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Hyperbranched PDMAEMA-functionalized SiO2 microparticles: ATRP polymerization and grafting in a continuous flow reactor

by Rigoberto C Advincula, Jin Ge, Yuyao Yin, Eugene Caldona
Publication Type
Journal
Journal Name
MRS Communications
Publication Date
Page Numbers
1147 to 1153
Volume
12
Issue
6

Flow chemistry offers high reaction yield, kinetic control, improved safety, reliability, scalability, and greater degree of process control. Herein, hyperbranched polymer-grafted silica microparticles (HP-SMPs) are synthesized in a commercially available flow reactor through atom transfer radical polymerization. Initiator-anchored silica microparticles are obtained by in situ silanization in the flow reactor. Hyperbranched poly[2-(dimethylamino)ethylmethacrylate] chains are grafted onto the initiator-anchored SMPs through inimer–monomer ratio control. To demonstrate the efficiency and universality of this approach in grafting polymers onto SMPs, multiple hyperbranched polymeric structures are obtained by varying the inimer concentration. Dye absorption test is conducted to demonstrate the potential applications of HP-SMPs.