Modeling of Pre-Gel Aggregate Growth During the Gelation of a Polyacrylamide-Chromium(III) Acetate Gel System Using the Theory of Branching Processes

Abstract

Abstract Models that describe the pre-gel aggregate growth during the gelation of a polyacrylamide-chromium(III) acetate gel system are presented. Using the theory of branching processes, two models were developed to estimate the bulk gel time of a gel system and the molecular weight averages and distributions of pre-gel aggregates as functions of reaction time and initial conditions. A multi-angle laser light scattering instrument was used to determine the weight-average molecular weights of the pre-gel aggregates as a function of reaction time. Good agreement between the experimental data and the model results was obtained.