Polymer synthesis in continuous flow

There is growing interest in various “Living Free Radical Polymer synthesis” techniques (in which supply of reagents can be used to control the extent or rate of the reaction), as these techniques give far more control over the size (and topology) of the molecules formed.

Living Polymer synthesis techniques

There are a number of different techniques for living polymer-synthesis. These include:

• Reversible Addition Fragmentation Chain Transfer (RAFT)
• Atom transfer radical synthesis(ATRP)
• Nitroxide-mediated synthesis (NMP)

Continuous processing offers a way to carry out these processes with great repeatability and control. Inline degassing and long residence time stainless steel reactors are used, allowing materials that are very oxygen sensitive to be processed.

Vapourtec has had the honour to work with a team of researchers at Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) in Melbourne, Australia. CSIRO’s reversible addition fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) technology enables researchers to develop new and advanced materials.

polymer synthesis