MODELING THE ANIONIC SOLUTION POLYMERIZATION OF BUTADIENE - THE EFFECTS OF CHAIN TERMINATION AND LONG-CHAIN BRANCHING ON MOLECULAR-WEIGHT DISTRIBUTION DEVELOPMENT

A general dynamic model for the anionic solution polymerization of but adiene using n-butyllithium initiator which accounts for chain termina tion and tetrafunctional long chain branching in batch, semi-batch and continuous stirred tank reactors has been developed. This model gener alizes the comprehensive model of Chang et al. (1990) who accounted fo r active site association, but not chain termination and long chain br anching. After appropriate model parameter estimation, the present mod el was used to investigate the effects of chain termination and long c hain branching on the development of live and dead polymer chains in b atch and continuous stirred tank reactors.