Mathematical modeling of interfacial polycondensation

The works on mathematical modeling of interfacial polycondensation are reviewed over the period since 1970s up to now. Attention is primarily paid to the techniques of local and macrokinetic modeling. Two approaches to the theoretical description of polycondensation have been formed up to date. The first one is based on analytical or semianalytical solution of differential balance equations using the stationary mass transfer approximation. The second one consists in numerical solution of the system of reaction-diffusion equations for the diffusion boundary layer of the reaction phase. The advantages and drawbacks of these approaches, specific features of their realization, basic results, as well as ways of combining these methods are discussed. A possibility of building a general model of interfacial polycondensation as a hierarchical combination of kinetic, local, and macrokinetic models is shown. (c) 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.