Efficient synthesis of high vinyl polybutadiene based on continuous flow microchannel reactor

Abstract

AbstractThe traditional batch synthesis of liquid rubber faces issues such as low monomer polymerization concentration, poor uniformity of the reaction system, and inadequate heat dissipation, resulting in an unsatisfactory synthesis efficiency. This study presents a method for the rapid and efficient synthesis of high vinyl 1,2‐polybutadiene liquid rubber using butadiene as the monomer and n‐butyllithium as the initiator. By applying continuous flow microchannel reactors, the limitation of traditional synthesis method can be overcome. The addition of a modifier in the raw material promotes the formation of high vinyl structure. The preparation of liquid rubber requires the addition of a large amount of metal lithium initiator. However, for aerospace sealants, there is a requirement for low metal ion content. To address this, we employed different methods to reduce the metal ion content in the liquid rubber and increase its purity. Ultimately, we achieved the synthesis of high‐purity polybutadiene liquid rubber with 1,2‐vinyl content exceeding 88%, narrow molecular weight distribution, and tunable molecular weights. This research will provide technical guidance for the industrial application of polybutadiene synthesis in continuous flow microchannel reactors.