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The kinetics of the process of random chain breaking for linear polymers is described by the equation:

,

where is the molar concentration of -mer and is the first-order rate constant for chain-breaking reaction.

For a monodisperse polymer with boundary condition , the general solution of this equation is:

,

where is the fraction of broken bonds, or the degree of destruction.

Normalization gives the numerical distribution function:

In case of complex initial distributions, the absence of mutual influence of the chains makes it possible to apply this distribution function to each polymer homolog, taking into account its concentration in the initial polymer.

A special solution for the initial Flory distribution, since the random chain breaking does not change the nature of the distribution:

,

where is the molar fraction of -mer and is the number-average degree of polymerization of the starting polymer.

For ladder polymers with monodisperse initial distribution:

,

where is the probability of double-stranded break at a degree of destruction .

Based on the chain length distribution, the number-average degree of polymerization , the weight-average degree of polymerization and the polydispersity index are calculated:

,

,

.