Device and methods to actively control the production of multi-stage polymer production

A device comprising:

• a reaction vessel configured to contain a polymer solution to undergo polymer reactions in at least two stages to produce multi-modal polymers comprising a first mode and a second mode, wherein the at least two stages yield polymers in the respective stages with distinct characteristics;
• one or more detectors configured to monitor at least one reaction characteristic of the polymer solution contained in the reaction vessel;
• and
• a controller coupled with the reaction vessel and the one or more detectors, the controller is configured to determine a reaction trajectory based on the at least one monitored reaction characteristic and to actively control development of the the first mode by modifying at least one process control variable based on the at least one reaction characteristic monitored by the detector during production of the polymer in at least one of the at least two stages,
• wherein the at least one process control variable is modified based on the reaction trajectory to follow a first target trajectory;
• wherein the controller is further configured to determine a second target trajectory associated with the development of the second mode, and to actively control development of the second mode by modifying the at least one process control variable based on the at least one reaction characteristic monitored by the detector to follow the second target trajectory.