Kinetic studies, modeling and optimization of polymerization reactors and IR drying study of polymers

在现代社会，塑料在医疗、通讯、交通等几乎每天的应用中都发挥着至关重要的作用。全世界每年生产大量的合成聚合物。聚合物反应工程是合成聚合物产品的核心，在过去的几十年里取得了重大进展。然而，为了更深入地了解聚合物的反应机理和设计新的装置，还需要进行更多的研究。这个建议是为了继续我们的研究计划，目标是在聚合的物理化学研究方面取得进展。我们需要生成更多的数据，以更好地了解不同操作条件下的过程行为，验证我们目前正在开发的模型，并将研究扩展到在线计算机控制和优化。一旦纳入仿真包，该模型将指导用户预测过程行为和设计新的实验。申请人最近参与的一项研究表明，在体/溶液聚合中使用多功能引发剂是有价值的。它提高了生产速度，并生产出具有工业用途的有趣性能的支链聚合物。到目前为止，我们已经通过实验观察到单体（甲基丙烯酸甲酯、苯乙烯）与新型四官能团引发剂反应形成星形聚合物。这个反应是由我们目前正在研究的特定的动力学机制控制的。首先，本研究将对(co)-聚合进行更多的动力学研究。其次，动态仿真将揭示过程趋势和固有的非线性区域。半间歇反应器在聚合物工业中非常普遍，其操作时间非常关键，需要综合考虑反应器系统的动力学和热力学对其进行优化。研究的最终目标是设计高效的反应器，以生产高质量和安全环境的新型聚合物产品。该项目旨在培养一个良好的高分子工程研究项目，为加拿大工业培养高素质的人才。

In modern society, plastics play evidently a crucial role in almost every day application like health care, communication, transportation and so forth. Every year a large tonnage of synthetic polymers is produced worldwide. Being the core in the synthesis of polymeric products, polymer reaction engineering has seen significant advances over the last few decades. However, more studies are still required for a deeper understanding of the polymer reaction mechanisms and for designing new plants. This proposal is to continue our research program which goal is to make advances in the physico-chemical studies of polymerizations. We need to generate more data to better understand the process behavior at different operating conditions, validate models that we are currently developing and later extend the research to online computer control and optimization. Once incorporated in the simulation package, the model will guide the user to predict process behavior and design new experiments. One recent study, in which the applicant has been involved, shows that the use of multifunctional initiators in bulk/solution polymerization is valuable. It enhances production rate and produces branched polymers with interesting properties for industrial use. At one point, we have so far experimentally observed the formation of star polymers by reacting monomers (methyl-methacrylate, styrene) with novel tetra functional initiators. This reaction is governed by particular kinetic mechanisms, which we are currently studying. First, this research is to conduct more kinetic studies in (co)-polymerizations. Secondly, A dynamic simulation will reveal the process trends and the inherent non-linear regions. Semi-batch reactors are very common in polymer industry and the operation time is very crucial and need to be optimized taking into consideration the kinetics and thermodynamics of the reactor system.  The final objective of the research is to design efficient reactors for making new polymeric products of high quality and safe environment. The project is intended to foster a good research program in polymer engineering and train highly qualified personnel for Canadian industries.