Real-time monitoring of polymerization processes using a mid-IR fiberopticprobe

A novel fiber optic mid-IR probe equipped with an Attenuated Total Reflecta nce (ATR) head and a transmission (TR) head was developed for the real-time monitoring of polymerization processes. The TR head can monitor very low c oncentrations (0.1 mmol/L), The probe was used to monitor both homogeneous (living) and heterogeneous (slurry) isobutylene (IB) polymerizations by fol lowing the disappearance of IR bands characteristic of is, and the appearan ce of IR bands characteristic polyisobutylene (PIB), Due to the sensitivity of the TR probe is consumption could also be followed by monitoring an ove rtone signal. In the case of the living polymerization initiated by a novel substituted epoxide the TR probe gave insight into the initiation reaction as well.