Abstract: Devices and methods for actively controlling the production of multistage and multimodal polymers. The device may include a reaction vessel configured to contain a polymer solution and generate polymer reactions in at least two stages as well as one or more detectors configured to monitor at least one reaction characteristic of the polymer solution contained in the reaction vessel. The device may further include a controller coupled with the reaction vessel and the one or more detectors, the controller configured to actively control the development of a predetermined reaction characteristic by modifying at least one process control variable based on the at least one reaction characteristic monitored by the detector.

Abstract: Devices and methods for rapidly and incrementally or continuously, measuring rheological properties of polymers under different shear rates. The device includes a pump configured to accept a continuous stream of sample solution during an interval of time, an injector configured to inject a flow of the sample solution through two or more viscometers, and a computing and processing device configured to monitor and measure rheological properties of the solution under at least two shear rates simultaneously in the two or more viscometers.

Abstract: Devices and methods for characterization and control of biopolymers and synthetic polymers during manufacturing. The device may include a body defining a fluid flow path. The body may be configured to receive a process flow liquid such that the process flow liquid may flow through an interior portion of the body. The body may also include a plurality of detectors inserted into said body, each of the plurality of detectors configured to monitor one or more process characteristics.

Abstract: Devices and methods for actively controlling the production of multistage and multimodal polymers. The device may include a reaction vessel configured to contain a polymer solution and generate polymer reactions in at least two stages as well as one or more detectors configured to monitor at least one reaction characteristic of the polymer solution contained in the reaction vessel. The device may further include a controller coupled with the reaction vessel and the one or more detectors, the controller configured to actively control the development of a predetermined reaction characteristic by modifying at least one process control variable based on the at least one reaction characteristic monitored by the detector.

Abstract: Devices and methods for rapidly and incrementally or continuously, measuring rheological properties of polymers under different shear rates. The device includes a pump configured to accept a continuous stream of sample solution during an interval of time, an injector configured to inject a flow of the sample solution through two or more viscometers, and a computing and processing device configured to monitor and measure rheological properties of the solution under at least two shear rates simultaneously in the two or more viscometers.

Abstract: Devices and methods for characterization and control of biopolymers and synthetic polymers during manufacturing. The device may include a body defining a fluid flow path. The body may be configured to receive a process flow liquid such that the process flow liquid may flow through an interior portion of the body. The body may also include a plurality of detectors inserted into said body, each of the plurality of detectors configured to monitor one or more process characteristics.

Abstract: Devices and methods for determining the cumulative distribution of a polymer property in a reactor without physical separation of reaction subcomponents. The device includes a means of measuring an instantaneous property of the polymers being produced in a reaction vessel a plurality of times during a polymerization reaction as well as a means of determining the corresponding change in polymer concentration in the reaction vessel between measurements of the instantaneous polymer property. The device also includes a means of computing a statistical distribution appropriate to the polymer characteristic and applying the statistical distribution to a recently measured instantaneous value of the polymer property so as to have an instantaneous distribution of the polymer property and a means of adding together the instantaneous distributions of the polymer property in order to obtain the cumulative distribution of the polymer property in the reactor.