The theory of branching processes and kinetically controlled ring—chain competition processes

The statistical theory of branching processes provides unified and powerful methods for calculating statistical parameters, especially for branched polymer systems. A review of some recent calculations provides examples such as the sol fraction, molecular weight and configurational size averages, and the concentration and mean length of active network chains in f functional random or nonrandom polycondensations. The theory furnishes a useful approximation to the calculation of thermodynamically or kinetically controlled ring–chain competition processes in branched systems.