Rate Coefficients Controlling Molecular Weight Distributions in Emulsion Polymerizations

摘要

Average molecular weight and molecular weight distributions (MWDs) are important factors determining polymer properties. We here introduce a ncel means of obtaining rate and mechanistic information from experimental MWDs, and apply them in an extensive series of experiments on styrene emulsion polymerizations. This uses the full MWD from GPC, converted to the number distribution: rate coefficnets for entry, transfer and termination can then be obtained by suitable treatment of the high-with theories for these quantities. This can be used to test theory and detect unsuspected mechanisms.