Kinetic parameter estimation for the MMA/MA copolymerization system

The mathematical model for a batch methyl methacrylate (MMA) and methyl acr ylate (MA) copolymerization system was simplified by applying the pseudokin etic rate constant method and used for the estimation of parameters for var ious reaction rate constants. For this, the polymerization experiment was c onducted under a variety of reaction conditions and the Levenberg-Marquardt method was employed. The state variables selected for the parameter estima tion were the solid content and the number and weight average molecular wei ghts. The validity of the estimated parameters was corroborated by conducti ng experiments under different reaction conditions and the newly estimated parameter values were found to be superior to the ones reported in the lite rature. Thus the kinetic parameters estimated in this study may be used to predict the properties of polymer product obtained by solution MMA/MA copol ymerization. (C) 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.