Degradation of long chain molecules by ultrasonic waves. VIII. Rate constants and the cavitation process

Solvent velocities at a constant distance from the center of a collapsing cavity have been calculated for a liquid exposed to ultrasonic waves. These velocities can be expressed as a function of time by a sine function. This permits the calculation of degradation rate constants as a function of polymer chain length, intensity, and frequency of the ultrasonic waves and also as a function of the hydrostatic pressure exerted on the reaction system. In all cases, the calculated rate constants show relationships similar to those found for experimental rate constants. In some cases (e.g., initial chain length) quite a good quantitative agreement is obtained.