Case studies with mathematical modeling of free-radical multi-component bulk/solution polymerizations: Part 2

In Part 2 of this series of two extensive overviews of multi-component polymerization case studies, we again present mathematical modeling results with experimental confirmations. Part 2 represents a refinement and expansion of the detailed and extensive mathematical model presented in Part 1 for free-radical, bulk and/or solution multi-component polymerizations. The expansion is mainly with respect to depropagation, thus making the model more fluent at elevated polymerization temperatures and, in parallel, with additional features as backbiting (with systems involving butyl acrylate). The model considers up to six monomers (unique in the literature), for either batch or semi-batch reactor modes. As the simulator database contains several monomers, initiators, solvents, chain transfer agents and inhibitors, all tested over a wide range of polymerization conditions, from data in both academic and industrial laboratories, several hundred combinations of ingredients can be modeled. The many outputs generated by the model include conversion, molecular weight, polymer composition, branching indicators, sequence length, as well as many other polymerization characteristics related to both production rate and polymer quality. Although the only literature data found to date contain a maximum of four monomers, model predictions for homo-, co-, ter- and tetra-polymerizations show reasonable agreement against the data at both regular and elevated temperatures. With these expansions, this model is directed towards becoming a complete free-radical polymerization tool for training and educational uses both in industry and academia.     

乳液原子转移自由基聚合*

原子转移自由基聚合(ATRP)应用于乳液聚合体系的主要挑战在于如何同时保证乳液的稳定性和聚合反应的可控性。本文主要对乳液ATRP体系中影响聚合反应可控性和乳液稳定性的各种因素、乳液ATRP的机理和乳液ATRP的应用等方面进行了综述。表面活性剂亲水亲油性及其亲水亲油基团的化学性质、催化剂/配体在油/水两相之间的分配行为、引发剂的溶解性、反应温度以及各组分的浓度是影响反应可控性和乳液稳定性的主要因素。各组分在油/水两相中的分配行为使得乳液ATRP的机理比传统乳液聚合更加复杂。乳液原子转移自由基聚合结合了活性自由基聚合和乳液聚合的优点,在理论研究和工业生产上具有很大的应用前景。     

Emulsion copolymerization of butyl acrylate with cationic monomer using interfacial redox initiator system

The polymerization kinetics of butyl acrylate/[2‐(methacryloyoxy)ethyl]trimethyl ammonium chloride (BA/MAETAC) macroemulsion and miniemulsion copolymerizations was investigated with cumene hydroperoxide/tetraethylenepentamine as a redox initiator system. The postulate of an interfacial copolymerization with the two‐component redox initiator system (one hydrophobic and the other hydrophilic) was confirmed. Adding MAETAC had a complex effect on the polymerization kinetics of BA. The influence was ascribed to variations in the nucleation mechanism, which were dependent on the level of MAETAC, and the polymerization method (macroemulsion vs miniemulsion). It was proposed that at the beginning of a macroemulsion copolymerization with high MAETAC composition the micellar copolymerization occurred, which controlled the nucleation process. The hydration properties of the latex were used to characterize the copolymer composition. The composition of the copolymer from the interfacial polymerization was very heterogeneous. The copolymer composition was lower in BA when there was an increase in BA conversion or the particle size. Adding salt increased the MAETAC content and decreased the BA content in the copolymer. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 39: 2696–2709, 2001     

Miniemulsion polymerization of styrene with a block copolymer surfactant

A series of miniemulsion systems based on styrene/azobisisobutyronitrile in the presence of poly(methyl methacrylate‐b‐2‐(dimethylamino)ethyl methacrylate) as a surfactant and hexadecane (HD) as a cosurfactant were developed. For comparison, a series of pseudoconventional emulsions also were carried out with the same procedure used for the aforementioned series but without the cosurfactant (HD). Both the droplet size and shelf life were also measured. Experimental results indicate that it is possible to slow the effect of Ostwald ripening and thereby produce a stable miniemulsion with the block copolymer as the surfactant and HD as the cosurfactant. In addition, the extent to which varying the surfactant concentration and copolymer composition could affect both the polymer particle size during the polymerization and the polymerization rate was examined. Variation in the polymer particle sizes during polymerization indicates that droplet and aqueous (micellar or both homogeneous) nucleation occurs in the miniemulsion polymerization. With the same concentration of the surfactant used in the miniemulsion polymerization, the polymerization rates of systems with M₁₂B₃₆ are faster than those of systems with M₁₂B₁₂. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 38: 1818–1827, 2000     

超浓乳液聚合制备PU/PS的SIPN粉状树脂研究

将聚氨酯予聚体 (PU ) 苯乙烯 (St)的复合体系 ,用超浓乳液聚合方法制备了半互穿聚合物网络(SIPN)复合聚合物 ,得到了用聚氨酯予聚体改性的聚苯乙烯 (PU/PS)SIPN粉状树脂 .研究了分散相的比例(α)和聚合温度对聚合稳定性及聚合转化率 -时间的关系 ;测定了聚合物胶乳粒子的大小、形态 ,玻璃化温度 ,动态力学性能等 .结果表明 ,超浓乳液聚合较之本体聚合具有较高的聚合速率 ,容易控制所制备的胶乳粒径 ,能够制得PU/PS复合聚合物的SIPN粉状树脂 .该粉状树脂便于加工 ,具有良好的强韧性 ,有利于扩大应用     

Target grafting of poly(2-(dimethylamino)ethyl methacrylate) to biodegradable block copolymers

A series of copolymers composed of methoxy poly(ethylene glycol) and a hydrophobic block of poly(ɛ-caprolactone-co-propargyl carbonate) grafted with poly(2-[dimethylamino]ethyl methacrylate) was synthesized by combining ring opening polymerization, azide-alkyne click reaction, and atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP). Well-defined copolymers with a target composition and a tailored structure were achieved via the grafting from approach by using a single catalytic system for both click reaction and ATRP. Kinetic studies demonstrated the controlled/living character of the employed polymerization methods. The thermal properties and self-assembly in aqueous medium of the graft copolymers were dependent on their composition. The resulting polymeric materials showed low cytotoxicity toward L929 cells, demonstrating their potential for biomedical applications. This type of materials containing cationic side chains tethered to biocompatible and biodegradable segments could be the basis for promising candidates as drug and gene delivery systems.     

High Temperature Free Radical Copolymerization with Depropagation and Penultimate Kinetic Effects

Summary: Methacrylate copolymers produced under higher temperature starved‐feed conditions are affected by depropagation, and some binary systems also experience a penultimate effect. In this work a generalized set of equations has been developed to describe the combined effect of depropagation and penultimate copolymerization kinetics on instantaneous copolymer composition and average copolymerization rate coefficients. Limiting cases applicable to the methacrylate/styrene system are examined. When combined with depropagation, penultimate kinetics not only decrease the effective propagation rate coefficient but also deviate from terminal model predictions of polymer composition.

Copolymerization chain growth with penultimate kinetics and depropagation.     

Estimating Reactivity Ratios From Triad Fraction Data

Reactivity ratio estimation is a non-linear estimation problem. Typically, reactivity ratios are estimated using the instantaneous copolymer composition equation, otherwise known as the Mayo-Lewis model, based on low conversion (<5%) copolymer composition data. However, there are other instantaneous models, which can be used to estimate reactivity ratios, such as the instantaneous triad fraction equations. The aim of this paper is to determine the potential improvement in reactivity ratio estimates when triad fraction data is used in place of and in combination with copolymer composition data. The interest in using triad fraction data in parameter estimation, stems from the fact that there are a greater number of responses measured (six triad fractions) compared to composition leading to data with theoretically more information content. In principle this should lead to reactivity ratio estimates having less uncertainty. In this study, the parameter estimates are obtained by employing the error in variables model (EVM), assuming a multiplicative error structure. Several case studies involving published literature data for different copolymer systems are presented. As the case studies demonstrate in general more precise estimates can be obtained from triad fraction data. Combining the triad fraction with composition data leads to little additional improvement. However, discrepancies arise between reactivity ratios estimated from composition data compared with those obtained from triad fraction data depending upon the copolymer system. Those copolymer systems exhibiting more heterogeneity due to phase separation during polymerization may be showing more discrepancy.     

Cationic Copolymerization with Depropagation. The Copolymerization of α-Methylstyrene and Styrene

ABSTRACT

To evaluate the existence of the depropagation reaction in the copolymerization of vinyl monomers, the cationic copolymerization of α-methylstyrene with styrene was studied. The copolymer composition exhibited an extensive dependency on the temperature of polymerization and the monomer concentration, this fact not being explained by the Mayo-Lewis equation. Treatment of the copolymerization in terms of the depropagation reaction led to an estimate of the monomer reactivity ratio and the equilibrium constant between the polymer and the monomer of α-methylstyrene. A comparison of the equilibrium constants thus obtained with those reported in the literature indicates that the magnitude of the equilibrium constants depends on the sequence length of α-methylstyrene units. By extrapolation to long sequence length, the equilibrium constants approach the values which are reported for high molecular weight poly(α-methylstyrene).     

Influence of Polymerization Temperature on Reactivity of 1- and 2.Vinyl Naphthalenes

Reactivity ratios relative to the copolymerizations of 1-vinyl naphthalene and 2-vinyl naphthalene with styrene have been determined at different specific temperatures. In the case of the system 1-vinyl naphthalene-styrene, the Arrhenius plot exhibits a curve when the temperature is above -50°C. This is explained by the depropagation contribution, The value of the enthalpy of polymerization calculated by using the Lowry relation is in satisfactory agreement with that obtained from calorimetric determinations. From activation enthalpies and entropies it appears that the selection of the two monomers by the cation is entropically controlled for 2-vinyl naphthalene and enthalpically controlled for 1-vinyl naphthalene.     

Preparation of PEG-modified urethane acrylate emulsion and its emulsion polymerization

In order to improve stability and reduce droplet size, the PEG-modified urethane acrylates were synthesized by the reaction of polyethylene glycol (PEG) with residual isocyanate groups of urethane acrylate to incorporate hydrophilic groups into the molecular ends. The droplet sizes of the PEG-modified urethane acrylate emulsions were much smaller than those of unmodified urethane acrylate emulsions at the same surfactant composition, and the droplet sizes of these emulsions were significantly effected not by surfactant compositions and types, but by the reaction molar ratio of PEG, because the urethane acrylate containing polyoxyethylene groups as terminal groups aided the interfacial activity of surfactant molecules and acted as a polymeric surfactant. The actions of PEG-modified urethane acrylate were confirmed by the investigation of adsorption of urethane acrylate in a water/benzene interface.For polymerization of emulsions, the stability of emulsion in the process of emulsion polymerization was changed by the type of surfactant or initiator. In the case of emulsion polymerization with a water soluble initiator (K₂S₂O₈), the emulsions prepared using TWEEN 60 were broken in the process of polymerization. However, polymerization of these emulsions could be carried out using an oil soluble initiator (AIBN). The conversion of emulsion polymerization changed with the type of urethane acrylates, that is, the reaction molar ratio of PEG to 2-HEMA.     

甲基丙烯酸甲酯-甲基丙烯酸无规共聚物的合成及其在乳液聚合中的应用

通过自由基共聚制备了不同组成的甲基丙烯酸甲酯-甲基丙烯酸无规共聚物,用碱中和后作为大分子乳化剂用于乳液聚合.研究了无规共聚物的组成、用量及反应温度对乳液聚合的影响.结果表明,在相同的反应条件下,乳化剂中聚甲基丙烯酸含量越多,乳液聚合速率越快;同一乳化剂,随乳化剂浓度的增加,乳液聚合速率增加;在乳化剂组成、浓度不变的情况下,反应温度越高,乳液聚合速率越大.     

聚合方法对一种正离子聚丙烯酰胺结构与性能的影响

对相同进料比下,以过硫酸胺/亚硫酸氢钠为氧化还原引发剂,分别用溶液法和反相微乳液法合成的丙烯酰胺(AM)与2-甲基丙烯酰氧乙基三甲基氯化胺(MADQUAT)的共聚物P(AM-MADQUAT),根据单体竞聚率计算了两种共聚物的序列分布和组成分布.考察了两种聚合物结构对高岭土絮体尺寸、zeta电位降以及絮体压缩屈服应力的影响,初步建立了不同聚合方法合成的阳离子聚丙烯酰胺结构与絮凝性能之间的相关性.     

烯烃可控/活性正离子聚合新方法与新工艺及其应用

<正>离子聚合是高分子科学中重要的聚合方法之一,也是制备聚异丁烯或丁基橡胶等关键材料不可或缺的聚合方法.本文总结了异丁烯、苯乙烯及其衍生物等单体可控/活性正离子聚合的新引发体系、聚合反应特征的调节与转化、水相介质中正离子聚合新方法与新工艺、微观分子混合与正离子聚合新工艺及其用于设计合成异丁烯基聚合物.这些方法与技术是发展高效节能与绿色减排先进聚合物生产技术的重要途径,部分研究成果已在产业化中得到应用与验证.发展可控/活性正离子聚合新体系、新方法与新工艺,为实现绿色低碳高分子化工过程及相关产品工程(新结构、新功能、高性能与高品质)提供了新思路与新技术.     

Bulk free‐radical photopolymerizations of 1‐vinyl‐2‐pyrrolidinone and its derivatives

An investigation of the free‐radical bulk photopolymerization of 1‐vinyl‐2‐pyrrolidinone (NVP) with an NVP‐based crosslinker, 1,6‐(bis‐3‐vinyl‐2‐pyrrolidinonyl)hexane (BNVP), and an NVP‐based comonomer, 3‐hexyl‐1‐vinyl‐2‐pyrrolidinone (VHP), was carried out. The enthalpies of polymerization were determined for NVP and VHP to be 30.8 and 35.7 kJ/mol, respectively. The rates of polymerization were determined for NVP/VHP and NVP/BNVP systems at various temperatures. These photopolymerization studies revealed that the overall rates of polymerization of these 3‐alkylated‐2‐pyrrolidinone derivatives increased with substitution onto the pyrrolidinone ring. A series of pyrrolidinone‐based additives in bulk NVP were used in model photopolymerizations of NVP for the evaluation of plasticizer effects. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 40: 694–706, 2002; DOI 10.1002/pola.10142     

Modeling the Chain-Length Differentiated Polymer Microstructure of α-Olefins

Summary: Due to a complex polymerization scheme, incorporating besides propagation, termination and transfer to monomer and chain transfer agents in addition intra- and inter-molecular transfer to polymer as well as β-scission, α-olefin (co)polymers feature a quite complex polymeric microstructure. It is demanding to design a kinetic model that describes these in a predictive manner in order to have a tool for computer-aided product design. The molecular weight distribution and branching indices together with the composition are the subjects of interest in this case. The latter quantities are often provided as being averaged over the molecular weight distribution. Modern coupled analytical techniques of size exclusion chromatography provide even more insight. The combination of size exclusion chromatography with fractionation techniques provide under adequate processing of the data branching indices and co-polymer composition differentiated with respect to chain-lengths. This contribution will inspect how good a model for predicting the chain-length differentiated co-polymer composition in high-pressure high-temperature ethene – vinyl acetate-co-polymerizations will coincide with analytical results of technical products.     

Recent Advances in Automatic Continuous Online Monitoring of Polymerization Reactions (ACOMP)

ACOMP allows comprehensive, model-independent, near realtime monitoring of many different types of polymerization reactions. It provides conversion kinetics, and the evolution of average molar mass, intrinsic viscosity and average composition distributions (for copolymers). Here, recent advances in ACOMP will be summarized, dealing with continuous reactors, copolymerization, ‘living’ type reactions (NMP, RAFT, ATRP, ROMP), polyelectrolytes, heterogeneous phase reactions, including free radical reactions in emulsions, and predictive control. In the case of emulsion polymerization, a new approach will be presented in which the evolution of the characteristics of both the soluble phase – monomer conversion, polymer molar mass and intrinsic viscosity- and the dispersed phase – particle size – are simultaneously monitored. NSF CBET 0623531, BoR ITRS 019B, NASA NCC3-946, TIMES, PolyRMC (Tulane Center for Polymer Reaction Monitoring and Characterization).     

Polymerization of aliphatic disubstituted acetylenes by MoOCl4–n‐Bu4Sn–EtOH catalyst: Formation of polymers with narrow MWDs and confirmation of the living character

The polymerization of aliphatic disubstituted acetylenes was examined with MoOCl₄–n‐Bu₄Sn–EtOH (1/1/2) ternary catalyst in anisole at 0 °C. Various linear aliphatic disubstituted acetylenes such as 2‐nonyne provided polymers with narrow molecular weight distributions (weight‐average molecular weight/number‐average molecular weight = 1.05–1.20). The living character of the polymerization was proven by both the time profile of the polymerization and the multistage polymerization of 2‐nonyne. The initiation efficiency was about 3%, which is rather low. Although 5‐dodecyne, which has a triple bond in a more inner part, polymerized more slowly than 2‐nonyne, their living characters were hardly different. Diblock copolymers were synthesized by the sequential living polymerization of internal linear alkynes. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 38: 2697–2701, 2000     

Photoenzymatic RAFT Emulsion Polymerization with Oxygen Tolerance

Photoenzymatic reversible addition-fragmenatation chain transfer(RAFT) emulsion polymerization, surfactant-free or ab initio, of various monomers is reported with oxygen tolerance. In surfactant-free emulsion polymerizatoin, poly(N,N-dimethylacrylamide)s were used as stabilizer blocks for emulsion polymerization of methyl acrylate, n-butyl acrylate and styrene, producing well-defined amphiphilic block copolymers, including those with an ultrahigh molecular weight, at quantitative conversions. The controlled character of surfactant-free emulsion polymerization was confirmed by kinetic studies, chain extension studies and GPC analyses. Temporal control was demonstrated by light ON/OFF experiments. In ab initio emulsion polymerization of methyl acrylate and methyl methacrylate, low-dispersity hydrophobic polymers were synthesized with predictable molecular weights. This study extends the monomer scope suitable for photoenzymatic RAFT polymerization from hydrophilic to hydrophobic monomers and demonstrates that oxygen-tolerance can be equally achieved for emulsion polymerization with excellent RAFT control.     

Kinetics and thermodynamics of anionic polymerization of 2-methoxy-2-oxo-1,3,2-dioxaphosphorinane

Kinetic activation parameters and thermodynamic functions describing the reversible anionic polymerization of 2-methoxy-2-oxo-1,3,2-dioxaphosphorinane (1,3-propylene methyl phosphate) were determined. Enthalpy and entropy of the anionic propagation ? depropagation equilibrium were found to be close to those found previously by the present authors for the cationic polymerization, while the activation parameters of propagation and depropagation differ substantially for both processes and reflect the differences in the involved mechanisms. Thus, data for anionic polymerization (and cationic polymerization in parentheses) are: ΔH_1s° = ?0.7 kcal/mole (?1.1); ΔS_1s° = ?2.8 cal/mole-deg (?5.4); ΔH_p^? = 26.7 kcal/mole, and ΔS_p^? = ?6.1 cal/mole-deg. The polymers obtained have low degrees of polymerization (DP _n ≤ 10) because of the extensive chain transfer, leaving cyclic end groups in macromolecules. The presence, structure and concentration of the end groups have been determined by ¹H-, ³¹P-, and ¹³C-NMR spectra.