditions of a copolymer with characteristics specified beforehand. The properties( conversion, gel content, molecular weight averages, and copolymer composition) of the copolymer synthesized using this approach agree very well with the calculated properties for the pregelation period, but accurate prediction of properties during the postgelation period is still uncertain. It is demonstrated that the use of mechanistic modeling for experimental design purposes can be more adequate (when the model is sound, yet simple to solve) than other design techniques (e.g., factorial designs).
Keywords:FREE-RADICAL POLYMERIZATION;CROSS-LINKING;CROSSLINKING COPOLYMERIZATION;GEL STATE;DIVINYLBENZENE;REACTOR;STYRENE