PCH232: POLYMER REACTION ENGINEERING
	L	T	P	Cr
	3	1	0	3.5

 

Course Objective: To understand mathematical modelling of polymerizations and design batch and continuous reactors.

 

Introduction: Review of types and methods of polymerization, MW and MWD in polymers,
Important aspects of polymer science.

 

Polymerization Kinetics: Step growth and chain growth (free radical, anionic and cationic polymerization) kinetics, Modelling and Simulation, Diffusion controlled polymerization, Copolymerization.

 

Reactors: RTD, Macro and micro mixing in reaction vessels, Comparison of performances of batch reactors for ionic, free radical, and step growth polymerizations, their degree of polymerization and MWD.

 

Heterogeneous Polymerizations: Bulk, solution, suspension, and emulsion polymerization, Application of continuous emulsion polymerization, Co-ordination polymerization in fluidized bed reactor.

 

Reactor Design: Fundamentals of batch and continuous polymerizations reactors for tailor-making of polymers, Qualitative account of control engineering considerations.

Course Learning Outcomes (CLO):

1.      Understand mechanism and mathematical modeling of different types of polymerizations

2.      Quantitative determination of degree of polymerization and molecular weight distribution

3.      Design of batch and continuous reactors for these polymerizations

 

Recommended Books:

1.      Neil A.D., Rafael G., Laurence, R.L., and Tirrel, M., Polymerization Process Modeling, VCH (1996).

2.      Kumar, A., and Gupta, S.K., Fundamentals of Polymers, McGraw Hill (1998).

3.      Schork, F.J, Deshpande, P.B., and Kenneth W.L., Control of Polymerization Reactors, Marcel Dekker (1993).