Nonlinear Dynamics in Frontal Polymerization

Thermal frontal polymerization is a mode of converting monomer into polymer via a localized exothermic reaction zone that propagates through the coupling of thermal diffusion and the Arrhenius reaction kinetics of an exothermic polymerization. We review the range of nonlinear phenomena that have been observed in frontal polymerization systems and report new results on the role of gravity in spin modes and the development of spherically-propagating fronts