A REACTION-DIFFUSION MODEL FOR AUTOCATALYTIC POLYMERIZATION .2. THE INITIAL-VALUE PROBLEM

An initial-boundary value problem arising from a simple model for radi cal chain polymerization is discussed in detail. General properties of the solution are derived first and it is shown that a moving interfac e develops. This separates a region where the polymer is sufficiently concentrated for it to be immobile from one where it is still free to diffuse. An asymptotic analysis is performed in this latter region, wh ere it is shown that a permanent-form travelling wave (treated in Part I) develops in the long time structure and that this wave travels wit h its minimum possible speed. Numerical results for the full initial-b oundary value problem are presented which confirm the asymptotic theor y and give results in regions not accessible to this analysis.