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.
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If the termination process is a disproportionation of two radicals which leaves a double bond in one chain, or if a solvent takes part in chain transfer, slight modifications are required. At all significant degrees of polymerization, however, these effects are negligible.
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Experiments are now in progress in this laboratory.
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© 1944 American Institute of Physics.
1944
American Institute of Physics
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