ON THE PRODUCT DISTRIBUTION OF DEGRADABLE POLYMERS

We present a simplified model for calculating the product distribution of degradable polymers which is based on a grand canonical approach. The distribution depends on two physical parameters, the energy of a b ond formation and the initial concentration of monomers. Due to its si mplicity this model covers the two limiting cases, namely a polymeriza tion process (no degradation) and micellar association (dominant degra dation), and allows for straightforward extension to branched chain to pologies or flow fields. In shear flow, a flow rate dependent length d istribution leads to shear thinning.