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Acrylic free radical polymerization at high temperature proceeds via a complex set of mechanisms, with many rate coefficients poorly known and difficult to determine experimentally. This problem is compounded by the large number of monomers used in industry to produce coatings and other materials. Thus, there is a strong incentive to develop a methodology to estimate rate coefficients for these systems. This study explores the application of computational chemistry to estimate radical addition rate coefficients for the copolymerization of acrylates, methacrylates and styrene. The software package Gaussian is used to calculate heats of reaction (ΔHr) values for monomer additions to monomeric and dimeric radicals, using minimum energy structures identified and characterized for the reactants and products. The Evans-Polanyi relationship is applied to estimate reactivity ratios from the relative differences in ΔHr. The validity of this methodology is tested through a comparison of calculated monomer and radical reactivity ratios for acrylate, methacrylate, vinyl acetate, ethene and styrene systems to available experimental data for copolymerization systems. The methodology is found to work for some systems while there is computational breakdown in others due to steric crowding and/or breakdown of the Evans-Polanyi relationship. / Thesis (Ph.D, Chemical Engineering) -- Queen's University, 2008-04-25 16:13:12.091 / NSERC

Reactivity ratios for the homogeneous free radical initiated copolymerization of acrylonitrile and methyl acrylate were measured by NMR on isolated, low conversion copolymers and by real time in situ FTIR. The system utilized azobisisobutyronitrile (AIBN) initiator in dimethyl formamide (DMF) at 62°. The FTIR technique allowed rapid generation of extensive copolymer compositions, which permitted application of nonlinear least squares methodology for the first time to this copolymer system. Thus, reactivity ratios at the 95% confidence level were determined to be 1.29 ± 0.2 and 0.96 ± 0.2 for acrylonitrile and methyl acrylate, respectively. The results are useful for the development of acrylonitrile (<90%) melt processable copolymer fibers and films, which could include precursors for carbon fibers. / Master of Science

One of the major classes of polymer matrix resins under consideration for structural composite applications in the infrastructure and construction industries is vinyl ester resin. Vinyl ester resin is comprised of low molecular weight poly(hydroxyether) oligomers with methacrylate endgroups diluted with styrene monomer. The methacrylate endgroups cure with styrene via free radical copolymerization to yield thermoset networks. The copolymerization behavior of these networks was monitored by Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) at various cure conditions. Reactions of the carbon-carbon double bonds of the methacrylate (943 cm-1) and styrene (910 cm-1) were followed independently. Oligomers possessing number average molecular weights of 700 g/mole were studied with systematically increasing levels of styrene. The Mortimer-Tidwell reactivity ratios indicated that at low conversion more styrene was incorporated into the network at lower cure temperatures. The experimental vinyl ester-styrene network compositions deviated significantly from those predicted by the Meyer-Lowry integrated copolymer equation at higher conversion, implying that the reactivity ratios for these networks may change with conversion. The kinetic data were used to provide additional insight into the physical and mechanical properties of these materials. In addition to establishing the copolymerization kinetics of these materials, the development of halogen free fiber reinforced vinyl ester composites exhibiting good flame properties was of interest. Flame retardant vinyl ester resins are used by many industries for applications requiring good thermal resistance. The current flame-retardant technology is dependent on brominated vinyl esters, which generate high levels of smoke and carbon monoxide. A series of halogen free binder systems has been developed and dispersed in the vinyl ester to improve flame retardance. The binder approach enables the vinyl ester resin to maintain its low temperature viscosity so that fabrication of composites via Vacuum Assisted Resin Transfer Molding (VARTM) is possible. The first binder system investigated was a polycaprolactone layered silicate nanocomposite, which was prepared via intercalative polymerization. Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) and X-ray Diffraction (XRD) data indicated a mixed morphology of exfoliated and intercalated structures. The mechanical properties and the normalized peak heat release rates were comparable to the neat vinyl ester resin. Alternative binder systems possessing inherent flame retardance were also investigated. A series of binders comprised of novolac, bisphenol A diphosphate, and montmorillonite clay were developed and dispersed into the vinyl ester matrix. Cone calorimetry showed reductions in the peak heat release rate comparable to the brominated resin. / Ph. D.

Neste trabalho foram determinadas as razões de reatividade para a copolimerização entre estireno e VeoVa-10 através de estudo experimental de copolimerização em solução em tolueno. Os parâmetros foram obtidos através do ajuste aos dados experimentais dos modelos de Mayo-Lewis e Meyer-Lowry, utilizando o critério dos erros-nas-variáveis (método dos mínimos quadrados não-linear que considera a existência de erros em todas as variáveis medidas). A metodologia experimental desenvolvida, de polimerização em solução em ampolas preparadas dentro de uma glove box e submetidas a temperatura de 80°C, resultou em baixa conversão dos monômeros, adequada para a estimação das razões de reatividade pelos modelos. As amostras foram analisadas quantitativamente por espectroscopia de infravermelho para determinar, ao longo da reação, a conversão e as frações molares de cada um dos monômeros na mistura, sendo a composição do copolímero obtida pelo consumo dos monômeros. Foram obtidos valores de razões de reatividade bastante diferentes (restireno = 49.926 e rVeoVa10 = 1,062), evidenciando que a copolimerização destes monômeros em batelada leva a grandes desvios de composição, com tendência à formação de dois homopolímeros. O mesmo sistema de copolimerização foi também estudado no processo de polimerização em emulsão, em processos batelada alimentada e batelada intermitente. A conversão global dos monômeros e a distribuição de diâmetro médio das partículas foram analisadas durante a reação através das amostras coletadas ao longo do processo. Os efeitos das estratégias de alimentação avaliados foram apenas preliminares, pois não apresentaram resultados conclusivos. / In this work the reactivity ratios for the copolymerization between styrene and VeoVa-10 were determined through an experimental study of solution copolymerization in toluen. The parameters were obtained by fitting the experimental data with the Mayo-Lewis and Meyer-Lowry models using the error-in-variables criterion (non-linear least squares method that considers the existence of errors in all measured variables). The experimental methodology developed, solution polymerization in ampoules prepared in a glove box and reacted at 80 °C, resulted in low conversion of the monomers, suitable for estimation of the reactivity ratios by the models employed. The samples were analyzed quantitatively by infrared spectroscopy to determine, during the reaction, the conversion and the mole fractions of each monomer in the mixture, the composition of the copolymer being obtained by the consumption of the monomers. Very different reactivity ratios were obtained (rstyrene = 49.926 and rVeoVa10 = 1.062), showing that the batch copolymerization of these monomers leads to large composition drift, with a tendency to form two homopolymers. The same copolymerization system was also tested in emulsion polymerization process, in semi-continuous and intermittent batch modes. The overall conversion of the monomers and the mean particle diameter distribution were analyzed during the reaction through the samples collected throughout the process. The effects of the feeding strategies evaluated were only preliminary, as they did not present conclusive results.

Neste trabalho foram determinadas as razões de reatividade para a copolimerização entre estireno e VeoVa-10 através de estudo experimental de copolimerização em solução em tolueno. Os parâmetros foram obtidos através do ajuste aos dados experimentais dos modelos de Mayo-Lewis e Meyer-Lowry, utilizando o critério dos erros-nas-variáveis (método dos mínimos quadrados não-linear que considera a existência de erros em todas as variáveis medidas). A metodologia experimental desenvolvida, de polimerização em solução em ampolas preparadas dentro de uma glove box e submetidas a temperatura de 80°C, resultou em baixa conversão dos monômeros, adequada para a estimação das razões de reatividade pelos modelos. As amostras foram analisadas quantitativamente por espectroscopia de infravermelho para determinar, ao longo da reação, a conversão e as frações molares de cada um dos monômeros na mistura, sendo a composição do copolímero obtida pelo consumo dos monômeros. Foram obtidos valores de razões de reatividade bastante diferentes (restireno = 49.926 e rVeoVa10 = 1,062), evidenciando que a copolimerização destes monômeros em batelada leva a grandes desvios de composição, com tendência à formação de dois homopolímeros. O mesmo sistema de copolimerização foi também estudado no processo de polimerização em emulsão, em processos batelada alimentada e batelada intermitente. A conversão global dos monômeros e a distribuição de diâmetro médio das partículas foram analisadas durante a reação através das amostras coletadas ao longo do processo. Os efeitos das estratégias de alimentação avaliados foram apenas preliminares, pois não apresentaram resultados conclusivos. / In this work the reactivity ratios for the copolymerization between styrene and VeoVa-10 were determined through an experimental study of solution copolymerization in toluen. The parameters were obtained by fitting the experimental data with the Mayo-Lewis and Meyer-Lowry models using the error-in-variables criterion (non-linear least squares method that considers the existence of errors in all measured variables). The experimental methodology developed, solution polymerization in ampoules prepared in a glove box and reacted at 80 °C, resulted in low conversion of the monomers, suitable for estimation of the reactivity ratios by the models employed. The samples were analyzed quantitatively by infrared spectroscopy to determine, during the reaction, the conversion and the mole fractions of each monomer in the mixture, the composition of the copolymer being obtained by the consumption of the monomers. Very different reactivity ratios were obtained (rstyrene = 49.926 and rVeoVa10 = 1.062), showing that the batch copolymerization of these monomers leads to large composition drift, with a tendency to form two homopolymers. The same copolymerization system was also tested in emulsion polymerization process, in semi-continuous and intermittent batch modes. The overall conversion of the monomers and the mean particle diameter distribution were analyzed during the reaction through the samples collected throughout the process. The effects of the feeding strategies evaluated were only preliminary, as they did not present conclusive results.

Ziel der Doktorarbeit war es, Copolymere mit phosphonsäurehaltigen Seitenketten zu entwickeln, die nachfolgend über polymeranaloge Umsetzungen in Terpolymere mit polymerisationsfähgen Gruppen umgewandelt werden sollten. Die Terpolymere können dann somit im Bereich der Schicht,- Lackindustrie eingesetzt werden.

Ziel der Doktorarbeit war es, Copolymere mit phosphonsäurehaltigen Seitenketten zu entwickeln, die nachfolgend über polymeranaloge Umsetzungen in Terpolymere mit polymerisationsfähgen Gruppen umgewandelt werden sollten. Die Terpolymere können dann somit im Bereich der Schicht,- Lackindustrie eingesetzt werden.

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