Gas‐phase polymerization of butadiene. Data acquisition using minireactor technology and particle modeling

Abstract

AbstractMinireactor technology has been used for kinetic studies on polymerization kinetics, phase equilibrium, and mass transfer on a very small scale. There is a nonlinear influence of temperature and pressure on the polymerization rate. The phase equilibrium can be described by a Flory–Huggins approach, with a temperature‐dependent interaction parameter. The diffusion coefficient seems to be slightly pressure dependent, and the temperature dependence can be described with an Arrhenius equation. A simple formal kinetic scheme with formation of active sites, chain propagation, chain transfer to cocatalyst, and deactivation of active sites has been applied. This kinetic scheme was implemented in two different models; they are, a particle model taking into account mass transfer and a simple chemical model with no mass transfer. In principle, both models describe the experimental results for rate and molecular weight distribution equally well, with rate constants of the same magnitude. Molecular weight distributions calculated by the chemical model are narrower. However, the chemical model gives no explanation for the experimental observed rate dependence on catalyst particle size. With increasing catalyst activity, the differences between both models become more significant and the particle model becomes more and more important. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 87: 270–279, 2003