A MATHEMATICAL-MODEL OF DISPERSION RADICAL POLYMERIZATION KINETICS

A mathematical model of the basic polymerization kinetic scheme, that involves only initiation, propagation, and termination reactions, has been developed. It was assumed that the propagation and termination ra te constants are independent of the chain length. It has been shown th at the model predicts the effect of autoacceleration on the formation of the insoluble polymer component. In order to demonstrate the applic ability of the mathematical model for description of dispersion radica l polymerization, the evolution of the size distribution of growing po lystyrene particles has been measured with the Flying Light-Scattering Indicatrix method. (C) 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.