Achieving molecular weight distribution shape control and broad dispersities using RAFT polymerizations

Reversible addition-fragmentation chain-transfer (RAFT) polymerizations are one of the most versatile and powerful polymerization techniques for the synthesis of complex macromolecular architectures. While RAFT polymerizations often give polymers with narrow molecular weight distributions (MWDs), co...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Polymer chemistry 2021-08, Vol.12 (34), p.491-4915
Main Authors: Rosenbloom, Stephanie I, Sifri, Renee J, Fors, Brett P
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Addition polymerization
Cationic polymerization
Chain transfer
Chemical synthesis
Control methods
Molecular weight
Molecular weight distribution
Polymer chemistry
Polymers
Reagents
Shape control
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Summary:Reversible addition-fragmentation chain-transfer (RAFT) polymerizations are one of the most versatile and powerful polymerization techniques for the synthesis of complex macromolecular architectures. While RAFT polymerizations often give polymers with narrow molecular weight distributions (MWDs), commodity plastics often have broad MWDs to give targeted properties and processability. Thus, new methods to precisely control both MWD breadth and shape are essential for fine-tuning polymer properties for next generation materials. Herein, we report a simple method for controlling polymer MWD features in thermally activated radical RAFT and redox activated cationic RAFT polymerizations by means of metered additions of chain transfer agents. Metered additions of chain transfer agents are used to control molecular weight distribution (MWD) features in reversible addition-fragmentation chain-transfer polymerizations, giving polymers with tailored MWD shapes and dispersities as high as 6.2.
ISSN:1759-9954
1759-9962
DOI:10.1039/d1py00399b