Steady-state multiplicity in continuous bulk polymerization reactors—a general approach

Abstract

Theoretical studies on the behavior of continuous solution and bulk polymerization reactors have shown the existence of multiple steady states. Many authors determined the existence of up to five steady states for certain systems and specific polymerization conditions. In the present work, the reactor is described generally, in order to identify the operation conditions that give birth to the five-steady-state multiplicity. A continuation algorithm is applied in order to compute the bifurcation diagrams of the system. The influence of the gel effect on the five-steady-state multiplicity is analyzed and the bifurcation diagrams for the vinyl acetate, styrene and methylmethacrylate homopolymerizations initiated by AIBN are presented as an illustration. It is shown that most continuous bulk polymerization systems may present five-steady-state multiplicity and that the gel effect is not necessary to explain this type of dynamic behavior.