PMSE 322 |
| The worldwide demand for novel and complex polymer-based materials over the past few decades has led to the development of a wide range of novel, controlled, free radical (CFR) polymerization techniques to allow the synthesis of well-defined, architecturally complex, novel polymers. These reactions are typically controlled through various mechanistic, thermodynamic and kinetic factors. Throughout the course of the reaction, these parameters can change as monomer is converted to polymer, resulting in changing process conditions. By obtaining concentration, kinetic and molecular weight information during the process, it helps the chemistry world obtain a deeper insight to fully understand these reactions. Traditionally, this data has been collated through the expensive and time-consuming analyses of multiple polymerization reactions after the systematic varying of key reaction variables. This paper discusses new process monitoring and control (PMC) systems for monitoring CFR reactions in or near real time using rapid chromatographic or automatic online continuous monitoring (ACOMP) techniques. Continuously sampling from the reactor, PMC systems can determine molecular weights, percentage conversions, solution viscosities and percentage compositions as a function of reaction time. Therefore, drastically reducing the time required to fully elucidate quite complex polymerization strategies. Examples of monitoring various CFR systems will be presented to illustrate the technology. |
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Joint PMSE/POLY Poster Session
6:00 PM-8:00 PM, Tuesday, 12 September 2006 Moscone Center -- Hall D, Poster
Division of Polymeric Materials: Science & Engineering |