Abstract
A monomer-terminated addition polymerization with a first-order initiation step carried out in a continuous stirred tank reactor is considered. Propagation and termination steps are assumed to be second-order reactions. From the study of local linear control, general statements are made on the stability of the reactor when the coolant flow rate, coolant temperature, inlet temperature or inlet monomer concentration are controlled. Proportional control based upon the reactor temperature, monomer concentration or a moment of polymer molecular-weight distribution is primarily studied but other control modes are also considered. Spontaneous, combination and disproportionation termination steps are also mentioned. It is shown that the only system capable of controlling these polymerizatino reactions in all cases is proportional control of the coolant flow rate (or its equivalent: coolant temperature or inlet temperature) based on deviations of the reactor temperature from its steady-state value.
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