Monte-Carlo modeling of degradation of polymer networks: 3. Lattice networks

The degradation of polymer networks with three functional junctions has bee n studied by using Monte-Carlo techniques. The networks were formed on 2D s quare or 3D cubic lattices in a random process with chains spanning junctio ns fixed at the distance not exceeding a predetermined value. This value ha s been found to have an effect on the degradation process that followed. Th e degradation degree at the gel-sol transition was the lowest for the netwo rks formed in the nearest-neighbor percolation processes. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.