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A Continuous Flow Process for the Radical Induced End Group Removal of RAFT Polymers
Author(s) -
Hornung Christian H.,
Postma Almar,
Saubern Simon,
Chiefari John
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
macromolecular reaction engineering
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.37
H-Index - 32
eISSN - 1862-8338
pISSN - 1862-832X
DOI - 10.1002/mren.201200007
Subject(s) - raft , radical polymerization , reversible addition−fragmentation chain transfer polymerization , polymer , polymer chemistry , methacrylate , flow chemistry , end group , styrene , polymerization , monomer , chemistry , chain transfer , materials science , chemical engineering , copolymer , organic chemistry , catalysis , engineering
A continuous flow process for the radical‐induced end‐group removal of polymers made by a RAFT process is described. A series of different monomers, including acrylamides, methacrylate, and styrene are polymerized at 70–100 °C using various different RAFT agents, solvents, and radical initiators. The subsequent end group removal process is carried out in a steel tube flow reactor system at 100 °C in organic solvents or water. After reaction, the polymers exhibit low polydispersities between 1.03 and 1.19, and average molecular weights between 7500 and 22 800 g · mol −1 . This continuous flow approach provides a facile alternative scale‐up route to conventional batch operation and can be integrated into a sequential flow process consisting of RAFT polymerization followed by post‐treatment.