Magnetic Levitation To Characterize the Kinetics of Free-Radical Polymerization

Shencheng Ge, Sergey N. Semenov, Amit A. Nagarkar, Jonathan Milette, Dionysios C. Christodouleas, Li Yuan, George M. Whitesides*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

40 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

This work describes the development of magnetic levitation (MagLev) to characterize the kinetics of free-radical polymerization of water insoluble, low-molecular-weight monomers that show a large change in density upon polymerization. Maglev measures density, and certain classes of monomers show a large change in density when monomers covalently join in polymer chains. MagLev characterized both the thermal polymerization of methacrylate-based monomers and the photopolymerization of methyl methacrylate and made it possible to determine the orders of reaction and the Arrhenius activation energy of polymerization. MagLev also made it possible to monitor polymerization in the presence of solids (aramid fibers, and carbon fibers, and glass fibers). MagLev offers a new analytical technique to materials and polymer scientists that complements other methods (even those based on density, such as dilatometry), and will be useful in investigating polymerizations, evaluating inhibition of polymerizations, and studying polymerization in the presence of included solid materials (e.g., for composite materials).

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)18688-18697
Number of pages10
JournalJournal of the American Chemical Society
Volume139
Issue number51
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 27 Dec 2017

Funding

Publisher Copyright: © 2017 American Chemical Society.

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • Catalysis
  • General Chemistry
  • Biochemistry
  • Colloid and Surface Chemistry

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Magnetic Levitation To Characterize the Kinetics of Free-Radical Polymerization'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this