Abstract

General step-growth polymerization systems of order 2 are considered, i.e. systems of type AfiBgi. We describe an algorithmic method to calculate the molecular size distribution (MSD). Input to the algorithm is the recipe: a list of the monomers involved stating their A and B functionalities and their molar amounts, and the degree of conversion. Output is the MSD and its moments. Three main steps lead from input to output: (i) setting up a polynomial equation for the generating function that generates the MSD, (ii) transforming this polynomial equation to a differential equation, and (iii) transforming the latter one further to a recurrence equation. The recurrence yields the MSD and is of constant order. Keywords: branched polymers; molecular modeling; molecular weight distribution

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