In this thesis, we explored the use of a renewable resource to produce more sustainable polymeric materials. Limonene, a monocyclic terpene existing in many essential oils extracted from citrus rinds, was the renewable monomer investigated. The d-limonene ((+)-limonene) isomer is a major component (~90%) of orange oils from orange juicing and peel processing. Having been used as a flavour and fragrance additive in cosmetics, foods and beverages, as well as a green solvent, limonene is of particular interest in polymerization, because it contains double bonds, which provide the bifunctionality necessary for polymerization. Limonene is also an allylic monomer (CH2=CH-CH2Y), which presents challenges in free-radical homopolymerization and thus, copolymerization was investigated herein to overcome this difficulty. 2-Ethylhexyl acrylate (EHA) and n-butyl methacrylate (BMA) were used in two separate projects, as comonomers with limonene. Using bulk free-radical copolymerization at 80℃, with benzoyl peroxide (BPO) as the initiator, high molecular weight (>100,000) EHA/limonene and BMA/limonene copolymers were produced. Reactivity ratios, important parameters used in the prediction of copolymer composition, were estimated and shown to accurately predict the copolymer composition of subsequent experiments. These can now be used for the application of appropriate semi-batch policies to further enhance limonene incorporation into the copolymers.

<p> The free radical polymerization of styrene in benzene using azo-bisisobutyronitrile as a catalyst has been studied both theoretically and experimentally. The molecular-weight distribution and conversion are predicted on the basis of a simplified kinetic mechanism, neglecting a number of minor side reactions. The steady-state assumption is investigated and is shown to be applicable in the case of styrene polymerization, a pseudo-steady-state being reached in less than one second. Using the steady-state approach a relatively simple kinetic model is obtained, suitable for computer simulation. The prime variables consist of the ordinary reaction conditions such as monomer concentration, solvent concentration, catalyst concentration, reaction temperature and reaction time.</p> <p> The polymerization was carried out isothermally in a stirred batch reactor from which samples were abstracted at various time intervals. Conversion was determined by precipitating the polymer with methanol, filtering, and weighing, and the molecular-weight distribution has been obtained by gel-permeation chromatography. A computer program was written to interpret the variation of refractive index with respect to the elution volume trace from the chromatograph, giving a readout of molecular chain length in monomer units versus weight fraction.</p> <p> The experimentally obtained conversion and distribution curves are compared with those obtained from the mathematical model. Except for bulk polymerization agreement between the two is good. Good agreement for conversion is obtained for all cases if the catalyst initiation efficiency is adjusted according to the monomer or solvent concentration. However, the same considerations do not give good agreement for molecular-weight distribution. Rather it appears that the rate constants instead of the catalyst efficiency are monomer or solvent concentration dependent, which would explain the discrepancies.</p> / Thesis / Master of Engineering (MEngr)

<p> Polymerization of styrene was carried out in continuous and batch reactors using azobisis obutyronitrile as initiator and benzene as solvent. Monomer conversion, molecular weight distribution (MWD) and viscosity were measured.</p> <p> Corrections to the conventional kinetic mechanism using results from the continuous reactor were determined. These corrections were applied to the batch reactor kinetic model and the conversion and MWD thus predicted were compared to experimental results. It was found that the corrections applied to the batch system were not adequate to give accurate predictions of conversion and MWD.</p> <p> A short computer study of the effect of oscillating monomer flow and temperature, as opposed to steady flow, on a transient continuous reactor was also carried out. It was found from this study that at low conversions oscillations in monomer flow will not affect the time average conversion and molecular weight. Oscillations in temperature caused an increase in time average conversion and a decrease in time average molecular weight as compared to results obtained when the reactor was operated at a steady temperature which was the average of the oscillating temperatures.</p> / Thesis / Master of Engineering (MEngr)

<p> This dissertation describes an investigation into the free radical polymerization of styrene in continuous stirred tank reactors (CSTR's). The aim was to develop a steady state polymerization model which would accurately predict conversion and molecular weight distribution (MWD) up to high conversion. </p> <p> The dissertation is divided into three self-contained parts. Part I describes the testing and development of polymerization kinetics using a single CSTR. The single CSTR model is described. Theoretical and experimental conversions and MWD's are compared and discussed. </p> <p> Part II describes the development of a model for a system of CSTR's. It is based upon the single CSTR model and the kinetics developed in Part I. Theoretical and experimental results for a three reactor system are compared and discussed. </p> <p> Part III describes the development of gel permeation chromatography (GPC) for measuring MWD. Molecular weight and resolution calibration data are presented and discussed. Four methods of chromatogram interpretation that correct for imperfect resolution are compared. </p> / Thesis / Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Facile, one-step synthesis of self-assembling, cationic block copolymers of poly(2-N-(dimethylaminoethyl) methacrylate) (pDMAEMA) and PEO-PPO-PEO (Pluronic®) is developed. The copolymers are obtained via free-radical polymerization of DMAEMA initiated by Pluronic-radicals generated by cerium (IV). The copolymers possess surface activity, are polycationic at pH<7.1, and self-assemble into micelle-like aggregates when neutralized. Potential applications of the novel copolymers for DNA transfection in gene therapy are discussed. / Singapore-MIT Alliance (SMA)

Acrylic resins, synthesized from a mixture of monomers selected from the methacrylate, acrylate and styrene families, are the base polymer components for many automotive coatings due to their excellent chemical and mechanical properties. The low molecular weight polymers with reactive functionalities are made via high-temperature starved-feed free-radical solution semibatch terpolymerization, operating conditions that greatly promote the importance of secondary reactions, such as methacrylate depropagation, and acrylate backbiting, chain scission and macromonomer propagation. In this work, a generalized model for styrene/methacrylate/acrylate terpolymerization has been developed and formulated in the PREDICI software package and poorly understood high temperature mechanisms have been studied. Unknown rate coefficients for methacrylate depropagation, reactivity of acrylate macromonomer and penultimate copolymerization kinetics were determined via separate kinetic experiments. The generality of the terpolymerization mechanistic model was verified against data obtained under a range of polymerization conditions, and provides an exclusive insight into the kinetic complexity of methacrylate/styrene/acrylate terpolymerization at high temperatures. / Thesis (Ph.D, Chemical Engineering) -- Queen's University, 2010-04-28 19:56:36.906

Functional water-soluble polymers find applications in a variety of fields including waste-water treatment, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, drug delivery, and hygiene. Despite the increased demand for these products, understanding of their synthesis by free-radical aqueous-phase polymerization has lagged behind that of polymers produced in organic solvents. In this doctoral work, the free-radical batch and semibatch aqueous-phase polymerization of N-vinylpyrrolidone (NVP), N-vinylformamide (NVF), N-vinylimidazole (NVI) and quaternized vinylimidazole (QVI), as well as NVP polymerized in n-butanol, has been studied. Kinetic models are developed to describe monomer conversion and polymer molecular weight (MW) behaviour of these systems. The expressions developed from independent pulsed-laser studies for propagation (kp) and termination (kt) rate coefficients, including their variation with monomer concentration and conversion, are shown to provide an excellent description of aqueous-phase NVP polymerization. Polymerization of NVP in butanol and of NVF in water are well-represented by the base NVP model, with differences in polymerization rate and polymer MWs simply accounted for by the differences in kp for the systems, indicating that the kt behaviour must be quite similar. The NVI/QVI study demonstrates the importance of a pH-dependent degradative addition reaction to monomer for NVI, with polymerization behaviour identical to that of QVI for pH 1, an effect captured in the model developed to describe the system. The aqueous-phase copolymerization of NVP and NVF was also studied, and reactivity ratios were determined to be very close to unity. This information was combined with the kp and kt expressions used to describe NVP and NVF homopolymerizations, with no other additional parameters required to model the copolymerization rate, copolymer composition and copolymer MW. This result demonstrates that the improved homopolymerization knowledge of these water-soluble monomers can be easily extended to understand their behaviour in copolymerization. / Thesis (Ph.D, Chemical Engineering) -- Queen's University, 2011-12-21 16:05:14.904

Les travaux présentés dans cette thèse portent sur la polymérisation radicalaire de l'éthylène en émulsion, dans des conditions douces (P < 250 bar et T < 90 °C). Tout d'abord, l'homopolymérisation de l'éthylène a été étudiée. Des latex stables de polyéthylène présentant des taux de solide relativement élevés (30 %) ont été obtenus. Pour cela, deux systèmes différents d'amorçage et de stabilisation (cationique et anionique) ont été employés. Ces latex peuvent trouver des applications comme revêtements hydrophobes (par exemple du papier). L'étude des propriétés thermiques des latex a mis en évidence des phénomènes de cristallisation du polyéthylène à basse température, dû à son confinement dans les nanoparticules. Cela a une forte influence sur les morphologies finales des particules. D'autre part, la copolymérisation radicalaire de l'éthylène en émulsion a été étudiée. Les comonomères utilisés sont le styrène, l'acrylate de butyle, le méthacrylate de méthyle et l'acétate de vinyle qui différent par leur solubilité dans l'eau et leurs rapports de réactivité de copolymérisation avec l'éthylène. La composition des copolymères obtenus influence leurs propriétés thermiques (Tg, Tf). Des latex stables de copolymères de compositions variées ont pu ainsi être synthétisés. Ce travail en homo- et copolymérisation a souligné la complexité des milieux de polymérisation en émulsion impliquant un monomère gazeux supercritique comme l'éthylène / In this work, the free radical emulsion polymerization of ethylene under mild conditions (P < 250 bar and T < 90 °C) was investigated. Ethylene homopolymerization was first studied. Stable polyethylene latexes of significantly high solids content (30 %) were produced. This was achieved by the use of two different initiating and stabilizing systems (cationic and anionic). These latexes could be applied as hydrophobic coatings (e.g. on paper). Investigation of the thermal properties of the latexes evidenced crystallization phenomena at low temperatures, owing to PE confinement in the nanoparticles, which strongly impacted their final morphologies. Free radical emulsion copolymerization of ethylene was then studied. The investigated comonomers were styrene, butyl acrylate, methyl methacrylate and vinyl acetate. They differ in their reactivity ratios to ethylene and their water solubility. The composition of the obtained copolymers had a strong influence on their thermal properties (Tg, Tm). Stable latexes containing copolymers of various compositions were thus synthesized. This work on homo- and copolymerization evidenced the complexity of the polymerization media involving a gaseous supercritical monomer such as ethylene

Orientador: Liliane Maria Ferrareso Lona / Dissertação (mestrado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Faculdade de Engenharia Quimica / Made available in DSpace on 2018-08-07T23:37:08Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Franco_IvanCarlos_M.pdf: 1044560 bytes, checksum: 8f4fdd66626d63245a2131f55b09f807 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2007 / Resumo: Polimerização via radical livre controlada (CRP) tem recebido cada vez mais atenção como uma técnica para produção de polímeros com micro estrutura altamente controlada. Em particular, distribuições de pesos moleculares estreitas são obtidas, com polidispersidade muito próxima de um, sendo um campo promissor na ciência de polimerização com estruturas controladas. Um importante requisito para engenharia de polimerização e desenvolvimento de polímeros é a construção de modelos matemáticos úteis, especialmente aqueles de natureza mecanística, com validação experimental. O objetivo deste trabalho é o desenvolvimento de modelos matemáticos abrangentes para simulação de polimerização para mecanismo RAFT. Metacrilato de metila em benzeno a 60°C na presença de 2,2-cianopropil 1- pirrolecarboditioato (agente RAFT) e com AIBN como iniciador em um reator batelada será considerado como estudo. Os pesos moleculares foram calculados utilizando o método dos momentos. Uma análise paramétrica considerando o efeito da concentração de iniciador e da concentração de agente RAFT foi realizada. O modelo predito está de acordo com os dados experimentais da literatura, o que atesta sua validade para ser utilizado no controle de estruturas poliméricas obtidas no processo RAFT / Abstract: Lately, Living Free Radical Polymerization (LFRP) has been detached as a technique for the production of polymers with highly controlled microstructure. In particular, narrow distributions of molecular weights are obtained, with polydispersity values next to one. So, this technique is a promising field in the science of polymerization with controlled structures. An important requirement for engineering of polymerization and polymer development is the construction of useful mathematical models, especially those of mechanistic nature, with experimental validation. The objective of this work was to develop comprehensive mathematical models to simulate polymerization from RAFT mechanism. Methyl Methacrylate in benzene at 60°C in the presence of 2-cyanoprop-2-yl 1-pyrrolecarbodithioate (agent RAFT) and with AIBN as the initiator in a batch reactor was considered. The molecular weights have been calculated using the method of moments. A parametric analysis considering the effect of the initiator and agent RAFT concentrations was performed. Models prediction showed good agreements with experimental data from literature, what certifies its validity in being used in the control of polymeric structures in RAFT process / Mestrado / Desenvolvimento de Processos Químicos / Mestre em Engenharia Química

Cyclodextrin mediation offers a unique mechanism with the potential for interesting control of reaction parameters. Cyclodextrin mediation of hydrophobic monomers may offer desirable kinetics over conventional free radical polymerizations, and it has been shown in this work that cyclodextrin mediation facilitates polymerization of hydrophobic monomers in aqueous solution and in ethylene glycol. It also may be a facile method for controlling relative reactivity of comonomer mixtures. In addition, complexation of cyclodextrin with guest molecules has been utilized in selective synthesis where the host cyclodextrin has been utilized to sterically hinder the attack of certain reactive sites contained within the host cavity. This aspect of inclusion complexation could also be utilized in free radical polymerizations of monomers with multiple reactive double bonds to preferentially reduce the reactivity of the hindered reactive sites. This thesis involves the use of methylated(1.8)-beta-cyclodextrin (MeCD) as a mediator for polymerizations in solvents that would not facilitate polymerization of the pure monomer in the absence of cyclodextrin. This study focuses on the carbohydrate mediation of a series of methacrylic monomers. t-Butyl methacrylate, n-butyl methacrylate, cyclohexyl methacrylate, and 2-ethylhexyl methacrylate were complexed with methylated(1.8)-beta-cyclodextrin and subsequently dissolved in either water or ethylene glycol. The complexes were studied by 1H and 13C NMR spectroscopy, thin layer chromatography, CPK modeling, and thermogravimetric analysis, and were found to have molar ratios of cyclodextrin to monomer as high as 1.0 to 0.72. These complexes were then free radically polymerized in either water or ethylene glycol and resulted in high molecular weight polymers that precipitated out of solution, allowing for facile polymer isolation through filtration. Isolated yields were found to be as high as 86 %. The majority of the cyclodextrin remained in solution after polymerization. It was also recovered and found to be recyclable. Heterogeneous polymerizations were also performed with 2-ethylhexyl methacrylate in which linear dextrin and methylated (1.8)-beta-cyclodextrin were used in emulsifier quantities. It was found that linear dextrin, at concentrations of 3.0 wt% produced a stable latex product with high molecular weight and an isolated yield of >90%. MeCD on the other hand failed to produce a stable emulsion at concentrations between 0.9-3.0 wt%, but remarkably MeCD at 3.0 wt% gave high molecular weight coagulated polymer with a yield of >90%. It is proposed that a heterogeneous mechanism inconsistent with the four major types discussed by Arshady is taking place. Unlike typical suspension or emulsion polymerizations, the cyclodextrin mediated polymerizations are completely homogeneous at the onset, making them more like a dispersion or precipitation polymerization. However, in dispersion and precipitation polymerizations the pure monomer is soluble in the reaction media. In the absence of cyclodextrin, the monomers utilized in this study possessed no appreciable solubility in the reaction media. Therefore, it is proposed that cyclodextrin acts as a phase transfer agent, effectively solublizing the hydrophobic monomer and allowing for the aqueous dispersion or precipitation type polymerization to occur, depending on the relative solubility of the components. Bulk polymerizations of t-butyl methacrylate, cyclohexyl methacrylate, and 2-ethylhexyl methacrylate and their subsequent use in the preparation of carbohydrate/poly(alkyl methacrylate) blends was also performed in this project. Bulk polymers were utilized as references for physical properties for the polymers produced through polymerization of the MeCD/monomer complexes in either aqueous solution or in ethylene glycol. 1H NMR analysis of the polymers from both the cyclodextrin mediation and bulk polymerizations indicated that the tacticity of the polymers produced in both cases were identical. The bulk polymers were also used in the preparation of carbohydrate/methacrylic blends with potential applications in the areas of selective barriers, biodegradable films. Inclusion of drug molecules or antioxidants into these cyclodextrin containing films also may have potential in drug delivery, or food packaging applications. In addition, the side chain liquid crystalline monomer, 6-(4-hexyloxy-biphenyl-4-yloxy)hexyl methacrylate was synthesized in high purity via a three-step procedure and confirmed by a combination of mass spectrometry, thin layer chromatography, and 1H and 13C NMR. This hydrophobic liquid crystalline monomer was subsequently complexed with 1.0-3.0 equivalents of methylated(1.8)-beta-cyclodextrin in an attempt to alter the water solubility of the monomer. Complexes of this side-chain liquid crystalline monomer have not been studied previously and it is proposed that complexation with cyclodextrin will lead not only to novel polymerizations routes for this monomer, but also to novel smectic phases for this thermotropic liquid crystalline polymer. / Master of Science