Front polymerization regime

It can be shown that three different modes of front propagation during the formation of polycaproamide can be observed, depending on the relationship between the process parameters. In the first mode, which was found experimentally, the zones of polymerization and crystallization coincide. In the second mode these zones are separated in space. The third mode, which was predicted theoretically, is characterized by a non-monotonic distribution of the degree of crystallinity. However, it is not clear whether this situation can actually be observed in anionic e-caprolactam polymerization because even slight variations in parameters transfers the system into another regime. 

The physical mechanism leading to appearance of the spinning modes for polymerization fronts is the same as for combustion fronts. However, if the polymer or the monomer is in the liquid phase, then the properties of these regimes and the critical values of parameters when they appear can be influenced by hydrodynamics. 

---