Revista de Ciências Químicas

Chemical Oscillations and Spatial Structures in Polymerisation Reactions

Abstract

Issa Katime, Juan A Pérez–Ortiz and Eduardo Mendizábal

This article discusses the possibility of coupling a polymerization reaction to an oscillatory kinetic model, complemented by diffusion which can lead to spatial structure. We used three well–known mathematical models of oscillators: a variant of the Rossler multivibrator, a model proposed by Edelstein, and the Oregon Oscillator. One or some of the terms in the equations of these models come from a polymerization reaction, while the other terms of these equations will come from collateral processes. So, almost any reaction could become oscillatory and/or with dissipative structure, adding the adequate collateral processes. The propagation stages are considered as invariants and initiation reactions of order α = 0, 1, or 2, and termination reactions of order β = 1 or 2 are assumed. Except in the case α = 1, β = 2, all six remaining reactions combinations (α, β) can be coupled to least one, and often to several of the models. The effects of destabilization a stable homogeneous steady state by the presence of diffusion is also discussed, which is always be possible.