Issue 20, 2015

Rapid synthesis of ultrahigh molecular weight and low polydispersity polystyrene diblock copolymers by RAFT-mediated emulsion polymerization

Abstract

Reversible-deactivation radical polymerization techniques can be used to produce large and complex macromolecules for a wide range of applications. However, RAFT and related techniques are not readily applicable to the synthesis of well-defined, ultrahigh molecular weight polymers from monomers that have a low propagation rate coefficient (such as styrene). Herein we report the use of a novel water-soluble macro-stabilizer in the RAFT-mediated emulsion polymerization of styrene yielding an ultrafast synthesis of ultrahigh molecular weight, low polydispersity polystyrene diblock copolymers to very high conversion. This environmentally friendly emulsion technique produces uniform nanoparticles with precise control over molecular weight and particle size, presenting great potential for many applications.

Graphical abstract: Rapid synthesis of ultrahigh molecular weight and low polydispersity polystyrene diblock copolymers by RAFT-mediated emulsion polymerization

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
04 Febr. 2015
Accepted
08 Apr. 2015
First published
10 Apr. 2015

Polym. Chem., 2015,6, 3865-3874

Rapid synthesis of ultrahigh molecular weight and low polydispersity polystyrene diblock copolymers by RAFT-mediated emulsion polymerization

N. P. Truong, M. V. Dussert, M. R. Whittaker, J. F. Quinn and T. P. Davis, Polym. Chem., 2015, 6, 3865 DOI: 10.1039/C5PY00166H

To request permission to reproduce material from this article, please go to the Copyright Clearance Center request page.

If you are an author contributing to an RSC publication, you do not need to request permission provided correct acknowledgement is given.

If you are the author of this article, you do not need to request permission to reproduce figures and diagrams provided correct acknowledgement is given. If you want to reproduce the whole article in a third-party publication (excluding your thesis/dissertation for which permission is not required) please go to the Copyright Clearance Center request page.

Read more about how to correctly acknowledge RSC content.

Social activity

Spotlight

Advertisements