Fundamentals of reversible addition–fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT)

Abstract

Radical polymerization is transformed into what is known as reversible addition–fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization by the addition of a RAFT agent. RAFT polymerization enables the preparation of polymers with predictable molar mass, narrow chain length distribution, high end-group integrity and provides the ability to construct macromolecules with the intricate architectures and composition demanded by modern applications in medicine, electronics and nanotechnology. This paper provides a background to understanding the mechanism of RAFT polymerization and how this technique has evolved.

Influence of RAFT Agent on the Mechanism of Copolymerization of Polypropylene Glycol Maleinate with Acrylic Acid

“…The 1 H and 13 C NMR spectra of the resulting branched copolymers p-PGM:AA:CPDT and the starting p-PGM oligomer were recorded on JNM-ECA Jeol 400 spectrometer (fre-quency 399.78 and 100.53 MHz, respectively) using a CDCl 3 solvent. Chemical shifts were measured relative to the signals of residual protons or carbon atoms of deuterated chloroform.…”

“…In the 13 C NMR spectrum of the copolymer, methyl and methylene carbon atoms Ca and Cb were detected at 16.33 ppm. The carbon atoms of the alkyl fragment adjacent to and associated with simple and complex ether groups Сс and Сd were observed at 66.87 and 69.40 ppm.…”

“…The use of such approaches in the copolymerization of unsaturated polyester resins with ionogenic monomers opens up unlimited possibilities for controlling the size of the three-dimensional network. It facilitates the design of a macromolecule in the composition of a polymer with a known molecular weight, block, and graft copolymers [13].…”

Thickening behavior of thermo‐associative water soluble multiblock copolymers under redox RAFT polymerization

“…[19][20][21] At a temperature above the reported T cp of PNIPAM, the thermo-responsive copolymers undergoes a rapid phase transition which generally conducted to a significant increase in the viscosity of aqueous polymer solutions due to the intermolecular interactions between the hydrophobic moieties. [22,23] The reversible addition fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) process [24][25][26][27][28][29][30] is one of the most important reversible deactivation radical polymerization (RDRP) techniques [31][32][33][34] and usually employed in the preparation of tailored polymers with well-ordered architectures. Further, both more active monomers (MAM) and low active monomers (LAM) can easily be polymerized via this technique giving rise to polymeric materials with controlled distribution molecular weight and defined composition.…”

“…The reversible addition fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) process [ 24–30 ] is one of the most important reversible deactivation radical polymerization (RDRP) techniques [ 31–34 ] and usually employed in the preparation of tailored polymers with well‐ordered architectures. Further, both more active monomers (MAM) and low active monomers (LAM) can easily be polymerized via this technique giving rise to polymeric materials with controlled distribution molecular weight and defined composition.…”