Condensation polymerizations in ideal continuous-flow-stirred tank reactors of monomers violating the equal reactivity hypothesis

Abstract

Molecular weight distributions, moments and the polydispersity indices were computed for AB-type condensation polymerization in an ideal continuous-flow-stirred tank reactor for monomers not following the equal reactivity hypothesis. The model considers the rate of reaction between monomer and monomer to be R times that characterizing the reaction between any other species in the reaction mass. It is found that the polydispersity indices in these reactors are substantially larger than values obtained in batch reactors. Also, the molecular weight distribution splits into two curves-one for odd-order homologs and the other for even-order ones for R >1. For R < 1, substantial amounts of unreacted monomer are present in the exit stream, and curve splitting does not occur.