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Related Concept Videos

Free-Radical Chain Reaction and Polymerization of Alkenes02:35

Free-Radical Chain Reaction and Polymerization of Alkenes

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The conversion of alkenes to macromolecules called polymers is a reaction of high commercial importance. The structure of the polymer is defined by a repeating unit, while the terminal groups are considered insignificant. The average degree of polymerization represents the number of repeating units in the polymer molecule and is denoted by the subscript n.
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Olefin Metathesis Polymerization: Overview01:13

Olefin Metathesis Polymerization: Overview

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Recently, the development of olefin metathesis polymerization advanced the field of polymer synthesis. Simply put, the reorganization of substituents on their double bonds between two olefins in the presence of a catalyst is known as the olefin metathesis reaction. The use of metathesis reaction for polymer synthesis is called olefin metathesis polymerization.
Ruthenium-based Grubbs catalyst is the most commonly used catalyst for olefin metathesis polymerization. Grubbs catalyst consists of a...
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Olefin Metathesis Polymerization: Ring-Opening Metathesis Polymerization (ROMP)01:16

Olefin Metathesis Polymerization: Ring-Opening Metathesis Polymerization (ROMP)

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Ring-opening metathesis polymerization or ROMP involves strained cycloalkenes as starting materials. The mechanism of ROMP proceeds by reacting cycloalkene with Grubbs catalyst to give metallacyclobutane intermediate which undergoes a ring-opening reaction to form new carbene. The new carbene reacts with another molecule of cycloalkene. Repetition of these steps leads to the formation of an unsaturated open-chain polymer product. All these steps are reversible, however, relieving the ring...
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Ziegler–Natta Chain-Growth Polymerization: Overview01:17

Ziegler–Natta Chain-Growth Polymerization: Overview

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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...
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Types of Step-Growth Polymers: Polyesters01:20

Types of Step-Growth Polymers: Polyesters

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The introduction of polyesters has brought major development to the textile industry. The wrinkle-free behavior of polyester blends has eliminated the need for starching and ironing clothes.
Polyesters are commonly prepared from terephthalic acid and ethylene glycol; the crude product is known as poly(ethylene terephthalate) or PET. However, polyesters are synthesized industrially by transesterification of dimethyl terephthalate with ethylene glycol at 150 °C. The two reactants and the polymer...
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Radical Chain-Growth Polymerization: Mechanism01:09

Radical Chain-Growth Polymerization: Mechanism

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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...
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Updated: Jan 11, 2026

Depolymerizable Olefinic Polymers Based on Fused-Ring Cyclooctene Monomers
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Depolymerizable Olefinic Polymers Based on Fused-Ring Cyclooctene Monomers

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Effective Recycling Pathways of Commodity Polymers Enabled by Mechanoradical Capture.

Allyson R Cunningham1, Gwen C Wilusz1, Owen A Lee1

  • 1Department of Chemistry, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado 80521-1872, United States.

Journal of the American Chemical Society
|November 10, 2025
PubMed
Summary

A new "capture-and-repair" method effectively recycles plastics like polystyrene (PS) and poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA). This strategy preserves material properties through multiple cycles, enhancing plastic circularity and performance.

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Scalable Step-by-Step Approach of Sustainable Bioplastic Production from Food Waste
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Area of Science:

  • Polymer Chemistry
  • Materials Science
  • Sustainable Chemistry

Background:

  • Mechanical recycling of plastics faces challenges due to polymer chain degradation and reduced material properties.
  • Reprocessing generates reactive mechanoradicals that lower molecular weight, limiting recyclability.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To develop a value-preserving recycling strategy for polystyrene (PS) and poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA).
  • To enable enhanced circularity and performance of mechanically recycled plastics.

Main Methods:

  • Utilizing ball milling to induce polymer chain scission and generate mechanoradicals.
  • Capturing mechanoradicals with bis(butyl trithiocarbonate) to yield polymers with trithiocarbonate (TTC) end groups.
  • Employing TTC-functionalized polymers as macroinitiators for controlled polymerization or depolymerization.

Main Results:

  • Mechanoradical capture successfully yielded TTC-functionalized polymers with significantly reduced molecular weight (≈90% lower).
  • Chain extension restored or increased molecular weight, recovering entangled polymer properties and the rubbery plateau.
  • The capture-and-repair strategy demonstrated robustness over three degradation-regeneration cycles.
  • Ball milling alone reduced PMMA's thermal depolymerization temperature, enabling efficient depolymerization.

Conclusions:

  • Mechanoradical capture is a promising approach for value-preserving plastic recycling.
  • This strategy enhances the circularity and performance of recycled polymers.
  • The method offers a pathway to overcome limitations in current mechanical recycling processes.