Kinetic nonuniformity of a titanium catalyst in the polymerization of butadiene: Effect of intensifying stirring of the reaction mixture

Abstract

Intensification of turbulent stirring of the reaction mixture in the course of butadiene polymerization on a titanium catalyst promotes a successive increase in the rate of reaction with increasing polymer content. Independent of the viscosity of the reaction mixture, the concentration of active centers forming the low-molecular-mass fraction of polybutadiene decreases and the molecular mass distribution narrows. The reactivity distribution of active centers is determined by the hydrodynamic effect, and it does not depend on the increasing viscosity of the reaction mixture. This suggests an insignificant influence of viscosity and, hence, diffusion limitations on the distribution of active centers of polymerization over the probability of chain propagation.