Kinetic modeling of pseudoliving free-radical styrene polymerization occurring via reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer

A kinetic model has been constructed for 2,2′-azobisisobutyronitrile-initiated pseudoliving free-radical styrene polymerization occurring via reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer in the presence of dibenzyl trithiocarbonate. The inverse problem of determining the unknown temperature-dependent rate constants of the elementary reactions of the kinetic scheme has been solved. The model has been validated by comparing the theoretical and experimental molecular weight characteristics of polystyrene. The model has been employed to investigate the effects of control factors of the process on the molecular weight characteristics of polystyrene.