Dynamic analysis of branching in radical polymerization

A method for the theoretical analysis of branching in radical polymerization is presented which includes the dynamics of the process. In particular, the method is applied to a polymerization that occurs by decomposition of initiator, propagation, termination by radical combination, and chain transfer with polymer. By a numerical solution of the kinetic equations (suitably transformed), the time dependence of the number‐average degree of polymerization (DP), the weight‐average DP, the mean number of branches, and the monomer conversion are obtained. The parameters of the process, that is the rate coefficients and initial concentrations, have the following effects: (1) An increase in the chain transfer coefficient increases the ratio of weight‐average to number‐average Xw/Xn and the mean number of branches Xb, but does not change the number‐average Xn. (2) For a given value of the chain transfer coefficient, a change in the parameters of the process such that Xn increases, causes Xw/Xn and Xb to increase also. (3) Chain transfer with polymer seems to produce relatively few polymer molecules having many branches and a large number of smaller polymer molecules having no branches; consequently, the polymer size (or molecular weight) distribution broadens.