A model for molecular weight prediction in acrylonitrile polymerization


Atasoy I., Berber R., Yuceer M.

POLYMER-PLASTICS TECHNOLOGY AND ENGINEERING, cilt.47, sa.9, ss.874-882, 2008 (SCI-Expanded) identifier identifier

Özet

The number and weight-average molecular weights in acrylonitrile polymerization have been calculated previously by Peebles([2]). However, the foundations for the two critically important expressions leading to the calculation of molecular weights were not disclosed in detail, no dynamics were presented, and predictions were not in good agreement with the experimental data, particularly in terms of polydispersity index. The present work focuses on the same issue, and brings a new rigorous dynamic model, based on the kinetics given by Peebles([2]). The new, more detailed model defines the chain lengths in terms of the leading moments of active and dead polymer, provides the prediction of reactor dynamics in compliance with the practice in industry, and estimates the polydispersity index of the polymer with better agreement to the experimental data.