Eur. Phys. J. E 9, 277-282 (2002)
DOI: 10.1140/epje/i2002-10078-0

Complex dynamics in gelling systems

L. de Arcangelis^{1, 2}, E. Del Gado^{3, 2} and A. Coniglio<sup>3, 2

1</sup>  Dipartimento di Ingegneria dell'Informazione, Seconda Università di Napoli, Via Roma 29, 81031 Aversa (CE), Italy
²  INFM Udr di Napoli and Gruppo coordinato SUN, Napoli, Italy
³  Dipartimento di Scienze Fisiche, Università di Napoli "Federico II", Complesso Universitario di Monte Sant'Angelo, 80126 Napoli, Italy

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(Received 10 March 2002 and Received in final form 30 April 2002 / Published online: 23 December 2002)

Abstract
We study the viscoelastic properties and the relaxation process in a gelling system by means of a minimal statistical-mechanics model. The model is based on percolation and bond fluctuation dynamics. The values for the critical exponents of the viscosity and elasticity agree with a part of the experimental observations and of the theoretical predictions. The obtained relaxation patterns well reproduce the behaviour observed in different gelling systems.

PACS
05.20.-y - Classical statistical mechanics.
82.70.Gg - Gels and sols.
47.53.+n - Fractals.

© EDP Sciences, Società Italiana di Fisica, Springer-Verlag 2002