Star polymers are branched macromolecules in which several linear arms radiate from a single central node [1]. The node may be a small molecule, a crosslinked microgel or the residue of a multifunctional initiator, and its functionality fixes the number of arms [1]. Because the arms crowd the core, chain conformation departs from that of a linear polymer of equal molar mass, and the arm number enters the hydrodynamic radius and the melt viscosity [1]. A microgel core with polyelectrolyte arms gives a species that swells and contracts as a whole [2]. Star-block and miktoarm variants carry arms of different chemistry on the same node, so incompatible segments are held in one molecule [3].
- star polymer
- arm number
- branched macromolecule
- miktoarm
- core functionality
Synthesis and properties of polymers·Polymers and Plastics·Materials Science·Physical Sciences
References
- Ren, J.M.; McKenzie, T.G.; Fu, Q.; Wong, E.H.H.; Xu, J.; An, Z.; Shanmugam, S.; Davis, T.P.; Boyer, C.; Qiao, G.G. Star Polymers. Chemical Reviews 2016, 116, 6743-6836. [CrossRef]
- Hiltebrandt, K.; Kaupp, M.; Molle, E.; Menzel, J.P.; Blinco, J.P.; Barner-Kowollik, C. Star polymer synthesis via λ-orthogonal photochemistry. Chemical Communications 2016, 52, 9426-9429. [CrossRef]
- Sulistio, A.; Gurr, P.A.; Blencowe, A.; Qiao, G.G. Peptide-Based Star Polymers: The Rising Star in Functional Polymers. Australian Journal of Chemistry 2012, 65, 978-984. [CrossRef]