Rate enhancement of nitroxide-mediated living free-radical polymerization by continuous addition of initiator

A new technique, which involves the continuous addition of a small amount o f radical initiators, was developed with the assistance of computer simulat ion to increase the rate of nitroxide-mediated living free-radical polymeri zation. Using this method, the polymerization rate of styrene in the presen ce of 4-hydroxy-2,2,6,6-tetramethyl piperidinyl-1-oxy was increased more th an 3-fold compared to that with one-batch addition of initiator, while the molecular weight and distribution remain the same, respectively, at higher monomer conversion. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.