title: Simultaneous bulk- and surface-initiated controlled radical polymerization from planar substrates.
abstract: We employ Monte Carlo computer simulations to investigate the simultaneous controlled radical polymerization in solution and from a flat surface. The bulk polymers grow at faster rates and possess narrower molecular weight distribution than polymers initiated from flat, impenetrable surfaces. The rate of surface-initiated polymerization depends on the density of initiator sites. Our results provide evidence that the assumption that the molecular weight of surface-initiated polymers is equal to that of polymers grown in bulk, invoked often in determining the grafting density of surface-bound polymers, is generally invalid.
authors: Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina 27695, United States.
authors: Salomon
authors: S
authors: Turgman-Cohen
authors: Jan
authors: J
authors: Genzer
mesh_terms: D003198:Computer Simulation; D005609:Free Radicals / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry; D009010:Monte Carlo Method; D058105:Polymerization; D011108:Polymers / Q000138:chemical synthesis* / Q000737:chemistry; D013499:Surface Properties
chemical_list: D005609:Free Radicals; D011108:Polymers