Ultra-fast microwave enhanced reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization: monomers to polymers in minutes

Abstract

Microwave mediated RAFT polymerization leads to ultra-fast polymerizations, whilst keeping excellent control over molecular weights and molecular weight distributions; this is the first example of such a dramatic effect of microwaves on living radical polymerization kinetics, and it shows the potential for chemists to produce very well controlled polymers in a matter of minutes.