High-Throughput Method for RAFT Kinetic Investigations and Estimation of Reactivity Ratios in Copolymerization Systems

摘要

A new high-throughput experimental technique, namely automated parallel freeze-evacuate-thaw degassing method, is applied for the facile, rapid and reliable determination of reactivity ratios in copolymerization systems. The approach allowed carrying out a detailed kinetic investigation of the reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) copolymerization of methyl acrylate (MA) with vinyl acetate (VAc) monomers in 2-methyl-2-butanol at 60 8C. Thereafter, the reactivity ratios of this copolymerization system were estimated utilizing the obtained kinetic data and a computer program based on the visualization of the sum of residual space method. The obtained reactivity ratios of the system (rMA8.2 and rVAc0.17) are comparable to values previously reported in the literature, which demonstrates the utility of this approach.