A general kinetic model for epoxy polymerization

Abstract

A general kinetic framework to study epoxy polymerization is developed. Best-fit values of five rate constants are obtained using some experimental chromatographic data available in the open literature on a system involving a single liquid phase. Detailed sensitivity studies are then carried out to identify the most important rate constants. Average molecular weights and the polydispersity index are predicted using these parameters. The present model is more general than earlier kinetic models, and does not have the drawbacks of probabilistic models. The present model is used to predict the effect of intermediate addition of NaOH, to illustrate how general it really is. The model can easily be extended to apply to industrial reactors, which have additional physico-chemical phenomena associated with them, as for example, nonisothermal polymerization, presence of two liquid phases, etc.

Optimized species growth in epoxy polymerization with real-coded NSGA-II

“…The complete kinetic scheme for the above mentioned polymerization system is given in Table 1 [5]. Raha and Gupta [5] and Raha et al [6] have validated the kinetic model with experimental data, provided by Batzer and Zahir [4] for oligomeric species, using the same scheme.…”

“…Raha and Gupta [5] and Raha et al [6] have validated the kinetic model with experimental data, provided by Batzer and Zahir [4] for oligomeric species, using the same scheme. Using the species balance approach, the ordinary differential equation-initial value problems (ODE-IVP) are derived for various species and their moments (Raha and Gupta [5]).…”

“…These equations are solved by the Runge-Kutta (RK) [18] type explicit numerical integration routine and kinetic parameters appearing in the equations are estimated with the help of the genetic algorithm (GA). [5]. The mole balance equations for the end groups and lower oligomers in the semibatch reactor, moment equations for various molecular species and the equations for number as well as weight average molecular weights have been utilized for this study.…”

“…Studies on optimization of epoxy reactors are also very rare according to the knowledge of the authors. Raha and Gupta [5] used species balance and equation of moment approach to study the batch process. Raha et al [6] and patterns over the performance of the process in semi-batch fashion.…”

An uncertainty based formal approach towards parametric sensitivity: A case study on epoxy polymerization

“…Batzer and Zahir [37] provided data for evolution of concentration of oligomeric species with respect to processing time by conducting experiments on an isothermal epoxy batch reactor. Raha and Gupta [38] presented the corresponding validation of results on the same experimental data provided by Batzer and Zahir [37] by carrying out a modeling exercise on similar isothermal epoxy batch reactor based on species balance and equation of moment approach. Raha et al [39] extended this work to the semi‐batch operation of the epoxy reactor and studied the effect of discrete addition of NaOH.…”