Cyclic Bonds in Branched Polymers

Abstract

In the gelation theory it has been implicitly assumed that (I) a cyclic bond is a finite bond that returns to itself; (II) cyclic bonds distribute at random in network structures. In this paper these two assumptions are reexamined from a new point of view. The physical soundness of the assumptions is assessed through comparison with experimental observations.

arXiv comment7 pages, 4 figures, 1 table