RATE-EQUATION AND SCALING FOR FRAGMENTATION WITH MASS-LOSS

A linear rate equation describes fragmentation with continuous and discrete mass loss typified by consumption of porous reactive solids and two-phase heterogeneous solids. For a mass-dependent fragmentation rate x and a continuous-mass-loss rate x,f=--1<0 yields a recession regime where small particles lose mass continuously without breaking, f>0 yields a fragmentation regime where all particles break, and f=0 yields scaling for >0. Shattering for <0 and f 0 is runaway fragmentation producing an infinte number of particles in a finite time, Exact and asymptotic solutions, exponent relations, and connections with static percolation are found. © 1990 The American Physical Society.