Polycondensation Using Flow Microreactor Systems

Polycondensation of 4,4 -oxydianiline (ODA) and isophthaloyl dichloride (IPA) followed by terminal modification has been carried out in a flow microreactor system (Fig. 34) [234]. The polymerization in the flow microreactor is faster than that in the batch system. A higher mixing efficiency of monomer seems to be responsible for the faster reaction. It is also important to note that the molecular 

7 Ziegler-Natta Polymerization Using Flow Microreactor 

Ziegler-Natta polymerization [241,242] is an important method of vinyl polymerization because it allows synthesis of polymers of specific tacticity. As reported by Santos and Metzger, Ziegler-Natta polymerization can be carried out in a flow microreactor system coupled directly to the electrospray ionization (ESI) source of a quadrapole time-of-flight (Q-TOF) mass spectrometer (Fig. 37) [243]. In the first micromixer (Ml), a catalyst (CP2Z1O2/MAO) and a mmiomer solution are mixed continuously to iiutiate the polymerization. The polymerization occurs in a microtube reactor. The solution thus obtained is introduced to the second micromixer (M2), where the polymerization is quenched by acetonitrile. The quenched solution is fed directly into the ESI source. The transient cationic species 

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Microreactors have also been used for ionic polymerization or polycondensation processes. Nagaki et al. [136] have synthesized polystyrene-poly(alkyl methacrylate) block copolymers by butyllithium initiated anionic polymerization in an integrated flow microreactor system. A high level of control of molecular weight was achieved at temperatures between -28 and +24 °C due to fast mixing, fast heat transfer, and residence time control. Santos and Metzger... 

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