(582i) Tailoring Uniform Copolymer Composition Distribution Via Policy II RAFT Solution Copolymerization of Styrene and Butyl Acrylate

Controlled radical polymerization (CRP) is regarded as a powerful method to design various chain structures. Semi-batch monomer feeding strategies in CRP have been widely used for targeting the polymer products with desired copolymer composition distribution (CCD) and molecular weight distribution (MWD), which define the properties of polymer materials. In this work, the uniform CCD in reversible addition−fragmentation transfer (RAFT) solution copolymerization is targeted via model-based semi-batch Policy II. A RAFT solution copolymerization model was first developed and correlated with batch St (styrene) and BA (butyl acrylate) copolymerization experimental data. St/BA copolymers having three different uniform compositions were produced by the comonomer feeding Policy II. Heat and concentration analysis proved feasibility of the policy. Simulation results showed that the uniform CCD could be achieved by both Policy II and Policy I, compared with starved feeding (SF) and constant feeding (CF). Policy II gave higher and more steady rates than Policy I.