MATHEMATICAL THEORY OF POLYMER GELATION

A new general theoretical treatment is given concerning the change in molecular size distribution due to crosslinking. Mass conservation and gelation are discussed by this fundamental treatment. The behaviors of the number and weight average molecular size of sol after gelation point are shown for many initial molecular size distributions. When a polymer has such a molecular size distribution as has two peaks, the weight average molecular size of sol may have a maximum and a minimum in the region after gelation point. Polymers which contain gel fraction initially are discussed by the same fundamental treatment as those which contain no gel fraction initially. The latter is the limiting case of the former. New quantities are derived which conserve in the region prior to gelation. © 1969, THE PHYSICAL SOCIETY OF JAPAN. All rights reserved.