Carbon dioxide as continuous phase for polymer synthesis

• Published in: Plastics engineering Vol. 53; no. 12; pp. 37 - 40
• Main Authors: CANELAS, D. A, BURKE, A. L. C, DESIMONE, J. M
• Format: Magazine Article
• Language: English
• Published: Brookfield, CT Society of Plastics Engineers 01.12.1997; Society of Plastics Engineers, Inc; Blackwell Publishing Ltd
• Subjects: Applied sciences; Carbon dioxide; Chlorofluorocarbons; Exact sciences and technology; Fourier transforms; Hydrocarbons; Mechanical properties; Molecular weight; Morphology; Organic polymers; Physicochemistry of polymers; Plasticizers; Polymer melts; Polymerization; Polymers; Preparation, kinetics, thermodynamics, mechanism and catalysts; Silicones; Solvency; Solvents; Temperature; VOCs; Volatile organic compounds; Solution polymerization; Carbon dioxide; Review
• ISSN: 0091-9578; 1941-9635

Considerable interest has developed in using liquid and supercritical CO sub 2 as the continuous phase for polymerization reactions. The polymer industry, in particular, is under increasing scrutiny to reduce emisson of volatile organic compounds (VOCs), to completely phase out the use of chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), and to reduce the generation of acqueous waste streams. It is these environmental concerns that provide the prinicpal driving force motivating the development of CO sub 2 -based polymerization technologies. The use of liquid and supercritical CO sub 2 offers significant advantages beyond the simple elimination of the use of organic solvents or water. Advantages in the properties and processing of materials can be realized through the use of this medium principally as a result of the lack of chain transfer and high plasticization propensity.