Continuous flow polymerizations in the microreactors have attracted great research interest from both academia and industry. Remarkable advantages have been achieved by using microflow technology due to its superior mixing and heat transfer performance. This review focused on the recent progress in highly exothermic ionic polymerizations in microreactors. Compared with the traditional batch reactors, continuous flow anionic/cationic polymerizations show tremendous benefits, including but not limited to improvement of reaction conditions, good control of the molecular weight and the molecular weight distribution, and highly efficient construction of block structures. Moreover, the applications of continuous flow ionic polymerizations in the industry are discussed and prospected.
Contents
1 Introduction
2 Cationic polymerization in continuous flow
2.1 Controlled/living cationic polymerization of vinyl ethers in continuous flow
2.2 Controlled/living cationic polymerization of diisopropenylbenzenes in continuous flow
2.3 Controlled/living cationic polymerization of isobutylene in continuous flow
3 Anionic polymerization in continuous flow
3.1 Controlled/living anionic polymerization of styrenes in continuous flow
3.2 Controlled/living anionic polymerization of alkyl methacrylates in continuous flow
3.3 Controlled/living anionic block copolymerization of styrenes and alkyl methacrylates in continuous flow
4 Conclusion and outlook