An experimental study of gelation of chains

Abstract

Gamma-radiation induced gelation of polystyrene solution in cyclopentane is studied. The reaction is stopped at different stages and the properties of the diluted sol are characterized by elastic light scattering. We have measured the dependence of the average radius of gyration as a function of the average molecular weight of extracted polymers. It seems to indicate that in the case of relatively short chains and concentration close to the overlap concentration the gelation is characterized by percolation rather than classical exponents