Kinetic theory of A2+B3+B2 type hyperbranched polymerization

Abstract

The kinetics of the hyperbranched polymerization with A2, B3 and B2 monomer has been developed in this work. The analytical expressions of the size distribution function and the various molecular parameters of the resulting hyperbranched polymers were derived. Compared with A2+B3 type hyperbranched polymerization, with the addition of B2 type monomer in the reaction system, the gel range moves in smaller value and a narrower interval of the initial functional ratio (α), i.e. initial ratio of B to A group in respective B3 and A2 monomer. At a specified feed ratio α, the addition of B2 monomer can enhance the critical conversion of A groups and reduce that of B groups as well. The addition of linear B2 monomer in reaction system can significantly reduce the degree of branching and improve the number-average degree of polymerization for the products obtained. In this way, according to the theoretical research in this work, molecular structure and parameters can be effectively designed by choosing the appropriate feed ratio of monomers for the hyperbranched polymerization of A2+B3+B2 type.