
AbstractSummary: Compartmentalization in atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) in dispersed systems at low conversion (<10%) has been investigated by means of a modified Smith–Ewart equation focusing on the system n‐butyl acrylate/CuBr/4,4′‐dinonyl‐2,2′‐dipyridyl at 110 °C. Compartmentalization of both propagating radicals and deactivator was accounted for in the simulations. As the particle diameter (d) decreases below 70 nm, the polymerization rate (Rp) at 10% conversion increases relative to the corresponding bulk system, goes through a maximum at 60 nm, and thereafter decreases dramatically as d decreases further. This behavior is caused by the separate effects of compartmentalization (segregation and confined space effects) on bimolecular termination and deactivation. The very low Rp for small particles (d < 30 nm) is due to the pseudo first‐order deactivation rate coefficient being proportional to d−3.Simulated propagating radical concentration ([P•]) as a function of particle diameter (d) at 10% conversion for ATRP of n‐butyl acrylate ([nBA]0 = 7.1 M, [PBr]0 = [CuBr/dNbpy]0 = 35.5 mM) in a dispersed system at 110 °C. The dotted line indicates the simulated [P•] in bulk at 10% conversion.magnified imageSimulated propagating radical concentration ([P•]) as a function of particle diameter (d) at 10% conversion for ATRP of n‐butyl acrylate ([nBA]0 = 7.1 M, [PBr]0 = [CuBr/dNbpy]0 = 35.5 mM) in a dispersed system at 110 °C. The dotted line indicates the simulated [P•] in bulk at 10% conversion.
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