Theoretical study of the decomposition mechanism of a free radical initiator and solvent effects on the reaction Conference Paper uri icon

abstract

  • The decomposition mechanism of diethyl peroxydicarbonate (DEPDC), a free radical initiator for a polymerization reaction, is studied with density functional theory. Cage effect and diffusivity of initiators in solvents are investigated using molecular dynamics simulations. Results show that the decomposition reaction is not homolytic. The calculated activation energy of each decomposition step differs from experimental values which are based on a one-step decomposition assumption. The differences between the effects of supercritical CO2 and conventional solvents on the above initiator decomposition are discussed.

published proceedings

  • AIChE Annual Meeting, Conference Proceedings

author list (cited authors)

  • Gu, Z., Wang, Y., & Balbuena, P. B.

complete list of authors

  • Gu, Z||Wang, Y||Balbuena, PB

publication date

  • December 2005