No CrossRef data available.
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 26 February 2011
A mathematical model is presented to describe the fundamental phenomena occurring in the vicinity of the interface between a polymerizing medium and a non-solvent. The model combines the principles of polymerization kinetics, mass transfer and polymer solution thermodynamics and is applied to the polymerization of methyl methacrylate with water. Numerical simulations indicate the development of large interface velocities and the formation of a dense polymer skin at very low monomer conversions in agreement with experimental observations.