Accession Number:

AD0744662

Title:

Effect of Temperature Variations on Molecular Weight Distributions - Batch, Chain Addition Polymerizations

Descriptive Note:

Technical rept.

Corporate Author:

STEVENS INST OF TECH HOBOKEN NJ DEPT OF CHEMISTRY AND CHEMICAL ENGINEERING

Personal Author(s):

• Sacks, Martin E.
• Lee, Soo-il
• Biesenberger, Joseph A.

Report Date:

1972-06-01

Pagination or Media Count:

46.0

Abstract:

The Maximum Principle was applied to determine the types of temperature variations that minimize and maximize the breadth of the molecular weight distribution MWD for chain addition polymerizations in batch reactors. It was found that the variations which minimize the breadth of the MWD keep the instantaneous number average chain length constant. The variations which maximize the breadth of the MWD are step changes in temperature resulting in bimodal distributions. Numerical and experimental examples of such variations are presented. MWDs with minimum and maximum breadths are compared to those that might be formed by temperature variations in real reactors. Under most conditions, temperature variations appear to have a much greater effect on MWD than residence time distributions and micromixing.

Descriptors:

• *POLYMERIZATION
• *MOLECULAR WEIGHT
• MATHEMATICAL MODELS
• TEMPERATURE
• FREE RADICALS
• ADDITION REACTIONS
• STYRENE PLASTICS
• REACTION KINETICS
• DISTRIBUTION

Subject Categories:

• Atomic and Molecular Physics and Spectroscopy

Distribution Statement:

APPROVED FOR PUBLIC RELEASE