OLIGOMER DISTRIBUTION FOR INTERFACIAL STEP-GROWTH POLYCONDENSATION

Low levels of oligomer molecules are generally desirable in polymeric materials. It is known that several reactor variables can affect the o ligomer distribution, and therefore it is useful to have predictive mo dels for molecular weight distribution. The normal approach of a diffe rential equation-based model is very complex to set up if it is applie d rigorously tb include all the non-Flory aspects of the step growth p olycondensation and in particular the interfacial polycarbonate polyme rization. In this paper, simple methods based on the Monte Carlo metho d and Stockmayer distribution are applied to simulate the effects of m ass-transfer unequal reactivity, and the starting stoichiometry of the polycondensing functional groups on the oligomer distribution. It is shown that these parameters can have a significant effect on the oligo mer weight distribution and polydispersity of the final polymer.