| abstract |
This invention provides a polymerization process for producing polymers with narrow molecular weight distributions. It comprises addition of monomer and initiator to a reaction vessel using a monomer feed profile and an initiator feed profile wherein the feed profiles are such that the ratio of monomer concentration to initiator concentration is determined in accordance with a polymerization kinetics relationship between a selected degree of polymerization and monomer concentration, initiator concentration, reaction temperature and a polymerization efficiency factor to obtain an approximately constant degree of polymerization for polymer produced during the polymerization process. The polymerization efficiency factor accounts for deviations from ideal kinetics relationships. |