Synthesis and characterization of poly (2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate) homopolymer at room temperature via reversible addition–fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization technique

Abstract

Synthesis and characterization of Poly (2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate) (PHEMA) by RAFT technique at room temperature was first reported in this study. In this context, molecular weight, monomer conversion and semi-logarithmic kinetic curves of the RAFT polymerization, which is one of the controlled-living polymerization techniques, were determined by ATR-FTIR and NMR at certain time intervals. Linear change of molecular weight and monomer conversion with time, semi-logarithmic kinetic curve to the first degree kinetics of the synthesized PHEMA shows that the growth of polymer chains in a controlled manner. PHEMA polymers synthesized by RAFT technique at room temperature without the use of catalyst and metal types have the potential to be easily used in bio applications. It is also important for peptide and protein adsorption that this polymer has functional properties due to the carboxylic acid at the end of the RAFT agent.