화학공학소재연구정보센터
Polymer, Vol.38, No.7, 1705-1717, 1997
Formation of Homogeneously Branched Polymers Using Terminal Double-Bond Polymerization
A method of synthesizing homogeneously branched polymers using long-chain branching through terminal double bond polymerization is considered theoretically. It was found that the homogeneously branched polymers can be obtained by conducting polymerizations that involve both creation and dissipation of terminal double bonds in a continuous stirred-tank reactor (CSTR). Because the analytical expressions for the full molecular weight distribution (MWD) as well as the fractional MWDs containing 0, 1, 2, etc., branch points can be determined, such polymer molecules are regarded as polymers with a well defined branched structure. When the same polymerization reactions are conducted in a batch reactor, or in a CSTR operated under non-steady state, the homogeneous structure cannot be formed. The heterogeneity in the distribution of branch points can make the weight-average molecular weight larger or smaller compared with the homogeneously branched polymers, depending on the branching density distribution even at the same average branching density level.