BREATHING NEW LIFE INTO THE FREE-RADICAL POLYMERIZATION PROCESS

Conventional free radical polymerization processes are limited by their inability to be used for the synthesis of resins of controlled molecular weights and complex architecture. New processes are being developed in which the free radical propagating chain is reversibly terminated, allowing the free radical polymerization to behave in a living fashion. A review of these processes is presented, along with preliminary results of chain extension studies of nitroxide-terminated polystyrene as a model for block copolymer synthesis.