“Living” anionic polymerizations in a continuous stirred‐tank reactor under sustained feed oscillations

Abstract

Abstract“Living” anionic polymerizations carried out in a continuous stirred‐tank reactor (CSTR) and operated under forced‐feed oscillations are theoretically studied to investigate the effects on time average values of average chain lengths, polydispersity, and reagent conversions. The instantaneous mean residence time is maintained constant. The period of the oscillations is varied between 60 and 0.05 mean residence times, and various amplitudes are considered. Some advantages are observed with the periodic forcing as compared to the steady operation; polymers with average polydispersities above 10 may be produced at low frequencies, with polydispersities below the steady‐state value of 2 at intermediate frequencies, and with polydispersities of 2 but with increased monomer conversion at fast cycling.