Eur. Phys. J. B 12, 91-97 (1999)
https://doi.org/10.1007/s100510050982

Structure and size distribution of percolating clusters. Comparison with gelling systems

¹ Chimie et Physique des Matériaux Polymères (UMR6515 CNRS) , Université du Maine, 72085 Le Mans Cedex 9, France
² IDRIS, Bâtiment 506, B.P. 167, 91403 Orsay Cedex, France

Corresponding authors: ^a Jean-Christophe.Gimel@univ-lemans.fr - ^b Dominique.Durand@univ-lemans.fr

Received: 16 December 1998
Revised: 21 April 1999
Published online: 15 November 1999

Abstract

3d lattice Monte-Carlo simulations were done to obtain the mass distribution (N(m)) and pair correlation function (g(r)) of percolating clusters. We give analytical expressions of the external cut-off functions of N(m) at the z-average mass and of g(r) at the radius of gyration. The simulation results were compared with experimental results on gel forming systems reported in the literature. The comparison shows that the experimental results are compatible with the simulation results. However, more experiments are needed before we can be confident that the percolation model is a good model for the sol-gel transition.