MODELING OF MOLECULAR-WEIGHT DISTRIBUTION AND MICROSTRUCTURE OF COPOLYMERS PREPARED IN EMULSION

A stochastic model for evaluating Molecular Weight Distribution (MWD) and Chain Composition Distribution (CCD) of copolymers prepared in emulsion is applied to a “zero‐one‐two” binary system, i.e. with no more than two active chains per particle. Model predictions are compared with those by widely applied literature models based on bulk polymerization equations for evaluating CCD and on simplifying approaches for MWD (Refs. 5 and 6). For the particular system under examination, the range of reliable applicability of these approximated models is limited to high molecular weights (average degrees of polymerization larger than about 500 units), while for shorter chains the model here reported has to be used. Copyright © 1990 Hüthig & Wepf Verlag