Methods and instrumentation for during-synthesis monitoring of polymer functional evolution

Abstract

A method of monitoring the evolution of polymer and/or colloid stimuli responsiveness during synthesis of polymers and/or colloids, including postpolymerization modifications on natural and synthetic polymers, includes providing a reactor in which the polymers and/or colloids are synthesized; and providing a means of monitoring the stimuli responsiveness of the polymers and/or colloids during said synthesis. Preferably, the method also includes monitoring the evolution of the characteristics of the polymers and/or colloids during said synthesis. Preferably, evolution of polymer and/or colloid stimuli responsiveness is correlated to the evolution of the properties of the polymers and/or colloids themselves. Also, preferably the conditions of the fluid in the reactor in which the synthesis occurs is determined. The determination can be by detection, choice of materials and temperature conditions, for example, and combinations thereof. The method and instrumentation disclosed can lead to optimization and control of processes and synthetic and modification strategies leading to polymers and colloids with desired stimuli responsiveness.

1 . A method of monitoring the evolution of polymer and/or colloid stimuli responsiveness during polymer and/or colloid synthesis comprising:
 a) providing a reactor in which said polymers and/or colloids are synthesized; and   b) providing a means of monitoring the stimuli responsiveness of the polymers and/or colloids during said polymer and/or colloid synthesis.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 providing a means of monitoring the evolution of the characteristics of the polymers and/or colloids during said polymer and/or colloid synthesis.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the polymers and/or colloids are synthesized in a reactive medium in the reactor, and further comprising determining characteristics of the reactive medium. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the characteristics of the reactive medium are determined with detectors. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the characteristics ofthe reactive medium are established by at least one of the following actions: setting the temperature with a thermostat controlled heater or cooler, using desired concentrations of reagents and other components, and providing agitation. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , whereby the monitoring of the evolution of polymer and/or colloid stimuli responsiveness is used to control the production of polymer and/or colloid end products with desired stimuli responsiveness. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein evolution of polymer and/or colloid stimuli responsiveness is correlated to the evolution of the characteristics of the polymers and/or colloids themselves. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , whereby the correlation of the evolution of the properties of the polymers and/or colloids to the evolution of polymer and/or colloid stimuli responsiveness is used to define the composition and characteristics of desired polymer and/or colloid end products. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 7 , whereby the correlation of the evolution of the properties of the polymers and/or colloids to the evolution of polymer and/or colloid stimuli responsiveness is used to control the production of desired polymer and/or colloid end products. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , whereby the production of desired polymers and/or colloids is achieved through semi-batch operation, that is flowed addition of one or more reagents into the reactor or to change a reactive medium characteristic, such as temperature. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 9 , whereby characterizing signals of the colloids/polymers are used to automatically control the flowed addition of one or more reagents into the reactor or to change a reactive medium characteristic, such as temperature. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the reactive medium characteristic is one from the group consisting of:
 temperature, pressure, viscosity, color, ionic strength, pH, solvent type and/or mixture of solvents, and concentration of the reagents.   
     
     
         13 . (canceled) 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 1 , whereby the evolution of polymer and/or colloid stimuli responsiveness is monitored substantially continuously. 
     
     
         15 .- 72 . (canceled) 
     
     
         73 . Apparatus for monitoring the evolution of polymer and/or colloid stimuli responsiveness during synthesis comprising:
 a) a reactor in which said polymers and/or colloids are synthesized; and   b) a device for monitoring the stimuli responsiveness of the polymers and/or colloids during said synthesis.   
     
     
         74 . The apparatus of  claim 73  further comprising:
 a characteristic monitoring device for monitoring the evolution of the characteristics of the polymers and/or colloids during said synthesis.   
     
     
         75 .- 79 . (canceled) 
     
     
         80 . Apparatus for monitoring the evolution of polymer and/or colloid stimuli responsiveness during synthesis comprising:
 a) at least one characteristic monitoring device for monitoring the evolution of the characteristics of the polymers and/or colloids during said synthesis; and   b) at least one stimuli responsiveness monitoring device for monitoring the stimuli responsiveness of the polymers and/or colloids during said synthesis.   
     
     
         81 . The apparatus of  claim 80 , further comprising at least one reactor monitor which monitors conditions in a reactor in which said synthesis occurs. 
     
     
         82 . The apparatus of  claim 80 , further comprising a reactor controller which controls the reactor based on information obtained from the at least one characteristic monitoring device and the at least one stimuli responsiveness monitoring device. 
     
     
         83 .- 90 . (canceled) 
     
     
         91 . The invention of  claim 1 , wherein continuous phase diagrams are automatically constructed from data obtained during the synthesis. 
     
     
         92 . (canceled) 
     
     
         93 . The apparatus of  claim 80 , further comprising a reactor in which the polymers and/or colloids are synthesized.