Theory of Molecular Size Distribution and Gel Formation in Branched Polymers II. General Cross Linking

Abstract

A statistical calculation of the gel point and of the molecular size distribution is made for cross-linked high polymers of arbitrary initial size distribution. The weight-average polymerization degree of the cross-linked polymer depends only on the weight-average polymerization degree of the initial polymer and the degree of cross linking. The results obtained also apply to certain vinyl-divinyl copolymers. Polymerization degrees can be estimated from observations of the gel point.