A Comprehensive Simulator/Database Package for Reviewing Free-Radical Copolymerizations

1. INTRODUCTION

We recently reviewed simulation of free-radical homopolymerizations in bulk and solution (Gao and Penlidis 1996). This paper, which is the second part of a series of review papers on the simulation of polymerization processes, presents a general approach to simulate free-radical copolymerizations in bulk and solution. It gives an overview of kinetic studies and simulation and modeling efforts of copolymerizations. The previously developed homopolymerization simulator (Gao and Penlidis 1996) has been further extended to simulate copolymerization in bulk and solution. The new copolymerization simulation package contains a flexible and powerful simulator, as well as a comprehensive database. It represents a further step in fulfilling the long-term goals (described in Gao and Penlidis 1996) in the development of a comprehensive simulation package for multicomponent free-radical polymerizations.