Packed column reactor for continuous atom transfer radical polymerization:Methyl methacrylate polymerization using silica gel supported catalyst

A continuous column reactor packed with silica gel supported CuBr-HMTETA ca talyst has been successfully developed for ATRP of MMA. The reactor had a g ood catalytic stability up to 100 h. The MMA conversion decreased with an i ncreasing feeding flow rate. The polymerization kinetics was first order wi th respect to the monomer. The molecular weight increased linearly with con version, demonstrating the living character. Possible flow back-mixing and polymer trapping in the pores of silica gel caused some broadening in the m olecular weight distribution. This type of packed column reactor is believe d to be a significant development for possible commercial exploitation of t he ATRP process.