In-line monitoring of weight average molecular weight in solution polymerizations using intrinsic viscosity measurements

摘要

The main objective of this work is developing a simple viscometrical method for in-line monitoring and control of weight average molecular weight (M-bar_w) in solutio npolymerizations.The method is based on the evaluation of the approximate intrinsic viscosity of hte polymer solution,at each sampling time,using a single measurement of the flow time of a diluted polymer solution through a capillary tube.Experiments were carried out for peroxide initiated styrene solution polymerizatio reactions in a tubular reactor.Results obtained for approximate intrinsic viscosities are in agreement with the intrinsic viscosity values published in the literature and allow fast and fair in-line values for M-bar_w.