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Kennon, Jeremy Thomas (2017) An in-depth study for the acceleration RAFT polymerisation of vinyl acetate utilising microwave heating and supercritical carbon dioxide. PhD thesis, University of Nottingham.

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Abstract

The intention for this thesis was to observe whether the application of microwave heating, or using CO2 as a reaction medium, could induce an acceleration for producing both homopolymers and block copolymers containing Poly(vinyl acetate) using RAFT polymerisation while maintaining the desired control.

Chapter 1 examines the various polymer synthesis techniques utilised throughout this thesis. This includes an introduction to controlled radical polymerisations such as RAFT, microwave heating and the use of supercritical carbon dioxide as an alternative reaction medium.

Chapter 2 details the various experimental reactors and characterisation methods used. The high pressure autoclaves used for solubility studies and producing polymers are examined, as well as the microwave reactor. Characterisation techniques used such as Gel Permeation Chromatography (GPC) and Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) are also detailed

Chapter 3 examined the influence of applying conventional and microwave heating during the RAFT polymerisation of vinyl acetate. A series of experiments were designed to observe the effect of varying different reactant concentrations, as well as introducing a solvent into the reaction mixture. Each of these were examined to determine which induced an acceleration when using microwaves, while maintaining the desired control.

Chapter 4 investigated the RAFT polymerisation of vinyl acetate while using CO2 as a viscosity modifier. Various reaction parameters such as monomer loading and RAFT : AIBN ratio were altered to examine the effect on the final polymer produced. Kinetic studies allowed the application of CO2 to be compared with RAFT polymerisation with conventional and microwave heating from Chapter 3.

Chapter 5 studied the synthesis of block copolymers of PVAc and poly (vinyl pivalate) (PVPi). This involved the application of conventional and microwave heating for both the PVAc macro-RAFT agent and the 2nd PVPi block, to see the influence on the final block polymer properties, including the level of homopolymer impurity and final conversion. Additional reactions also looked at the use of CO2 when producing the PVPi block.

Chapter 6 summarises the overall conclusions from the research presented in this thesis, and discusses possible future work.

Item Type:	Thesis (University of Nottingham only) (PhD)
Supervisors:	Howdle, Steve Irvine, Derek Katrib, J.
Subjects:	Q Science > QD Chemistry > QD241 Organic chemistry
Faculties/Schools:	UK Campuses > Faculty of Science > School of Chemistry
Item ID:	41070
Depositing User:	Kennon, Jeremy
Date Deposited:	18 Aug 2017 04:40
Last Modified:	07 May 2020 12:46
URI:	https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/id/eprint/41070

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