화학공학소재연구정보센터
Polymer, Vol.35, No.4, 796-807, 1994
Kinetic Modeling of Network Formation and Properties in Free-Radical Cross-Linking Copolymerization
A kinetic model is presented for the post-gelation period of free-radical monovinyl-divinyl monomer copolymerization reactions. The model involves the moment equations of both the primary and the branched molecules in the sol, and predicts the vinyl-group conversions, the number of crosslinks and the chain-length averages as a function of the reaction time. Formulae for the weight fraction and cycle-rank density of the gel and its equilibrium degree of swelling are derived. The predictions are found to be in good agreement with experimental data on the copolymerization of styrene (S) with m-divinylbenzene (DVB) obtained by Hild and Okasha. The reaction time for incipient phase separation during S-DVB copolymerization in the presence of a solvent and the threshold concentration of the DVB for the formation of heterogeneous structures are also calculated.