The students will gain knowledge in polymerisation reactors and mathematical methods to modelize the average molecular weight of polymers synthesized by different polymeization methods.

Part A
1. Polymerization processes:
Main steps in a polymerization process: from raw materials to product purification.
Effect of impurities and reactant mixing.

2. Benefits and drawbacks of the main polymerization processes:
Specificity of bulk and semi-diluted homogeneous processes, heterogeneous processes (bulk, diluted, suspension and emulsion).
Trommsdorff effect.

Part B
1. Polymerization reaction modeling:
Mathematical methods (moments, z-transform, mixing theorem).
Effect of operating conditions on PDI and MMn.

2. Specificity of ideal polymerization reactors:
Main polymerization reactors.
Combine effect of reactor type and polymerization method on polymer characteristics.

3. Running a polymerization reactor, what one is facing?
Effect of increase in viscosity (decrease in heat exchange, increase in stirring power …).
Effect of volume contraction (MMn increase …).
Segregation phenomena (increase in PDI …).

You will learn:
• how a polymerization reactor impact polymer characteristics (DPn, MMn, PDI)
• how to model polymerization reactions (free radical, ionic, polycondensation)
• about specific characteristics of different polymerization processes
• about the effect of viscosity increase in bulk and semi-diluted polymerization processes

You will be able to:
• to define operating conditions for targeting a given molar mass
• to choose the best ideal reactor for any polymerization method

• Mc Greavy C., "Polymer Reactor Engineering", VCH Publishers Inc., New York, 1993.
• Schork F.J., P.B. Deshpande and K.W. Leffew, "Control of polymerization reactors", Dekker, New York, 1993.
• Biesenberger J.A. and D.H. Sebastian, "Principles of polymerization engineering", Krieger, Malabar, 1993.
• Flory P.J., "Principles of polymer chemistry", Cornell University, Ithaca, 1986.

Chemical reaction engineering / Macromolecular chemistry