Model-based design and synthesis of gradient MMA/t BMA copolymers by computer-programmed semibatch atom transfer radical copolymerization

Enabling technologies in polymer synthesis: accessing a new design space for advanced polymer materials

This review discusses how developments in laboratory technologies can push the boundaries of what is achievable using existing polymer synthesis techniques.

Visualization and design of the functional group distribution during statistical copolymerization

Even though functional copolymers with a low percentage of functional comonomer units (up to 20 mol%) are widely used, for instance for the development of polymer therapeutics and hydrogels, insights in the functional group distribution over the actual chains are lacking and the average composition is conventionally used to describe the functionalization degree. Here we report the visualization of the monomer distribution over the different polymer chains by a synergetic combination of experimental and theoretical analysis aiming at the construction of functionality-chain length distributions (FUNC-CLDs). A successful design of the chemical structure of the comonomer pair, the initial functional comonomer amount (13 mol%), and the temperature (100 °C) is performed to tune the FUNC-CLD of copoly(2-oxazoline)s toward high functionalization degree for both low (100) and high (400) target degrees of polymerization. The proposed research strategy is generic and extendable to a broad range of copolymerization chemistries, including reversible deactivation radical polymerization.

Progress in reactor engineering of controlled radical polymerization: a comprehensive review

Controlled radical polymerization (CRP) represents an important advancement in polymer chemistry. It allows synthesis of polymers with well-controlled chain microstructures.

Highlight on the Mathematical Modeling of Controlled Free Radical Polymerization

Over the last quarter century, controlled free radical polymerization (CFRP) has received great attention by the researchers of polymer science and engineering. In addition to the experimental studies, many publications in the literature dealt with the modeling of CFRP processes. A review of acknowledged and well-received researches on mathematical modeling in the area of CFRP is presented in this work. Three main categories of CFRP (namely, ATRP, RAFT, and NMP) are taken into consideration in the review. The different techniques used in modeling CFRP processes are also enumerated with more emphasis on Monte Carlo simulation and the method of moments. The review provides a better understanding of the processes and the recent efforts to model CFRP.

Tailor-made compositional gradient copolymer by a many-shot RAFT emulsion polymerization method

A many-shot RAFT emulsion polymerization method to synthesize gradient copolymers with high molecular weight and a tailor-made compositional gradient.

pH Responsivity and micelle formation of gradient copolymers of methacrylic acid and methyl methacrylate in aqueous solution

A series of gradient copolymers of methacrylic acid (MAA)/methyl methacrylate (MMA) with four end-to-end composition profiles (uniform, linear gradient, triblock with linear gradient midblock, and diblock) but all having an average chain composition of ̅F(MMA) ≈ 0.5 and an average chain length of 200 were synthesized via model-based, computer-programmed, semibatch atom-transfer radical copolymerization (ATRcoP). These samples allowed us to investigate systematically the effects of the gradient composition profile on the pH responsivity and micelle formation of the copolymers in an aqueous solution. Measurements included light transmittance, TEM, AFM, DLS, (1)H NMR, and pH titration. It was found that linear gradient, triblock, and diblock copolymers formed spherical micelles at high pH. The micelles of the linear gradient copolymer contained MMA units in their hydrophilic shells, and those of the triblock and diblock copolymers had all of their MMA units residing in their cores. The composition profile showed a strong effect on the degree of acid dissociation at a given pH. The conformational transition of the copolymer chains was determined by both the pH value and composition profile. Copolymers having sharper gradients required a lower pH to trigger the conformational transition and a narrower pH range to complete the transition.