Frontal Polymerization in Continuous-Flow Reactors

Abstract

This paper discusses the results of theoretical and experimental studies on the implementation of frontal polymerization in continuous-flow reactors of various geometric designs. The stationarity and stability of propagation of the front wave are shown to depend on macrokinetic and kinetic parameters. The effects of the feed rate, reactor dimensions, and concentration of the mixtures of initiators and polymer additives on the conversion rate and molecular-weight characteristics of the formed polymer are studied. The causes of frontal stationarity disturbance, which are manifested by the formation of nonlinear phenomena in the form of various oscillation modes, are revealed. Brief characteristics of tubular reactors, as found theoretically and experimentally, and their shortcomings are presented. A cylindrical reactor for the frontal polymerization of methyl methacrylate is presented, which was developed at the Experimental Plant in Chernogolovka (Moscow oblast) and introduced into industrial production in Dzerzhinsk. A tubular reactor that was built in to a flow for the synthesis of hydrogels under the conditions of frontal polymerization is also presented.