Monte Carlo simulation of sequence distributions of acrylonitrile copolymers

A Monte Carlo simulation examining the effect of monomer ratios on the composition and sequence distribution of acrylonitrile(AN) copolymers with N‐vinyl pyrrolidone (NVP), itaconic acid (IA), and acrylic acid (AA) as comonomers has been developed. The Kelen–Tudos method was used to estimate monomer reactivity ratios. The results of the simulation are consistent with the academic conclusion and are as foreseen by the experimental data. The average number of NVP identical monomers in a sequence length of AN/NVP copolymer chain increases continuously and the average number of AN identical monomers in a sequence length shows a prominent decrease with an increase of NVP concentration in the feed. Changes in the monomer average number of AN/IA and AN/AA copolymers in a sequence length were the same as those of AN/NVP copolymer with an increase of comonomer concentration in the feed. The optimum weight ratio of AN with comonomers for manufacturing carbon fibers is 98/2. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 96: 483–488, 2005     

Monte Carlo模拟随机共聚高分子在固/液界面的吸附行为

用Monte Carlo方法对无规共聚高分子在固液界面的吸附进行模拟,获得了固液界面区吸附链节的分布和吸附构型大小的分布等微观信息,以及总链节和吸附链节密度分布、链附着率、表面覆盖率、吸附量和吸附层厚度等宏观信息.考察了吸附性链节的对比吸附能ε_Aa和无规共聚高分子中吸附性链节比率f对它们的影响.结果表明,界面附近的高分子以尺寸较小的环式和卧式构型分布为主,而尾式构型分布较宽.当f增大时小环式构型迅速增加,卧式构型的分布则变宽.随着ε_Aa和f的增大,链附着率、表面覆盖率和吸附量等均随之增加,而吸附层厚度变薄.     

Monte Carlo simulation of terpolymerization

A simulation of terpolymerization, using the Monte Carlo method, and a computer program which performs the calculations for finite and infinite chain length conditions, are described. Terpolymer composition and sequence distributions are given as a function of chain length for two terpolymer systems. It was found that statistical equilibrium is achieved at chain lengths of about 100 units.     

Monte Carlo docking of protein-DNA complexes: incorporation of DNA flexibility and experimental data

A Monte Carlo simulation program (MONTY) has been developedto dock proteins onto DNA. Protein and DNA interact via square-wellpotentials for hydrogen bond and van der Waals interactions.The effect of the inclusion of DNA flexibility and experimentallyderived restraints has been tested on members of the helix-turn-helixfamily of DNA binding proteins. Unwinding and bending the DNAdouble helix improves the number of correctly retrieved hydrogenbonds in simulations starting from the 434 cro protein monomercomplexed with a standard B-DNA O_Rl half-site. Agreement withphosphate ethylation interference and mutagenesis data is rewardedwith energy bonuses. This protocol was tested on protein-DNAcomplexes of 434 cro, lac headpiece and a mutant lac headpieceresembling the gal repressor headpiece with the recognitionhelices in correct and reversed orientations in the DNA majorgroove. The inclusion of experimental data gives an improvedconvergence of the correctly oriented structures and allowsfor an easier discrimination between correctly and incorrectlydocked complexes     

Monte Carlo simulation of sequential structure control of AN-MA-IA aqueous copolymerization by different operation modes

The regulation of polyacrylonitrile (PAN) copolymer composition and sequence structure is the precondition for producing high-quality carbon fiber high quality. In this work, the sequential structure control of acrylonitrile (AN), methyl acrylate (MA) and itaconic acid (IA) aqueous copolymerization was investigated by Monte Carlo (MC) simulation. The parameters used in Monte Carlo were optimized via machine learning (ML) and genetic algorithms (GA) using the experimental data from batch copolymerization. The results reveal that it is difficult to control the aqueous copolymerization to obtain PAN copolymer with uniform sequence structure by batch polymerization with one-time feeding. By contrary, it is found that the PAN copolymer with uniform composition and sequence structure can be obtained by adjusting IA feeding quantity in each reactor of a train of five CSTRs. Hopefully, the results obtained in this work can provide valuable information for the understanding and optimization of AN copolymerization process to obtain high-quality PAN copolymer precursor.     

Acrylamide-sodium acrylate copolymers: A comparison between copolymerization and hydrolysis

Polyacrylamide-co-sodium acrylate has been prepared via copolymerization of acrylamide and acrylic acid, or the hydrolysis of a pre-formed nonionic polymer. Both macromolecules had a charge of 24 mol% with a molar mass of 25 million g/mol. While one might expect similar performance, the hydrolyzed materials were superior in rheology modification, while the copolymerized samples worked better as flocculants. This hydrolysis reaction is influenced by the dyad sequence and produced a relatively uniform charge distribution along the backbone. These partially hydrolyzed polyelectrolytes had approximately 40% higher solution viscosities compared to the copolymerized samples. The rheological properties were also more tolerant to temperature, electrolytes, and hardness. Such molecules would be expected to perform well as pushing fluids as used in enhanced oil recovery processes. In contrast, when tested on an inorganic sludge, with a high level of polar and soluble hydrophobic molecules, the copolymerized sample provided larger flocs, a clearer filtrate, and faster settling. The hydrolyzed macromolecules essentially functioned only as a coagulant generating pin flocs. Depending on the application, polymer structure can be tuned by the method of synthesis. To the authors' knowledge, this is the first report comparing the influence of synthesis method on polyacrylamide solution properties and application performance.     

丙烯腈/丙烯酸甲酯/衣康酸三元共聚物序列结构的Monte Carlo模拟

以丙烯腈(AN)、丙烯酸甲酯(MA)、衣康酸(IA)为共聚单体,合成碳纤维用聚丙烯腈原丝的三元共聚物,利用Monte Carlo法模拟了AN／MA／IA三元共聚物的组成和序列结构,讨论了共聚单体对共聚物分子链序列结构的影响,探讨了增加序列结构均匀性的方案。结果表明:Monte Carlo法可以较为准确的模拟该共聚物的序列结构;AN／MA／IA以98／0.7／1.3的单体配比可以得到序列结构比较理想的共聚物;采取分批加入IA的方法,使共聚物的序列结构均匀性得到提高。     

Monte Carlo simulation of microemulsion polymerization

Monte Carlo simulation of chemically reacting systems based on the master equation was used to describe the stochastic time evolution of the microemulsion polymerization system. A model was developed to demonstrate its applicability for hexyl methacrylate and styrene microemulsion polymerization. The properties of final latex, such as the particle size and molecular weight distributions were obtained simultaneously. The polymerization behavior and properties of final latexes were well reproduced. The model is valuable in confirming or elucidating the various mechanisms in the polymerization. The entry and desorption mechanism was well established to account for the polymerization kinetics. The general polymerization behavior of hydrophobic monomer in microemulsions was properly simulated by the model proposed.     

Monte Carlo simulation of polyampholyte-nanoparticle complexation

The complexation between a polyampholyte and a charged particle was investigated via Monte Carlo simulations on an off-lattice. The simulations revealed that there are three regions for the conformation of the complex formed between a positively charged particle and a polyampholyte chain. When the charge density and the size of the particle were small, the chain adsorbed on the particle surface maintained to a large extent its configuration from the bulk (spherical, dumb-bell, necklace or rod-like). By increasing the charge density and the particle size, the polyampholyte chain has collapsed on the surface. Further increases of the charge density and size of the particle caused a segregation of the beads of the sub-chains with mostly positive charges from those with mostly negative charges, those richer in positive charges being repelled by the particle. The simulation results are compared with some analytical results.     

Monte Carlo simulation of nano-particle sintering

This paper uses a multi-state Potts model to simulate the sintering of nano-particles by boundary migration and evaporation-condensation. The variables in this simulation are the reduced temperature, a next-nearest neighbour weighting and the ratio of interfacial to surface energy. The effect of these parameters on simulation of sintering of two and three-particle clusters is systematically explored as a basis for the study of more complex aggregates.     

Monte Carlo simulation of ferroelectric composites

On the basis of 0–3/1–3 mix‐connectivity model of composites, a new computer model was introduced to simulate the changing of small ceramic particle size of composites. Monte Carlo algorithm was applied to calculate the effects of particle size on dielectric constant, piezoelectric coefficient, pyroelectric coefficient, and other electrical parameters. Compared with other models, this new model was proved to be more reasonable. POLYM. COMPOS., 28:739–742, 2007. © 2007 Society of Plastics Engineers     

Monte Carlo simulation of terpolymerization: Optimizing the simulation and post-processing times

Monte Carlo simulations are a useful and easy way to understand a polymerization reaction process properly. However, achieving reliable results with Monte Carlo simulations can also lead to prohibitive computational times and a considerable amount of data to be processed afterward. The present study analyses the Monte Carlo simulation of a steady-state terpolymerization process to reduce the overall computational time of the simulation and the post-processing of its results. Different sorting algorithms (Bubble, Insertion, Selection, and Tim) and Python libraries (Joblib and Numba) were used. The chain composition distribution and the micro-structures resultant of different scenarios were assessed by processing the simulated mechanism results. The simulation time results indicate the Tim sorting algorithm as the best to use in the post-processing step and the Numba library as the best suited for both the simulation and the post-processing step.     

Monte Carlo simulation of particulate matter segregation

Size segregation occurs when particulate matter is subjected to some form of shaking or vibration. This segregation has been the subject of much interest to industries dealing with granular materials. We present the results of new Monte Carlo simulations, which provide insight into the essentially geometric origin of the segregation effect. Results show excellent agreement with segregation observed in experimental systems by other researchers.     

Monte Carlo simulation of microstructure evolution in biphasic-systems

Over the past few decades, a variety of models have been proposed in order to investigate the grain growth kinetics and the development of crystallographic textures in polycrystalline materials. In particular, a full understanding of the microstructure evolution is a key issue for ceramic systems, since their mechanical or thermal behaviour is intimately related to their microstructure. Moreover, the development of appropriate simulative tools is crucial to reproduce, control and finally optimize the solid-state sintering process of ceramics. Monte Carlo simulations are particularly attractive because of their ability to reproduce the statistical behaviour of atoms and grain boundaries with time. However, Monte Carlo simulations applied to two-phase materials, such as many ceramic systems, result complex because both grain growth and diffusion processes should be taken into account. Here the Monte Carlo Potts model, which is widely used to investigate the crystallization kinetics for monophasic systems, is modified and extended to biphasic ones. The proposed model maps the microstructure onto a discrete lattice. Each lattice element contains a number representing its phase and its crystallographic orientation. The grain formation and growth are simulated by appropriate switching and reorientation attempts involving the lattice elements. The effect of temperature is also discussed.     

Monte Carlo simulation of radiation-induced solid state polymerization

A Monte Carlo method was used for a computer simulation of radiation-induced solid state polymerization. The propagation of polymer chains was simulated by means of self-avoiding random walks on a tetrahedral lattice. The initiation and termination of the chains were modelled by pseudorandom processes. The influence of conditions of the in-source process on the post-polymerization kinetics and on the degree of polymerization of the polymers was studied.     

Monte Carlo simulation of the PEMFC catalyst layer

The performance of the polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) is greatly controlled by the structure of the catalyst layer. Low catalyst utilization is still a significant obstacle to the commercialization of the PEMFC. In order to get a fundamental understanding of the electrode structure and to find the limiting factor in the low catalyst utilization, it is necessary to develop the mechanical model on the effect of catalyst layer structure on the catalyst utilization and the performance of the PEMFC. In this work, the structure of the catalyst layer is studied based on the lattice model with the Monte Carlo simulation. The model can predict the effects of some catalyst layer components, such as Pt/C catalyst, electrolyte and gas pores, on the utilization of the catalyst and the cell performance. The simulation result shows that the aggregation of conduction grains can greatly affect the degree of catalyst utilization. The better the dispersion of the conduction grains, the larger the total effective area of the catalyst is. To achieve higher utilization, catalyst layer components must be distributed by means of engineered design, which can prevent aggregation.     

Mechanistic investigation of the simultaneous addition and free-radical polymerization in batch miniemulsion droplets: Monte Carlo simulation versus experimental data in polyurethane/acrylic systems

A detailed kinetic Monte Carlo simulation was used to predict the characteristics of the batch miniemulsion polymerization of an isocyanate and an acrylic monomer mixture that contains a hydroxyl functional monomer (HEMA). The simulation takes into account the simultaneous polyaddition of the polyurethane prepolymer with the hydroxyl group of HEMA and the free radical polymerization of the acrylic monomers and all reactions in aqueous and polymer particle phases. The model has been assessed by batch miniemulsion polymerizations carried out using an aliphatic isocyanate prepolymer, n-butyl acrylate, 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate monomers and potassium persulfate as an initiator. It was found that partitioning of water had a significant effect on both kinetics and microstructure of the resulting polymer. Evolution of different species of PU prepolymer produced in the reaction and the sol and gel fractions revealed that the terminal pendent double bond of the HEMA in polymer chains has significantly lower reactivity than that of the HEMA free monomer. Detailed information on gel microstructure has been derived in the model by both distribution of molecular weight between crosslinking points in acrylic chains and distribution of chain extension of PU prepolymers. These crosslinking density distributions can be related to mechanical and adhesive properties of the polymer.     

均匀性试验抽样误差的蒙特卡罗模拟

对现行均匀性试验抽样误差和扩大样本容量后的抽样误差,应用蒙特卡罗方法进行数值模拟。结果表明,当总体标准偏差为1.5MPa,样本容量为10,对应水泥28d抗压强度分别为40MPa、50MPa和60MPa时,以变异系数表示的抽样误差分别为1.7%、1.4%和1.1%。这个误差很大,可能导致对水泥均匀性的错误评价。根据扩大样本容量后的抽样误差模拟结果,提出了均匀性试验抽样方法的修改建议。