Minimum end time policies for batchwise radical chain polymerization, part V—multicomponent copolymerization with one charge of comonomers

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Abstract
For batchwise radical chain solution multicomponent copolymerization, the minimum end time problem for the predetermined monomer conversion and number average molecular weight has been studied by considering the initiator concentration (or feed rate) and temperature as the two control variables. Applying the maximum principle and “unit segment treatment” (by which the co‐polymerization can be treated as homo‐polymerization in the kinetic analysis), it is found that for initiator addition processes the optimal initiator addition policy is to make the rate of initiation constant for the optimal temperature variation case, and the initiator concentration constant for the isothermal case as in homo‐polymerization. For single charge of initiator processes, the optimal initial initiator concentration is such that it should be maintained at the lowest possible value (by which the polymerization is strongly dead‐end) for the optimal temperature variation case without chain transfer steps, and at some optimal value (by which the polymerization is near dead‐end) for the best isothermal case.