The second boundary value problem for equations of viscoelastic diffusion in polymers

Abstract

The classical approach to diffusion processes is based on Fick's law that the flux is proportional to the concentration gradient. Various phenomena occurring during propagation of penetrating liquids in polymers show that this type of diffusion exhibits anomalous behavior and contradicts the just mentioned law. However, they can be explained in the framework of non-Fickian diffusion theories based on viscoelasticity of polymers. Initial-boundary value problems for viscoelastic diffusion equations have been studied by several authors. Most of the studies are devoted to the Dirichlet BVP (the concentration is given on the boundary of the domain). In this chapter we study the second BVP, i.e. when the normal component of the concentration flux is prescribed on the boundary, which is more realistic in many physical situations. We establish existence of weak solutions to this problem. We suggest some conditions on the coefficients and boundary data under which all the solutions tend to the homogeneous state as time goes to infinity.