Analyzing the Real Advantages of Bifunctional Initiator over Monofunctional Initiator in Free Radical Polymerization

作者：Machado Paula F de M P B; Lona Lilane M F^*

来源：Journal of Applied Polymer Science, 2010, 117(5): 2803-2816.

DOI：10.1002/app.32010

• polymerization
• monofunctional initiator
• bifunctional initiator
• styrene
• reactor
• simulation

Monofunctional initiators are extensively used in free radical polymerization. To enhance productivity, a higher temperature is usually used; however, this leads to lower molecular weights. Bifunctional initiators can increase the polymerization rate without decreasing the average molecular weight and this can be desirable. A bifunctional initiator is an important issue to be investigated, and it is of great interest to industries. The objective of this work is to study polymerization reactions with mono- and bi-functional initiators through comprehensive mathematical models. Polystyrene is considered as case study. This work collects and presents some experimental data available in literature for polymerization using two different types of bifunctional initiators. Model prediction showed good agreement with experimental data. It was observed that the initial initiator concentration has a huge impact on the efficiency of initiators with functionality bigger than one and high concentrations of bifunctional initiator make the system behave as if it were a system operating with monofunctional initiator.

• 出版日期2010-9-5