Ionomers and polyelectrolytes represent families of macromolecules that incorporate cationic or anionic sites either pendant or within the polymer main chain. These charged compositions enable tunable physical properties such as ionic conductivity, thermal and chemical stability, water transport, and anion exchange capability. Ion-containing polymers are versatile materials that continuously enable emerging technologies such as water purification, gas separation, gene delivery, biosensors, fuel cells, and electro-mechanical devices. Multiple hydrogen bonding in block copolymers serve as directional analogues to the non-directional electrostatic interactions. Living anionic polymerization with organolithium initiators enables block copolymers containing low Tg 1,4-polyisoprene sequences, and complementary controlled RAFT radical polymerization employs a rich library of synergistic functional monomers including many ionic liquid monomers. Living anionic polymerization has experienced a recent commercial resurgence due to the critical needs for functional polymers in emerging technologies, and controlled radical polymerization continues to provide multifunctional polar polymers with unprecedented performance that are often unattainable using anionic polymerization. Clearly, both anionic and radical polymerizations continue to enable high performance materials that address global grand challenges of our time. 

Is living anionic polymerization dead or just radically changed?

248th National Meeting (2014)

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