Controlled Radical and Photopolymerization of Functional Polymers
This community develops methods for synthesizing polymers with precise molecular architectures, using radical and light-driven techniques to control structure and reactivity for applications in 3D printing, adhesives, and advanced materials.
The work centers on controlled radical polymerization techniques, specifically atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP), reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT), and photopolymerization. Recurring monomers include methyl methacrylate, vinylidene fluoride, and vinyl acetate, often processed into block copolymers and polymer brushes. A significant portion of the research focuses on visible-light and red-light-driven synthesis, utilizing photocatalysts and photoinitiators to enable polymerization in open air or oxygen-tolerant conditions. Applications span additive manufacturing, pressure-sensitive adhesives for biomedical use, and the creation of nanostructured materials via polymerization-induced microphase separation.
The community is most prominent in research tracked for Fluorine, representing 0.3% of all fluorine research, and Bromine, representing 0.5% of all bromine research. It also contributes significantly to Carbon research, accounting for 0.1% of that element’s output.
The community comprises 6,740 papers, published primarily in Macromolecules, Journal of Fluorine Chemistry, and Polymer Chemistry.
Recent work explores oxygen-tolerant red-light-driven synthesis of degradable copolymers, wavelength-dependent photopolymerization mechanisms, and the use of block copolymer nanoparticles to enhance thermal conductivity in oils.