Physicochemical Quantitative Description of FRRPP

The occurrence of the LCST has been established as a necessary condition for the FRRPP phenomenon in free-radical polymerization systems. In Section 2.2, an initial attempt was made to advance a mathematical model that incorporates not only the LCST behavior but also the reaction-transport aspects of the FRRPP process. In 

A closer look at Eqs. (2.2.5-2.6.7) and resulting Table 2.2.2 establishes a hint of a more complete quantitative description of the FRRPP process. This was done through simulation results with a wider set of parameters and results are shown in Table 2.5.1. 

From the table, it is evident that the dimensionless energy source term 

It was also noted from Tables 2.2.2 and 2.5.1 that a 0 and p 0 for FRRPP behavior. This made a and P counteract each other while there was a need to increase the effeet of the exotherm. It was also possible for a and p to counteract each other by having a 0 and p 0. For now, a combined dimensionless quantity is introduced to incorporate the opposite signs of a and p, as well as the strong effect of the reaction exotherm while keeping the result of a flat temperature profile (6 1.01 at = 0) in the system. This quantity is symbolized by Ch (pronounced see-enye) and defined as 

Values of Ch shown in Table 2.5.1 indicate that for the FRRPP process, it should be below around —1,000. 

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