A model of frontal polymerization including the gel effect

Frontal polymerization is a process in which a spatially localized reaction zone propagates into a monomer, converting it into a polymer. This new approach to polymer production requires both theoretical and experimental study. Agreement between the existing theoretical and experimental work done on this subject has generally been fairly good. However, experimental results tend to show a higher degree of conversion than theoretical results. The reason for this discrepancy may be attributed to an autoacceleration of the polymerization rate which occurs when conversion has reached a certain point. This autoacceleration is due to a decrease in the termination rate caused by a phenomenon known as the gel effect. In this paper, we develop a mathematical model of the frontal polymerization process, taking the gel effect into consideration. Specifically, we determine how it will affect the degree of conversion, maximum temperature, and propagation velocity of the system.