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Related Concept Videos

Molecular Weight of Step-Growth Polymers01:08

Molecular Weight of Step-Growth Polymers

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Step growth polymerization involves bi or multifunctional monomers. Bifunctional monomers react to form linear step growth polymers, whereas multifunctional monomers react to form non-linear or branched polymers.
As the step-growth polymerization involves step-wise condensation of monomers, the molecular weight also builds up eventually. Consequently, high molecular weight polymers are obtained at the late stages of the polymerization, where 99% of monomers have been consumed.
The extent of the...
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Cationic Chain-Growth Polymerization: Mechanism00:57

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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...
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Radical Chain-Growth Polymerization: Mechanism01:09

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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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Step-Growth Polymerization: Overview01:03

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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.
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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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The skeletal structure of polymers synthesized via radical polymerization is always branched. For example, the polymerization of ethylene by radical polymerization results in a low-density grade of polyethylene with a heavily branched skeletal structure. Here, the radical site abstracts hydrogen from the growing chain, and the radical site shifts from the end (a primary carbon center) to anywhere within the growing chain (a secondary carbon center). Consequently, the part of the chain from the...
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Ultrahigh-Molecular-Weight Polymer Gels in Aqueous Media Using Cucurbit[8]uril-Assisted Radical Polymerization.

Élise Ansart1, Rebekka Hosch1, Mark W Tibbitt1

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Researchers developed a simple method to create ultrahigh-molecular-weight (UHMW) polymers using host-guest chemistry. This technique enhances free-radical polymerization (FRP) for producing advanced polymer materials and hydrogels.

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Area of Science:

  • Polymer Chemistry
  • Materials Science

Background:

  • Ultrahigh-molecular-weight (UHMW) polymers exhibit superior properties due to chain entanglements.
  • Traditional free-radical polymerization (FRP) struggles with low initiation efficiency and reproducibility for UHMW polymer synthesis.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To develop a controlled FRP method for synthesizing UHMW polymers.
  • To investigate host-guest interactions for regulating radical polymerization.
  • To produce UHMW polymers that form in-situ hydrogels.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized host-guest interactions between Cucurbit[8]uril (CB[8]) and thermoinitiator VA-044 to control radical concentration.
  • Investigated acrylamide (AAm) polymerization and applied the strategy to other water-soluble monomers.
  • Performed rheological analyses to characterize hydrogel properties.

Main Results:

  • Successfully synthesized UHMW polymers up to 5.5 MDa.
  • Demonstrated in-situ hydrogel formation from synthesized UHMW polymers.
  • Observed increased and frequency-independent hydrogel stiffness above 3 MDa.

Conclusions:

  • Host-guest chemistry offers a simple and effective approach to produce UHMW polymers via FRP.
  • This method allows easy access to UHMW polymers and hydrogels in aqueous media.
  • Minimal addition of CB[8] macrocycle significantly improves standard FRP procedures.