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

Abstract

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℃. 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 (rma = 8.2 and rvac = 0.17) are comparable to values previously reported in the literature, which demonstrates the utility of this approach.