| Frontal polymerization is a technique for converting monomer into polymer via a self-propagating reaction wave. Polymers can be manufactured by using one or more monomers; however, polymers formed with two or more monomers are advantageous because the polymer can assume specific important qualities. In this thesis, mathematical models for free-radical binary frontal polymerization and free-radical frontal copolymerization, methods in which polymers are formed using two different monomers, are developed. Through simplifying assumptions, the equations are solved both analytically and numerically, and important characteristics of the process, such as the propagation speed of the wave, the final temperature in the reaction front, and the final monomer concentrations, are studied. The analytic solution is compared to the numerical solution and to experimental results, whenever possible, to demonstrate agreement between the results. Parameters of the reaction are examined to determine which ones most influence the aforementioned characteristics. Stability of the polymerization front is also investigated. |
