Diene CSTR

Reaction theory

The diene CSTR reaction theory uses an algorithm based on the reaction described in the paper by Das et al. [2] for batch reactions. The algorithm is based upon a set of processes occuring in the reactor during free-radical polymerisation. These processes are:

  • initiation;

  • polymerisation (rate \(k_\text{p}\));

  • free-diene incorporation (rate \(k_\text{pD}\));

  • once-reacted diene incorporation leading to long-chain-branching (rate \(k_\text{DLCB}\));

  • termination (rate \(k_\text{t}\));

  • catalyst deactivation (rate \(k_\text{d}\));

The rates of each of these processes can be related, via standard reaction kinetics theory, to the reaction rate constants and the concentrations of various species in the reactor. In a CSTR, the rates of each of these processes are fixed. We make the further assumption that the timescale over which a single (linear) chain strand is formed within a molecule is much shorter than the reactor timescale.

There are eight parameters which control the results of the reaction:

  • tau: the reactor time

  • kpM: the polimarisation rate times the monomer concentration

  • kpD: the free-diene incorporation rate

  • kDLCB: the once-reacted diene incorporation rate (leading to long-chain-branching)

  • kd: the catalyst deactivation rate

  • kt: the catalyst termination rate

  • D0: the concentation of diene in the reactor feed

  • C0: the concentation of catalyst in the reactor feed

Simulation parameters

In addition to these parameters, there are four more which control the generation of molecules, the way that the data are displayed, and the output to a BoB polymer configuration file. There are:

num_to_make:

controls the number of molecules made in the simulation - more molecules mean better statistics, but take up more memory and take longer to simulate! It is a good idea, when trying to match data, to start with just a few molecules - say 1000 to 10000 - and then increase this number when you are satisfied the parameters are close to where you want them.

mon_mass:

this is the mass, in a.m.u., of a monomer (usually set to 28).

Me:

the entanglement molecular weight - needed for output to a BoB polymer configuration file, but has no effect on the display within the React module.

nbins:

this is the number of bins - equally spaced in \(\log_{10}\text{MW}\) - used for analysis of the molecules. More bins means more resolution in the \(\log_{10}\text{MW}\) axis, but also more noise because there are fewer molecules per bin. Thus, the quality of the curves produced is a compromise between these two factors. Usually 50 bins is quite adequate for a reasonable number of molecules.

When a molecule is generated, it is straightforward to assess its molecular weight and number of branches.

Warning

The g-factor is calculated based on the assumption of ideal random walk statistics (as opposed to self-avoiding walk statistics). Ideal chain radius of gyration is fast to calculate: self-avoiding walk radius is not. It is often found that the g-factor calculated in these two ways is (somewhat surprisingly) similar, but it is still a possible source of error!

Polymer storage and saving to BoB

When a molecule is generated using the algorithm, the theory makes a decision as to whether to “save” the molecule (that is, to store a complete record of the molecule, including the connectivity of all the arms) or not (for an unsaved molecule, the theory still retains a record of the total molecular weight, number of branches and g-factor).

“Saved” molecules are retained for possible output into a BoB polymer configuration file. The decision as to whether to save a molecule, or not, is based upon whether there have been a given number of molecules of similar molecular weight already generated. The \(\log_{10}\text{MW}\) axis is split into a set of evenly-spaced bins, and each bin keeps track of how many polymers have been made with molecular weight in the range of that bin. Once the number made exceeds a given maximum, polymers of that molecular weight are no longer saved. However, the algorithm still keeps track of the number of polymers made in a given bin - when saving a polymer configuration file for BoB, the weights of the saved molecules are adjusted accordingly, to account for the unsaved molecules.

You can modify the parameters used for saving molecules by clicking on the bob_param button. This opens a form with four parameters:

  • the maximum molecular weight of the bins,

  • the minimum molecular weight of the bins (it is wise to make sure these span the MW range of the polymers you are making),

  • the number of bins,

  • the maximum number of polymers stored per bin.

In particular, increasing either of the last two parameters increases the number of polymers saved.

Clicking the save button opens a save dialogue box which allows you to save a polymer configuration file containing the connectivity for the saved polymer. The format of this file, and the use of it within a BoB calculation, is given in the BoB documentation.

Memory issues

React stores polymer information (total molecular weight, number of branches and g-factor) in a polymer record, and connectivity information in arm records.

Note

There is a fixed amount of computer memory allocated for this. React is designed to cope smoothly with running out of memory - it should kindly ask you to allocate more memory! The dialog will propose you to increase the amount of computer memory allocated to React and give you an estimate the extra amount or RAM needed.

Tip

There are some things that contribute to using a lot of memory:

  • Some choices of reaction parameters lead to extremely large molecules, with lots of arms being generated on each molecule. For non-zero values of the parameter \(\beta\), gelation (i.e. infinite molecules) is possible. If a molecule looks like being particularly large, you will get a warning message!

  • If you make too many molecules, you will run out of memory.

  • If you save too many molecules, you will run out of arm records (adjust the parameters by clicking on the bob_param button.

  • If you have other theories open which are already using a lot of storage, there might not be enough memory left for your current calculation (close un-needed theories, or adjust their parameters so they don’t use as much storage).

You will get brief hints along these lines in the theory log if you run out of parameters.

References

[1]

Hidetaka Tobita. Simultaneous long-chain branching and random scission: I. Monte Carlo simulation. J. Polym. Sci. Part B Polym. Phys., 39(4):391–403, 2001. doi:10.1002/1099-0488(20010115)39:4<391::AID-POLB1011>3.0.CO;2-3.

[2]

Chinmay Das, Daniel J. Read, Johannes M. Soulages, and Pradeep P. Shirodkar. Modeling of synthesis and flow properties of propylene–diene copolymers. Macromolecules, 47(16):5860–5868, 2014. URL: https://doi.org/10.1021/ma5011205, doi:10.1021/ma5011205.