| Abstract: | We propose a statistical method to derive the differential equations that describe the weight-average molecular weight development during nonlinear free-radical polymerizations, by using the random sampling technique. We consider two types of nonlinear free-radical polymerization schemes, free-radical polymerization with chain transfer to polymer and free-radical crosslinking (co)polymerization. The obtained equations fully agree with those obtained through the kinetic approach using the method of moments. The physical meaning of each term in the differential equations as well as the implication of the functional form is discussed from the point of view of the statistical derivation. |
