Preparation of Large-Diameter "Molded" Porous Polymer Monoliths and the Control of Pore Structure Homogeneity

Eric C. Peters*, Frantisek Svec, Jean M.J. Fréchet

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

107 Scopus citations

Abstract

The preparation of large cylindrical macroporous polymer monoliths with internal diameters of up to 50 mm has been studied for the first time for both styrenic and methacrylic monomer systems. The temperature profiles at different locations within the mold have been recorded during these polymerizations, and the occurrence of exotherms and temperature gradients was related to the creation of inhomogeneities in the pore structure. Several techniques, such as decreasing the rate of polymerization and a slow gradual addition of the polymerization mixture to the reaction vessel, were investigated in order to minimize the extent of the reaction exotherm. The latter approach proved especially powerful, as the absence of exotherm allowed the preparation of monoliths with homogeneous pore structures inaccessible by other methods for both monomer systems.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)1898-1902
Number of pages5
JournalChemistry of Materials
Volume9
Issue number8
DOIs
StatePublished - 1997
Externally publishedYes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Chemistry
  • General Chemical Engineering
  • Materials Chemistry

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