FREE-RADICAL POLYMERIZATION - AN ELEGANT METHOD OF SOLVING THE POPULATION BALANCE-EQUATIONS WITH CHAIN TRANSFER TO POLYMER

A general methodology for solving the population balance equations for free-radical polymerization with long chain branching via chain trans fer to polymer has been developed. The method calculates ''instantaneo us'' molecular weight distributions for dead polymer species having i trifunctional branch points (where i=0,1,2,...) and monitors the consu mption of chains and the distortion of these distributions by transfer to polymer during the course of the polymerization. The applicability of the method to isothermal batch polymerization for typical conditio ns in free-radical polymerization is demonstrated.