Radical copolymerization monovinyl monomers with

Polymeric gels are crosslinked polymers swollen in a liquid. The polymer serves as a matrix to hold the liquid together, while the liquid inside the gel allows free diffusion of some solute molecules. Polymeric gels can be prepared from either monomeric or polymeric precursors dissolved in a solvent. However, the most commonly used method is the free-radical crosslinking copolymerization of a monovinyl monomer with a divinyl monomer (crosslinker) in solution. In the... 

Fig. 2. Formation of various structures in radical crosslinking copolymerization of monovinyl -divinyl monomers with or without using a solvent (diluent).

Atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) was selected as an exemplary CRP technique to systematically study the kinetics and gelation behavior during the concurrent copolymerization of monovinyl monomers and divinyl cross-linkers (Scheme 2). The effect of different parameters on the experimental gelation was studied, including the initial molar ratio of cross-linker to initiator, the concentrations of reagents, the reactivity of vinyl groups present in the cross-linker, the efficiency of initiation, and the polydispersity of primary chains. Experimental gel points based on the conversions of monomer and/or cross-linker at the moment of gelation, were determined and compared with each other in order to understand the influence of each parameter on the experimental gel points. 

---