Nonlinear dynamics of frontal polymerization with autoacceleration

A free-boundary model is used to describe frontal polymerization. Autoacceleration effects, such as the gel effect, are accounted for in the formulation. Weakly nonlinear analysis is applied to investigate pulsating instabilities in two dimensions. The analysis produces a pair of Landau equations that describe the evolution of the linearly unstable modes. Autoacceleration influences the linear stability of the system as well as the onset and stability of spinning and standing modes.