State-of-the-art heterogeneous polymerization kinetic modelling processes and their applications

Abstract

Heterogeneous polymerization systems have been widely used in large-scale industrial production. Utilizing kinetic simulations to effectively reveal the underlying mechanisms of complex heterogeneous systems is invaluable for both product design and process optimization. The aim of this study is to comprehensively review the recent research progress on the development of heterogeneous polymerization kinetic modelling. We first provide an overview of the kinetic modelling processes of heterogeneous polymerization systems, focusing on mass transfer models, phase-state treatment approaches, and numerical methods. Further, to illustrate the importance of heterogeneous polymerization kinetic modelling, we give examples of its utilization in three research domains, including understanding the kinetics and transfer features, enabling the performance-oriented polymer structure design and precise synthesis, and guiding reactor design, optimization, and scale-up. Finally, the challenges and perspectives of heterogeneous polymerization kinetic modelling are discussed for future development.