Precise analysis and control of polymerization kinetics using a micro flow reactor

- A micro flow reactor for polymerization was designed based on kinetic modeling.
- Block copolymer was obtained with a non-living system.
- Initiation reaction was conducted in 0.5 s.

Polymerization has a fast, complex reaction kinetics, which is difficult to control with conventional equipment. We employed a micro flow system to design ideal reaction conditions based on a kinetic model. Rate analysis was conducted at a wide range of reaction times, from 10 to 3600 s. The concentration profile of an active intermediate was estimated and utilized for designing advanced reaction schemes, which required rapid concentration and temperature changes. A block copolymer of hexyl norbornene and norbornene carboxylic acid alkyl ester was synthesized by developing a sequential polymerization system. The temperature jump operation, with 0.5 s initiation at 60 °C followed by 30 s propagation at 0 °C, generated a hexyl norbornene polymer with a sharp molecular weight distribution.

107