Modeling the Mechanochemical Degradation of Star Polymers

A model for predicting the molecular weight distributions of mechanochemically degraded star polymers has been developed. The model was shown to be in good agreement with experimental distributions and average total molecular weights obtained from ultrasonically degraded three‐arm star poly(methyl acrylate)s. Generalization of the model to four‐ and n‐arm star polymers was also achieved. The models are straightforward to use, and thus, all calculations were completed in Microsoft Excel. A predictive model for the evolution of molecular weight distributions of star polymers during mechanochemical degradation has been developed. The predicted distributions are in good agreement with experimental results for three‐arm star polymers.