Postgraduate studies in Department of Controlled Polymerization

For those who are interested in synthetic polymer chemistry, the Department offers postgraduate studies in the field of tailored polymer synthesis. The following themes are available for the studies:

1. Ligated anionic polymerization (LAP) of acrylic esters -  the effect of monomer structure on kinetics of polymerization.

LAP is one of the widely used methods of controlled polymerization of polar vinyl monomers (acrylates and methacrylates) initiated by alkali metal organometallics in the presence of various complexing ligands which restrict the extent of undesired side reactions in the polymerization. As the stabilizing efficiency of the ligands (alkali metal alkoxides, alkylaluminiums) depends also on chemical structure of monomer, composition of the initiating complex must be tuned with respect to the monomer and required product.

The topic involves synthesis of acrylic esters with alkoxy groups having various lengths and degrees of branching, study of their polymerization initiated with complex initiating systems, determination of kinetic parameters of individual reaction steps, in particular those of side reactions, in dependence on the monomer chemical structure. Based on the results, composition of the initiating complex as well as reaction conditions can be optimized for living polymerization leading to, e.g., block copolymers.

2. Synthesis of multiblock copolymers by atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP).

ATRP is a most recent and very intensively studied method of controlled polymerization which is, compared with ionic living processes simpler, less sensitive to impurities and, consequently, with a great chance to be used in technology. The polymerization is initiated mostly with alkyl halide in the presence of a transition metal salt and complexing agent.  A variety of initiating systems have been designed leading to tailored block copolymers. However, for individual polymerization systems, initiating combinations and reaction conditions must be carefully chosen. In particular, the method is applicable to synthesis of tri- and multiblock copolymers.

The theme involves synthesis of halogen-terminated styrene, diene and (meth)acrylate polymers, their application as macroinitiators in block copolymerization of other monomers and preparation and characterization of multiblock copolymers of the A-B-C-D... and /or -(AB-)_n types. The macroinitiators are prepared by both radical and ionic controlled processes. In every synthetic step, various conditions and initiating combinations are investigated and kinetics of polymerization are studied.

The tailored block copolymers prepared in both the cases are investigated in cooperation with other Institute and foreign teams as compatibilizers of polymer blends, thermoplastic elastomers, and adhesion improvers stabilizing polymer films on solid surfaces.