Radical polymerization has experienced a renaissance over the past fifteen years due to the advent of controlled/living radical polymerization (CLRP; e.g. nitroxide-mediated radical polymerization (NMP), atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP), and reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization), which has made it possible to prepare a wide range of novel polymeric nano-structures and polymeric nano-engineered materials. The present Symposium will focus on recent developments and challenges in CLRP in dispersed systems (emulsion, miniemulsion, etc.). Compatibility of CLRP and dispersed systems is crucial for future commercialization of CLRP, and environmental concerns have given rise to "green chemistry" and created a demand for environmentally and chemically benign solvents, e.g. water and supercritical carbon dioxide. Great progress in this area has been made over the past decade, although significant challenges still remain. Research efforts have been seen to gradually shift from mere implementation of CLRP in dispersed systems to instead attempting to exploit dispersed CLRP systems for synthesis of functional nano-particles (e.g. hollow particles) and polymer structures not accessible in homogeneous systems (e.g. ultrahigh molecular weight). The Symposium is expected to cover areas ranging from kinetics/mechanism of CLRP in dispersed systems to polymeric nano-particle synthesis and morphology as well as applications.
Confirmed invited speakers:
Prof. K. Matyjaszewski,
Prof. Y. Luo
Prof. H. Kawaguchi
Prof. B. Charleux
