Calculation of molecular weight distributions for polymers undergoing random crosslinking and scission

A simple, practical calculation procedure has been developed for predicting the changes in molecular weight distribution of a polymer undergoing random crosslinking and/or degradation. Simulations of the random crosslinking and degradation of narrow and broad Poisson-type distributions have been made. The results agree with those calculated from Kimura's analytical solutions to Saito's general equations after a correction has been made for a mathematical error in Kimura's solution. This method can be applied to determining the probabilities of crosslinking and scission for any arbitrary molecular weight distribution expressed in tabular form. The importance of using narrow distribution samples to estimate crosslinking from changes in molecular weight distribution is graphically demonstrated.