A three-phase model for polymer curing including diffusive motion and agglomeration of inclusions.

In this work, a phenomenological three-phase model is formulated to simulate agglomeration and breakup of particles contained in a polymer. It shall serve as a starting point for modelling the same phenomena in curing polymers. While isothermal processes are assumed, the model is stated in the framework of continuum mechanics of mixtures. The phenomenological model consists of a polymer phase, and two particle phases. Agglomeration and breakup is modeled as a concentration exchange between the two particle phases. (© 2012 Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)