Polymerization in microfluidic reactors

Microfluidics (MF) is a relatively new area of science and technology that offers new research opportunities in synthetic chemistry, including polymerization reactions. This chapter is a useful resource for students, researchers, and industrial scientists who wish to gain insight into practical aspects of polymerization in MF reactors and into new and emerging developments in this field. The chapter reviews (i) practical considerations related to MF polymer synthesis and its benefits over bulk synthesis of polymer products, (ii) important considerations in the utilization of MF for single- and multiphase polymer synthesis, (in) examples of important applications of polymer synthesis in microchannels, and (iv) future trends in MF development that will expand the range of applications of on[Pg.213]

Microfluidic reactor for polymer synthesis Polymerization reaction in microreactor Synthesis of polymer molecules using microfluidics... 

Polymer Synthesis Within Microfluidic Reactor, Fig. 1 (a-e) Scanning electron microscopy images of polymer microbeads obtained by polymerizing TPGDA in droplets obtained in regimes A, B, C, and D, respectively, after removing a SO core. Inset cross section of the... 

EGDA is a cross-linker that has been employed repeatedly in iCVD polymerization to enhance the mechanical properties of the film [67,68]. p(PFDA-co-EGDA) was deposited in channels of poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS) microfluidic devices as a barrier coating to prevent diffusion and swelling [50] or to provide an adequate interface for the synthesis of nanoparticles in droplet-flow microfluidic reactors [52]. p(PFDA-co-EGDA) was used to robustly encapsulate IL marbles [51]. IL marbles were fabricated rolling off a droplet of IL in a Petri dish with FI FE microparticles. Next, the Petri dish was placed inside the vacuum chamber and the marbles were conformally coated over the entire surface. 

Figure 8.13 Microfluidic setup for kinetic studies of a multicomponent polymerization reaction, (a) World-to-chip interface for fluidic connections and probes, (b) Schematic of the microreactor. Aqueous solutions of APS, NIPAm, TEMED, and water were introduced into the MF reactor at inlets (i)—(iv), respectively. Mixing and polymerization occurred in (v) and characterization of the reaction occurred at Pi, Pi, and P) by ATR-...

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