Modeling of particle growth and morphology in the gas phase polymerizationof butadiene. I. Model and its solution method

An improved multigrain model designed to simulate the polymeric particle gr owth and morphology in the gas phase polymerization of butadiene was develo ped. In the model, the effects of intraparticle heat and mass transfers, he at and mass transfer resistances at the particle boundary layer, sorption o f 1,4-butadiene in 1,4-cis-polybutadiene, and intrinsic kinetics on the pol ymeric particle growth and morphology were considered. An improved numerica l method was also proposed. (C) 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.