Polymers are one of the fundamental building blocks of the modern world, yet the synthesis and characterisation of industrially relevant polymers can be challenging for the researcher. Indeed, the development of commercial optimised polymers requires multi-dimensional optimisation, against a number of different criteria. This difficulty is compounded by a rapidly changing world, shifting legislature and the whims of the consumer.
Here is presented an approach to polymer synthesis that allows for the rapid screening of reaction conditions, automated analysis and high throughput material discovery. Continuous flow techniques are demonstrated to synthesise a range of polymers using several differing techniques including anionic, RAFT and CCTP. Online GPC has been developed to rapidly ascertain the Molecular weight and dispersity of the polymers, while inline NMR has been employed to monitor conversion and provide further insight to molecular weight. While groundbreaking work has been accomplished in automated synthesis, this work demonstrates how commonly available HPLC equipment can be re-deployed without the need for extensive modification and customisation.
This work makes complex flow techniques, online monitoring and foundational work for machine learning available to every chemist without requiring expertise in coding, engineering or knowledge of advanced electronics. It is hoped that increased adoption of the techniques described will facilitate that sharing of more accurate and comprehensive data between chemists and aid us in our endeavours to deploy solutions to the worlds most pressing issues.

Continuous flow polymerization platform with online monitoring capability

william Pointer

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