Polymers are essential in any manufacturing environment. The advent of controlled process chemistry by using flow parameters and microconfinement or micromixing has enabled far more efficient and high yielding reactions especially in organic synthesis and the development of new pharmaceutics or drugs. However, not much has been reported on its application in polymerization and nanoscale materials synthesis. In the outer space environment and under microgravity conditions, there is limited space for production and storage of vital reagents or nutritional necessities. The synthesis of polymers allows for the in-situ and real-time production of materials necessary for the production of plastics, hydrogels, surfactants, proteins, etc. Nanomaterials that include metal, metal oxide, carbon, and silica are important for utilization in catalysis, dyes, sensors, drug delivery, etc. In this talk, we will show the possibilities for polymerization under flow chemistry conditions and their possible using in nanostructuring and nanomaterials synthesis. This can be done by producing better pressure, volume, and temperature control often reaching supercritical or optimized flow conditions. For example, we will report our recent results in living free radical polymerization, microparticle modification methods, and nanoparticle synthesis. Finally, we will discuss the possibilities and importance of doing this in Space and also under microgravity conditions.<br/>

Polymers and manufacturing: A space flow chemistry perspective

256th National Meeting (2018)

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