Method for producing a polymer

An apparatus, comprising:

• (i) a device which removes a portion of a reaction mixture from a reaction container;
• (ii) a pump which pumps the portion of the reaction mixture;
• (iii) optionally, a device which recycles the portion of the reaction mixture into the reaction container;
• and
• (iv) a measuring element which measures a physical property of the portion of the reaction mixture,
• wherein the apparatus is suitable for determining a critical time window in a polymerization process which is carried out in a stirred reactor, and
• wherein the critical time window is at least one time interval in the polymerization process carried out in a stirred reactor, during which the process shows an actual or expected divergence from a designated optimal reaction path of the polymerization process.

A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium with a computer-executable program stored thereon, wherein the program instructs a microprocessor of the computer to execute a method which

• determines at least one critical time window of a polymerization process in a stirred reactor, wherein the critical time window is at least one time interval within the polymerization process during which the process shows an actual or an expected divergence from a designated optimal reaction path of the polymerization process, by monitoring at least one polymerization process parameter and an associated range, in which a reaction product is obtained which meets requirements, as a function of reaction time;
• and
• adapts one or more process conditions during the critical time window, in order to maintain the polymerization process parameter within the process window,
• wherein the computer is a control device of a chemical reactor.

A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium with a computer-executable program stored thereon, wherein the program instructs a microprocessor of the computer to execute a method which

• determines at least one critical time window of a polymerization process in a stirred reactor, wherein the critical time window is at least one time interval within the polymerization process during which the process shows an actual or an expected divergence from a designated optimal reaction path of the polymerization process, by monitoring at least one polymerization process parameter and an associated range, in which a reaction product is obtained which meets requirements, as a function of reaction time;
• and
• adapts one or more process conditions during the critical time window, in order to maintain the polymerization process parameter within the process window,
• wherein the computer is a control device of an apparatus for determining a critical time window in a polymerization process, comprising:
• a reaction mixture portion removal device;
• a reaction mixture portion pump;
• optionally, a reaction mixture portion recycling device;
• and
• a reaction mixture physical property measuring element,
• wherein the polymerization process is carried out in a stirred reactor and shows an actual or expected divergence from a designated optimal reaction path of the polymerization process.