Long‐Chain Hyperbranched Polymers: Synthesis, Properties, and Applications

• Published in: Macromolecular rapid communications. Vol. 40; no. 17; pp. e1800471 - n/a
• Main Authors: Mu, Bin, Liu, Tingting, Tian, Wei
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Germany Wiley Subscription Services, Inc 01.09.2019
• Subjects: Catalysts; Chains (polymeric); Chemical perception; Chemical synthesis; Chemoreception; Electrical conductivity; Electrical resistivity; Humans; hyperbranched polymers; long‐chain hyperbranched polymers; Macromolecular Substances - chemistry; macromonomers; Molecular Structure; Nanomedicine; Organic chemistry; Polymerization; Polymers; Polymers - chemistry; Properties (attributes); Rheological properties; synthesis; synthesis; long-chain hyperbranched polymers; macromonomers; hyperbranched polymers
• ISSN: 1022-1336; 1521-3927; 1521-3927
• DOI: 10.1002/marc.201800471

By combining the virtues of conventional linear and hyperbranched polymers, long‐chain hyperbranched polymers (LCHBPs) have attracted great attention. Therefore, a comprehensive summary of the research progress of LCHBPs is presented, with a particular focus on their synthetic strategies, unique properties, and potential applications. The synthetic methodologies are rationalized into four main classes according to their construction process or mechanism, namely ABx (x ≥ 2), A2 + Bx (x ≥ 3), AB + ABx (x ≥ 2), and self‐condensing vinyl polymerization. Some of their rheological properties, self‐assembly behavior, and stimuli‐response features are then discussed. Finally, the emergent applications including biomedicine, electrical conductivity, chemical sensing, and catalyst carrier, are outlined. It is anticipated that this review will stimulate more inspiration for advancing the development of this novel kind of LCHBP. Long‐chain hyperbranched polymers combine the advantages of conventional hyperbranched polymers and linear polymers, and thus may present certain superiority in structures and performance beyond both of them. Research progress on the synthetic methods, unique properties, and emergent applications of long‐chain hyperbranched polymers is comprehensively reviewed, and some problems and challenges in this novel kind of polymer are also discussed.