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Related Concept Videos

Anionic Chain-Growth Polymerization: Overview01:20

Anionic Chain-Growth Polymerization: Overview

The polymerization process that involves carbanion as an intermediate is called anionic polymerization. It is also a type of addition or chain-growth polymerization. Anionic polymerization gets initiated by a strong nucleophile such as an organolithium or a Grignard reagent. The most commonly used initiator for anionic polymerization is butyl lithium. Monomers involved in anionic polymerization must possess a vinyl group bonded to one or two electron-withdrawing groups. For instance,...
Step-Growth Polymerization: Overview01:03

Step-Growth Polymerization: Overview

Step-growth or condensation polymerization is a stepwise reaction of bi or multifunctional monomers to form long-chain polymers. As all the monomers are reactive, most of the monomers are consumed at the early stages of the reaction to form small chains of reactive oligomers, which then combine to form long polymer chains in the late stages. Hence, the reaction has to proceed for a long time to achieve high molecular weight polymers.
Many natural and synthetic polymers are produced by...
Cationic Chain-Growth Polymerization: Mechanism00:57

Cationic Chain-Growth Polymerization: Mechanism

The cationic polymerization mechanism consists of three steps: initiation, propagation, and termination. In the initiation step of the polymerization process, the π bond of a monomer gets protonated by the Lewis acid catalyst, which is formed from boron trifluoride and water. The protonation of the π bond generates a carbocation stabilized by the electron‐donating group. In the propagation step, the π bond of the second monomer acts as a nucleophile and attacks the generated carbocation,...
Ziegler–Natta Chain-Growth Polymerization: Overview01:17

Ziegler–Natta Chain-Growth Polymerization: Overview

Ziegler–Natta polymerization is another form of addition or chain‐growth polymerization used for synthesizing linear polymers over branched polymers. The catalyst used for polymerization is the Ziegler–Natta catalyst, named after Karl Ziegler and Giulio Natta, who developed it in 1953. This catalyst is an organometallic complex of titanium tetrachloride and triethyl aluminum, with the active form of the catalyst being an alkyl titanium compound. Using the Ziegler–Natta catalyst, high molecular...
Radical Chain-Growth Polymerization: Mechanism01:09

Radical Chain-Growth Polymerization: Mechanism

The radical chain-growth polymerization mechanism consists of three steps: initiation, propagation, and termination of polymerization. The polymerization initiates when a free radical generated from the radical initiator adds to the unsaturated bond in the monomer. The unpaired electron of the free radical and one π electron in the unsaturated bond creates a σ bond between the free radical and the monomer. As a result, the other π electron in the unsaturated bond converts this species into the...
Polymers02:34

Polymers

The word polymer is derived from the Greek words “poly” which means “many” and “mer” which means “parts”. Polymers are long chains of molecules composed of repeating units of smaller molecules, known as monomers. They either occur naturally, such as DNA and proteins, or can be constructed synthetically, like plastics. They have varied structural characteristics, such as linear chains, branched chains, or complex networks, that contribute to the properties that they exhibit. Additionally,...

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Microwave-assisted Functionalization of Poly(ethylene glycol) and On-resin Peptides for Use in Chain Polymerizations and Hydrogel Formation
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Enhanced Two-Stage Reactive Polymer Network Forming Systems.

Devatha P Nair1, Neil B Cramer, Matthew K McBride

  • 1Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO, USA.

Polymer
|July 17, 2012
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

This study introduces novel two-stage polymer networks using thiol-acrylate chemistry. These systems offer tunable properties through distinct Michael addition and radical polymerization curing stages.

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Area of Science:

  • Polymer Chemistry
  • Materials Science

Background:

  • Developing advanced polymer networks with tunable properties is crucial for material innovation.
  • Existing polymer systems often lack control over distinct curing stages, limiting property modulation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To develop and characterize novel two-stage reactive network forming polymer systems.
  • To demonstrate the ability to control material properties through sequential curing processes.
  • To explore the impact of monomer selection and stoichiometry on network characteristics.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized a thiol-acrylate system with excess acrylate functional groups for sequential curing.
  • Implemented a Michael addition reaction for the first stage network formation.
  • Employed photoinitiated free radical polymerization for the second stage network formation.
  • Varied monomers (urethane di- and hexa-acrylates) and thiol-to-acrylate stoichiometry.

Main Results:

  • Achieved two distinct and orthogonal curing stages (Michael addition followed by radical polymerization).
  • Demonstrated a wide range of tunable properties by adjusting system composition.
  • Stage 1 glass transition temperatures (T(g)) ranged from -12 to 30 °C.
  • Stage 2 photocuring resulted in significant property enhancements, including up to a 90 °C increase in T(g) and a 20-fold increase in modulus.

Conclusions:

  • Successfully developed versatile two-stage polymer networks with controllable properties.
  • The sequential curing approach allows for significant post-cure property enhancement.
  • These systems hold promise for applications requiring precisely engineered material characteristics.