Rapid Synthesis of Polymer Brush Surfaces via Microwave-Assisted Surface-Initiated Radical Polymerization

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

5-14-2012

School

Polymer Science and Engineering

Abstract

Microwave-assisted surface-initiated radical polymerization (mu W-SIP) is demonstrated for the rapid synthesis of polymer brush surfaces on two-dimensional substrates. mu W-SIP is carried out at constant temperature and microwave power allowing comparison with conventional SIP carried out in an oil bath at the same effective solution temperature. We show mu W-SIP enables significant enhancements (up to 39-fold increase) in brush thickness at reduced reaction times for a range of monomer types (i.e. acrylamides, acrylates, methacrylates, and styrene). The effects of reaction time, monomer concentration, and microwave power on film thickness are explored.

Publication Title

Macromolecular Rapid Communications

Volume

33

Issue

9

First Page

863

Last Page

868

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