Mathematical modeling of thiol-ene frontal polymerization

Frontal polymerization is a method of manufacturing polymers via a self-propagating reaction wave. A mathematical model that describes thiol-ene frontal polymerization is presented and studied, both numerically and analytically. Spatio-temporal profiles of the temperature and concentrations of the reactants as well as the propagation velocity of the wave are determined. Conditions for existence of polymerization fronts are discussed.