Study and Modeling of Polymer Degradation in Bulk

Abstract

A mathematical description of the time dependence of the technological properties (Mooney viscosity, processability factor) and structural characteristics (molecular weight and molecular weight distribution parameters) based experimental study of the degradation of polymer in bulk, has been developed. Samples of a butadiene-styrene copolymer with different contents of a high-molecular fraction introduced for varying initial Mooney viscosity have been studied. The processing properties of the polymer have been monitored using rotational viscosimetry. The rate constants of degradation have been estimated. The obtained dependences can be used both to create polymer compositions with controlled properties and to develop process control systems. The developed mathematical description is based on both controllable and control parameters (initial, current and limit viscosity, temperature, concentration of the macroradicals, the activation energy, and the constants of the degradation rate at different stages of the process, etc.).