Computer-Simulation Studies of Kinetic Gelation

Authors

Y. Liu, University of Southern Mississippi
Ras B. Pandey, University of Southern MississippiFollow

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

4-1-1997

Department

Physics and Astronomy

School

Mathematics and Natural Sciences

Abstract

Computer simulations are performed to study kinetic gelation on a simple cubic lattice. Two models are considered: (1) irreversible gelation in which the monomers and microgels attempt to react with their neighboring particles with a certain probability (p_b) and (2) reversible gelation in which the bonds are broken with a certain probability (p_r). The growth of the extent of reaction (i.e., the concentration of the bonds grown), volume fraction of the gel, weight average degree of polymerization, and the correlation length are studied as a function of p_b and p_r. We observe that (i) the concentration of bonds grows nonlinearly with time. (ii) The critical gel time (t_c) increases nonlinearly on increasing the degree of reversibility, p_r, while the critical concentration (p_c) at the gel point is insensitive to p_b and p_r. (iii) For large p_r, our data suggest that the sol-to-gel transition may be nonuniversal.

Publication Title

Physical Review B

Volume

55

Issue

13

First Page

8257

Last Page

8266

Recommended Citation

Liu, Y., Pandey, R. B. (1997). Computer-Simulation Studies of Kinetic Gelation. Physical Review B, 55(13), 8257-8266.
Available at: https://aquila.usm.edu/fac_pubs/5295