Dynamic Behavior of an Addition Polymerization in a Batch Reactor

An activated monomer is obtained by the reaction .

Higher molecular weight polymers are obtained by the reaction .

This Demonstration solves the system of second-order rate equations for user-set values of the activation rate constant, , and the polymerization rate constant, .

In addition, the monomer and polymers concentrations, up to , are plotted versus time.

The mass balance equations are

,

, for ,

.

You can easily see by looking at the equations that is a decreasing function of time. Thus, after a certain time and all species reach a steady-state value because the polymerization reactions will stop when the monomer is exhausted.